Communicating professionally and ethically is an essential skill set we teach at
Strayer. The following guidelines ensure:
·· Your writing is professional
·· You avoid plagiarizing others
·· You give credit to others in your work
Review Strayer’s Academic Integrity Policy in the Student Handbook.
Bookmark the SWS website for additional SWS resources.
Visit the SWS YouTube page to view helpful SWS videos.
Fall 2020
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Strayer Writing Standards 2
Include page numbers.
Use 1-inch margins.
Use numerals (1, 2, 3, and so on) or spell out numbers (one, two, three, and so on).
Double space body text in the assignment.
Use consistent 12-point font.
Use section headings to divide separate content areas. Center the section headings on the
page, be consistent, and include at least two section headings in the assignment.
Include the assignment title, your name, course title, your professor’s name, and the date of
submission on a separate page (first page of submission).
Use appropriate language and be concise.
Write in active voice when possible. Find tips here.
Use spelling/grammar check and proofread to keep work e
or free.
Choose a point of view (first, second, or third person) as required by assignment guidelines.
Provide credible sources to support your ideas/work when required. Find tips here.
Cite sources throughout your work when you bo
ow someone else’s words or ideas.
Don’t forget: Cite and add your textbook to the Source List if used as a source.
Include a Sources List when the assignment requires research or if you cite the textbook.
Type “Sources” centered horizontally on the first line of the Source List page.
Record the sources that you used in your assignment in a numbered list (see Giving Credit to
Authors and Sources section).
Essay/Paper Guidelines
Design
Title Page
Develop
Cite Credible
Sources
Build a
Sources List
Use these rules when working on an essay!
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Strayer Writing Standards 3
Use the provided template to format the assignment.
Generally not required. If it is required, include the assignment title, your name, course
title, your professor’s name, and the date of submission on a separate page (first page of
submission).
Use appropriate language and be concise.
Write in active voice when possible. Find tips here.
Use spelling/grammar check and proofread to keep work e
or free.
Choose a point of view (first, second, or third person) as required by assignment guidelines.
Specific assignment guidelines may ove
ide these standards. When in doubt, follow specific
assignment guidelines first.
Provide credible sources to support your ideas/work when required. Find tips here.
Cite sources throughout your work when you bo
ow someone else’s words or ideas.
Don’t forget: Cite and add your textbook to the Source List if used as a source.
Complete the provided Source List when the assignment requires research or if you cite the
textbook.
If no specific area exists in the template, consult the assignment and instructor guidelines for
appropriate source credit methods.
Cite sources throughout your assignment when you bo
ow someone else’s words or ideas.
When quoting or paraphrasing a source, include the source number in parentheses after the
ody text where you quote or paraphrase.
Templated Assignment Guidelines
Design
Title Page
Develop
Cite Credible
Sources
Build a
Source List
Use these rules when working on a written assignment that is not explicitly an essay!
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Strayer Writing Standards 4
Use a background color or image on slides.
Use Cali
i, Lucida Console, Helvetica, Futura, Myriad Pro, or Gill Sans font style.
Use 28–32-point font size for the body of your slides (based on your chosen font style). Avoid
font sizes below 24-point.
Use 36–44-point font size for the titles of your slides (based on chosen font style).
Limit slide content (7 or fewer lines per slide and 7 or fewer words per line).
Number slides when the assignment requires 3 or more slides. Place numbers wherever you
like (but be consistent).
Include appropriate images that connect directly to the slide content or presentation content.
Include the assignment title, your name, course title, your professor’s name, and the date of
submission on a separate slide (first of submission).
Use appropriate language and be concise.
Write in active voice when possible. Find tips here.
Use spelling/grammar check and proofread to keep work e
or free.
Provide credible sources to support your ideas/work when required. Find tips here.
Cite sources throughout your work when you bo
ow someone else’s words or ideas.
Don’t forget: Cite and add your textbook to the Source List if used as a source.
Sources may be provided on a slide-by-slide basis (providing Source List entries at
ottom of slide where source referenced) or in a comprehensive Source List at the end of
slideshow.
Include a Sources List slide when assignment requires research or if you cite the textbook.
Type “Sources” centered horizontally on the first line of the Source List slide.
Provide sources used in your assignment in a numbered list (see Giving Credit to Authors and
Sources section).
PowerPoint/Slideshow Guidelines
Design
Title Page
Develop
Cite Credible
Sources
Build a
Sources List
Use these rules when working on a PowerPoint or slideshow assignment!
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Strayer Writing Standards 5
Use consistent 12-point font.
Include appropriate images or media links that connect directly to discussion topic/content.
Use appropriate language and be concise.
Write in active voice when possible. Find tips here.
Use spelling/grammar check and proofread to keep work e
or free.
Provide credible sources to support your ideas/work when required. Find tips here.
Cite sources throughout your discussion response when you bo
ow someone else’s words or
ideas.
Cite quotes and paraphrases co
ectly: Include the source number in parentheses after the
ody text where quotation or paraphrasing occurs.
Don’t forget: Cite and add your textbook to the Sources List if used as a source.
Type the word “Sources” at the end of your post, and below that include a list of any sources
that you cited.
Number all sources in the order they appear.
Discussion Post Guidelines
Design
Develop
Cite Credible
Sources
Use these rules when working on a Discussion Forum post or response!
For more information on building a Source List Entry, see
Source List section.
SAMPLE POST:
The work is the important part of any writing
assignment. According to Smith, “writing things
down is the biggest challenge” (1). This is significant
ecause…
Sources
1. William Smith XXXXXXXXXXThe Way Things Are. http:
www.samplesite.com/writing
If you pulled information from more than one source, continue
to number the additional sources in the order that they appear
in your post.
SAMPLE POST:
The work is the important part of any writing
assignment. According to Smith, “writing things
down is the biggest challenge” (1). This is significant
ecause…
The other side of this is also important. It is noted that
“the act of writing isn’t important as much as putting
ideas somewhere useful” (2).
Sources
1. William Smith XXXXXXXXXXThe Way Things Are. http:
www.samplesite.com/writing
2. Patricia Smith XXXXXXXXXXThe Way Things Really Are.
http:
www.betterthansample.com/tige
Examples
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Strayer Writing Standards 6
Credit to Authors and Sources
Option #1: Paraphrasing
Rewording Source Information in Your Own Words
· Rephrase source information in your own words. Avoid
epeating the same words of the author.
· Remember, you cannot just replace words from the original
sentence.
· Add the author’s last name and a number to the end of your
paraphrase as a citation (which will be the same on your
Source List).
Examples
ORIGINAL SOURCE
“Writing at a college level requires informed research.”
PARAPHRASING
As Harvey wrote, when writing a paper for higher
education, it is critical to research and cite sources (1).
When writing a paper for higher education, it is
imperative to research and cite sources (Harvey, 1).
Option #2: Quoting
Citing Another Person’s Work Word-for-Word
· Place quotation marks at the beginning and end of quoted
information.
· Limit quotes to two or fewer sentences (approximately 25
words) at a time.
· Do not start a sentence with a quotation.
· Introduce and explain quotes within the context of your
paper.
· Add the author’s last name and a number to the end of the
quote as a citation (which will be the same on your Source
List).
Examples
ORIGINAL SOURCE
“Writing at a college level requires informed research.”
QUOTING
Harvey wrote in his book, “Writing at a college level
equires informed research” (1).
Many authors agree, “Writing at a college level
equires informed research” (Harvey, 1).
Use these rules for using evidence and creating in-text citations!
General Credit
· Credit quoted or paraphrased sources using an in-text citation. An in-text citation includes the primary author’s last name and
the number of the source from the Source List.
· Before using any source, first determine its credibility. Then decide if the source is appropriate and relevant for your project. Find
tips here.
· Well-researched assignments have at least as many sources as pages (see assignment instructions).
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Strayer Writing Standards 7
Web sources are accessed through an internet
owser.
Home Pages
A home page loads when typing a standard web address. For instance, typing Google.com into any web
owser will take you to
Google’s home page.
Cite a homepage when using information from a news thread, image, or basic piece of information on a company’s website. Find
Tips Here.
Specific Web Pages
If using any web page other than the home page, include the specific page title and direct link (when possible) in the Source List entry.
If the assignment used multiple web pages from the same source, create separate Source List entries (if the title and/or web address
is different).
Effective Internet Links
When sharing a link to an article with your instructor and classmates, start with a
ief summary of the article and why you chose to
share it.
Share vs. URL Options
Cutting and pasting the URL (web address) from your
owser may not allow others to view your source. This makes it hard for people to
engage with the content you used.
To avoid this problem, look for a “share” option and choose that when possible. Always test your link(s) before submitting.
If you cannot properly share the link, include the article/source as an attachment. Interested classmates and your professor can reference
the article shared as an attachment. Find tips here.
Credit for Web Sources
Charts, images, and tables should be centered horizontally on the page and should be followed by an in-text citation. Design your
page and place a citation below the chart, image, or table. When refe
ing to the chart, image, or table in the body of the assignment,
use the citation.
Do not include a chart, image, or table without introducing it in the assignment and explaining why it is necessary.
On your Source List, provide the following details of the visual:
· Author’s name (if created by you, provide your name).
· Date (if created by you, provide the year).
· Type (Chart, Image, or Table).
· How to find it (link or other information; see Source List section for additional details).
Charts, Images, and Tables
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Strayer Writing Standards 8
Traditional Sources
Page Numbers
When referencing multiple pages in a textbook or other print
ook, consider adding page numbers to help the audience
understand where the information is found. You can do this in
three ways:
a. by including it in the body of your assignment; o
or b. by using an in-text citation;
or c. by listing page numbers in the order used in your
assignment on the Source List.
Check with your instructor