1. Plan ahead, so that each of the necessary steps can be accommodated with ample time.
2. Read the assignment and know exactly what is asked.
   1. This includes reading the syllabus, as quite often an instructor will outline broad expectations and requirements once in the syllabus rather than repeating the same expectations across each assignment prompt.
   2. Be sure to read all available rubrics. These make explicit the criteria by which your work will be assessed.
   3. Ask questions if you have them!
3. Use a semi-formal tone, always (unless otherwise indicated). As a general rule, you will want to avoid use of the following:
   1. Contractions (it’s, they’re, can’t)
   2. Informal names (e.g.: use “University of Pittsburgh” instead of “Pitt”)
   3. Acronyms, unless they have been properly introduced. A good introduction will read and function something like this: “This year, I completed a fellowship with the National Science Foundation (“NSF”). In support of NSF’s open science initiatives, I….”
   4. Recommended resource – Purdue Online Writing Lab (“OWL”) Levels of Formality: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/using_appropriate_ language/levels_of_formality.html
4. Observe basic rules of grammar and syntax
   1. Avoid sentence fragments
      • Make sure that each sentence has a noun and a verb
   2. Ensure noun/verb agreement
      • Reading drafts aloud to yourself is an excellent safeguard against disagreement
   3. Avoid run-on sentences (more than a few uses of punctuation in a single sentence can be an easy give-away)
   4. Recommended resource – Purdue OWL Grammar: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/grammar/index.html

5. Cite your sources and provide a Works Cited or Bibliography page.

1. The purpose of citation is at least three-fold:
   1. It clarifies when and where a thought is not your own
   2. It provides credit where credit is due
   3. It allows your readers to easily find the sources that informed your work. This is essential to advancing replicability, transparency and learning.
2. A goal, when drawing on another’s work, is to synthesize it into an original thought of your own.
   1. When this is not possible or appropriate, either paraphrase or use a direct quote. Cite both of these uses.
3. c. Plagiarism is plagiarism even when it is unintentional. This is why so many writing guides advance the same simple rule:
   • i. When in doubt, cite
4. Recommended resources:
   1. Helpful overview of reference types and citation styles from Boston University: https://www.bu.edu/sph/students/student-services/student- resources/academic-support/communication-resources/when-to-cite/
   2. Citation and Style Guide Overview from University of Pittsburgh Hillman Library: https://pitt.libguides.com/citationhelp/overview
   3. Purdue OWL:
      • MLA: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_st yle_introduction.html
      • APA: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_st yle_introduction.html
      • Chicago: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/chicago_manual _17th_edition/chicago_style_introduction.html

6. Proofread and double-check everything

1. Read aloud to yourself or a friend
2. Set up an appointment with the Writing Center a week before an assignment is due. This will afford an opportunity for feedback as well as time to revise as needed.
3. Review every file before you submit it
   1. Reformatting can sometimes lead to unintended outcomes, such as truncated text and unusual margins.
   2. Even without reformatting, a “final” draft might still contain an obvious error that can be detected with one last review of each file prior to their submission.
4. Recommended resource – University of Pittsburgh Writing Center: https://www.writingcenter.pitt.edu/graduate-services