Guidelines for Papers in Courses with Professor Breutzmann

Updated September, 2001

I have some definite preferences for papers that you write for my classes. Most of these preferences are to reduce paper use. A few are for my arbitrary taste in fonts. In nearly every case I encourage electronic submissions (Check with me for details) in either MSWord or HTML formats.

Adopt a style sheet that you can work with, three common choices are MLA, APA and Turabian(Chicago) depending on your major(s). Follow your chosen style sheet with the following exceptions:

Margins no wider than 1.25" and no narrower than 1" on all four sides. (1" all sides prefered)

Papers should be single spaced. One blank line should separate paragraphs and they should not be indented. Section titles, when used, should be bold, left-justified and separated from the previous and subsequent paragraph by a single blank line.

The font should be a serif, proportional font such as times, bookman or schoolbook. Studies show that sans-serif fonts are harder to read. I prefer Times or one of its variants for standard English text. Unusual or heavy fonts should be avoided except for occasional emphasis. Font size should be 12 point except where appropriate to use another size. {If using 10 or 11 point allows you to print a short paper on a single page do it!}

Do not attach a Title Page or special cover. A heading in the upper right-hand corner of the first page should contain the author's name and the date (and nothing else). The title of the paper should be centered 2 lines above the first line of text or first section title. e.g.,

Josef M Breutzmann
December 21, 1997

Gödel and the Incompleteness of Number Theory

Usually it is unacceptable to have only web sources.

When it reduces the total number of pages, the sources/bibliography should begin immediately (3-4 lines) after the text rather than on a separate page.

In the case of reports in which there is minimal original content and the information comes primarily from a single source, you may place a footnote to this effect at the bottom of the first page and then not cite that source at the end of each paragraph. I will assume that all or most of the uncited information comes from that source.

If the paper is a report on a particular article or text, the pimary citation should appear at the top of the first page in lieu of or immediately after your title.

Page numbers, if used, should be centered at the bottom of the page. Staple multi-page papers once in the upper left-hand corner of the paper.

Exceptions to the above guidelines will be made for papers done on a typewriter, or on a primitive printer. Discuss your situation with me.

Papers handed-in electronically in HTML format should follow the spirit of the above suggestions. Papers handed-in electronically in WORD format should be such that if they were printed they would satisfy all of the above suggestions.