How to Study

Five Fundamental Rules
Let’s start with the fundamental rules that need to be emblazoned on
your mind:
1. Always follow your teacher’s directions to the letter.
2. Always hand in your paper on time.
3. Always hand in a clean and clear copy of your paper. 
4. Always keep at least one copy of every paper you write. 
5. Never allow a single spelling or grammatical error in any paper
you write. 
How Long Should It Be?
Your teacher’s directions may include:
A general subject area from which topics should be chosen—
“some aspect of Herbert Hoover’s presidency,” “a Civil War battle,”
“one of Newton’s Laws,” or “a short story by a 20th-century Russian
writer.” 
■
Specific requirements regarding format. 
■
Suggested length. 
■
Preferred methods for including footnotes and documenting
works consulted (or cited). 
■
Other specific instructions. 
How to Study
134

---

Whatever his or her directions, follow them to the letter. Some high
school teachers may forgive you your trespasses, but I have known
college professors who simply refused to accept a paper that was not
prepared as they instructed—and gave the poor student an F for it
(without even reading it).
At some point, you’ll undoubtedly run into a teacher or professor 
who gives few or no instructions at all. You ask, “How long should
the paper be?” She says, “As long as it takes.” Use your common
sense. If you’re in middle or high school, I doubt she is seeking a 
50-page thesis. Likewise, if you’re in college, it’s unlikely your pro -
fessor thinks a three-page paper is “As long as it takes.” Use previous
assignments as a guide.
If you are unsure of a specific requirement or if the suggested area 
of topics is unclear, it is your responsibility to talk to your teacher 
and clarify whatever points are confusing you.
It is not a bad idea to choose two or three topics you’d like to write
about and seek preliminary approval, especially if the assignment
seems particularly vague.