What Can I Do To Make My Essays Better?
I care a ton about your ability to write well. It is one of the things that will set you apart from a great many of your peers and wil often be one of the determining factors as you seek jobs and promotions. So, if you want to write better essays:
- Firstly, be sure to read the instructions very, very carefully.
- Secondly, familiarize yourself with the rubrics that I've given to you.
- Thirdly, read the example intro and example paragraphs that I've included with the essay instructions.
- Fourthly, watch my how-to videos on these same topics.
- Fifthly, if you have any doubts, bring essays to me to have them proofed.
Can You Help Me Proof My Essay?
Yes. Please see the options below. Remember, however, that I will proof essays on a time-available basis and there is no guarantee whatsoever that I will have this type of time; this is particularly true the closer one gets to the due date. For this reason I suggest (as I always do) that one does not wait until the last minute to begin or to ask for help with an essay.
Please note: I can help you with your essay, but if your writing is fairly deficient, we might have to work on your paper in several steps. Even if we do, there's no guarantee that you'll get an A, even if we re-write it several times. Writing is an additive process that takes a great deal of time and practice, so we might have to get you to a C or B paper before we can get you up to where you eventually want to be.
I encourage students to use clouded workspaces as much as possible. E-mail attachments are a pain in the butt for many reasons. Besides, e-mailing attachments around is pretty 1990s. Time to move on to better things. In any case, I do not accept anything as an attachment. Please use one of the two methods described below.
Please note: I can help you with your essay, but if your writing is fairly deficient, we might have to work on your paper in several steps. Even if we do, there's no guarantee that you'll get an A, even if we re-write it several times. Writing is an additive process that takes a great deal of time and practice, so we might have to get you to a C or B paper before we can get you up to where you eventually want to be.
I encourage students to use clouded workspaces as much as possible. E-mail attachments are a pain in the butt for many reasons. Besides, e-mailing attachments around is pretty 1990s. Time to move on to better things. In any case, I do not accept anything as an attachment. Please use one of the two methods described below.
Absolutely Best Method--In Person:
You are always welcome to come by my office hours (or make some sort of alternate arrangement with me) and I will look at your entire draft at that time. This is the preferred way I'd like to operate since I can convey a great deal more to you in a face-to-face meeting. Also, if you're in my office during hours (or during an appointment), there's no chance that I'm going to run out of time to help you. If you use one of the other methods (and many do since they wait until the last minute), I will only review things if I have time to do so.
If you choose this option, please bring two drafts of your paper (or intro) with you so that we can follow along at the same time.
You are welcome to come to my office hours as many times as you want or need.
If you choose this option, please bring two drafts of your paper (or intro) with you so that we can follow along at the same time.
You are welcome to come to my office hours as many times as you want or need.
Almost-Best Method--Share Your Document With me Online:
If you're going to utilize this method, please check to see how long I'm currently backed up.
Current e-mail to share with via Office Online (Office Online doesn't quite have the proofing capabilities of the next two, however), Microsoft One Drive, and Google Documents:
bmaproofmystuff@gmail.com
Please note that there are some limitations to these methods:
- I honestly, truly want to help you write better. However, while I guarantee that I will help you if you come to my office hours (or make other arrangements with me) this option is offered on an as-available basis. If I have time to help you with your essay (or other work) this way, I will do so; but there is no guarantee, whatsoever, that I will have the requisite time outside of my office hours (or time we've arranged to work together) help you over the Internet.
- If you are in one of my in-person classes, this option is unavailable to you the weekend before an essay is due unless we're already been working together (this only applies to assignments that have more than one weekend between the time its assigned and the time its due). In other words, you can't ask me to proof your document for the first time if it's the weekend before the assignment is due, but I will continue to work with you if we're already working together. The "weekend" in this case begins at noon on Friday.
- As an educator with many students and many demands upon my time, it will take me longer to get to your submission during peak periods of the semester when my workload is heavier. If you need my help right away, see if you can see me in person (see "Absolutely Best Method" above).
Please also note: You cannot simply upload your document into Google Drive and share it with me--it acts the same as a file attached via email does. If you're going to share a Google Document with me, you must either have written the document in GD format to begin with (which is what I actually recommend), or you must ensure that your document converts properly to Google Document and then share it with me.
To use Google Docs properly, follow one of these two methods:
First method:
If you want, you can upload your Word file into Google Documents, open it to view it, and then click on "Open." Once you do this, there will be an option for "Google Docs." Let the document open in Google Docs and then Share that document with me by clicking on the "Share" button in the upper right-hand side of the window and then in the "People" box, type bmaproofmystuff@gmail.com and make sure "Can edit" is selected just to the right Click "Send"
Second Method:
Follow these instructions if you're using Google Documents and want to copy your assignment into one (there are better ways to do this, but I've found these work well if everything else seems to be failing):
Type drive.google.com into a browser and log on if you haven't already:
1) Create a new, blank Google Document (don't use spreadsheet, presentation, or anything other than document)
2) One of the options will be "Google Docs." Select that one Leave that open in your browser (should be a blank Google Document called "Untitled document"
3) Go to your document in Word and keystroke CTL-A to select all Hit CTL-C to copy it all Go back into the browser with the blank document and keystroke CTL-V (paste)
4) After your document pastes, go to the upper right-hand side and click "Share," which will be a blue button Give the document a name that makes sense In the box "People," type bmaproofmystuff@gmail.com and make sure "Can edit" is selected just to the right Click "Send"
You can share both your introduction and document's body with me via Microsoft Office Online, Microsoft OneDrive, or Google Documents.
PLEASE NOTE: When you do share a document with me this way, please notify me via e-mail that you've shared a document with
me. Do not rely Google's or Microsoft OneDrive's notification e-mail.
Problems with using this method and why it's not as good as coming to me in person
Please note: this isn't a perfect method because I will only check papers this way as I have time. I often have a backlog. This isn't a problem during the interstitial period before your essay is due. In my experience, however, the bulk-load of students wait until a day or two before the essay is due. If that happens, I will get to the essays in queue, but I will stop once I run out of time. If you're going to wait until the last minute, my suggestion would be to bring me your writing in person.
I fully understand that some people might have problems using Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive out of concerns for safety, privacy, etc. If that's the case, please use the method above so that I can help proof your document.
I fully understand that some people might have problems using Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive out of concerns for safety, privacy, etc. If that's the case, please use the method above so that I can help proof your document.
Ok Method--E-Mail Instructions (Introduction or Short Paragraphs Only):
In general, I only accept introductions or short paragraphs over e-mail unless we have some sort of prior arrangement in which I'll receive documents longer than this. If you want to send me larger portions of your document, see "Office Online/Google Drive/Microsoft OneDrive Instructions" above.
In order to send me your introduction you will need to copy-and-paste your introduction text into the body of an e-mail message and send it to me. (Again, I do not accept attached documents.)
If you e-mail your introduction, I might copy-and-paste that document into an Office Online Document.
If you can not or will not access my corrections through Office Online, Microsoft OneDrive, or Google Documents, you must bring your document to me in person.
In order to send me your introduction you will need to copy-and-paste your introduction text into the body of an e-mail message and send it to me. (Again, I do not accept attached documents.)
If you e-mail your introduction, I might copy-and-paste that document into an Office Online Document.
If you can not or will not access my corrections through Office Online, Microsoft OneDrive, or Google Documents, you must bring your document to me in person.