Overview
1
Talking Points Dr. Thompson
1) Make sure you carefully review all the items for each week’s module. 2) Read and reread what is required in an assignment. 3) Follow assignment instructions carefully. Do not overthink an assignment. If an
assignment states 500 words, do not exceed or provide fewer (with a 10% margin either way). You get the idea.
4) Make sure you cite plenty of research using both the “whole” of Scripture and scholarly resources for all work.
5) A Cover Page is required for all written assignments (except Discussion assignments). The correct template is found here.
6) Remember that all work must be submitted in MS Word—not PDF or any other file type unless explicitly stated in the course instructions—and follow strict Turabian formatting guidelines (double-spaced, Times New-Roman 12 pt. font in complete paragraphs with indentions).
7) To adjust the spacing before and after each line in your Microsoft Word document so that both read 0 pt 0 pt, begin by opening your paper and selecting the text you want to format. If you wish to change the spacing throughout the entire document, simply press Ctrl + A to highlight all the text. Next, go to the Home tab on the ribbon at the top of the page. In the Paragraph section, click the small arrow in the bottom-right corner to open the Paragraph dialog box. Within this box, find the Spacing section near the bottom and set both the Before and After options to 0 pt. This ensures that no extra space appears above or below each line. Once you have done this, click OK to apply the changes. If you would like to make this your default setting for all new documents, you can click Set as Default before closing the dialog box.
8) All assignments must include a Cover page and correct pagination in the upper right- hand corner. Page 1 begins on the first page in Times New Roman 12 pt font, and all further pages of your content must maintain that consistent Times New Roman 12 pt font. Please see the sample paper here for specs. By the way, footnotes must also be typeset in Times New Roman lettering, but fixed at 10 pt font.
9) A Contents page is required. Note that in Turabian, the title is no longer Table of Contents, but simply Contents. Footnotes and a bibliography page should be included with all work unless the instructions specify otherwise. Scholarly resources should generally have a publishing date within the last twenty years.
10) By now, you should be using a professional editing resource to edit all your work before submission (MS Word has an editing tab that will check your work). By this stage in your academic work, there should be very few errors in your formatting, editing, or writing style. There are plenty of resources available online to help you. It is not my responsibility at this stage of your work to point out specific errors. If I make a comment that your footnote formatting is incorrect, you must research and make the correction by the next assignment.
11) I have prepared for you the Writing Style General Guidelines tool to assist with basic Turabian formatting tips. This will serve as a helpful checklist before submitting a paper.
12) If I continue to see the same errors that have not been corrected, your assignment may be reassigned to you at the professor’s discretion. You will have 48 hours to make the corrections. Keep in mind that your assignment is considered “late” at this point and will be deducted 10% points per late grading policy. If the assignment is not completed and resubmitted within the 48-hour period, a grade of “0” will be assigned. Grading: The pursuit of an academic graduate degree at Regent University sets a high standard for