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CNSA Style Manual
Chapter II-- Style Requirements
Chapter 01 | Chapter 03 | Chapter 04 | Chapter 05 | Style Manual Index
Word Processing | APA Style | Margins and Page Numbers | Writing Clearly and Concisely
This chapter outlines some of the specific requirements for writing assignments in the program. It includes sections on word processing, APA style, and settings for margins and page numbers. The last section discusses ways for you to improve your writing style.
The program has adopted a policy that all papers are word processed and double spaced, unless you are given other instructions. Hand written and typed papers are not accepted. You should use software that checks spelling and grammar.
The computer labs in Lommen Hall, the library, and elsewhere at MSUM are available for you to use. You may use whatever software package best suits you; however, the Counseling and Student Affairs faculty use Microsoft Word, and the university and CNSA support Microsoft Word.
Professionals in the field of Counseling and Student Affairs may give lectures or technical reports to meetings and symposia, may publish in professional journals, and most certainly will write master's theses. Some will write doctoral dissertations. They may publish pamphlets, serve on editorial review boards, and produce films, audio or video cassettes, or computer programs.
Because the faculty of the program pride themselves on helping to develop professionals, they require the use of APA style in all written work. APA style means the rules of communication as set forth in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.
Almost all you need to know about correctness of style and usage in writing for classes or for professional journals is found in this book. You will find it an indispensable tool in the program. Grades for assigned papers may be lowered one letter grade for each five errors in spelling, grammar, or APA style. Referring to the manual will enable you to avoid this.
Because the final copy of your thesis will be bound, having the correct margins and page number placement is very important. To maintain consistency, all papers turned in to CNSA faculty must have 1.5" margins on the left side and 1" margins on the top, bottom, and right sides of the paper. Page numbers are placed in the top right corner of the page, within the text box created by the margins. Page numbers should not be in the margins.
You may need to experiment in order to get your document to these dimensions. Even though you set your margins to the correct dimensions, the printed margins may be off, depending on the printer and program you are using. For best results, set the margins to the correct dimensions, print a page, then measure the margins and page numbers to be sure they are exact. Adjust the settings if needed, then repeat the printing/measuring process.
When you achieve the settings which produce the correct size margins and page number placements on the page, save these settings for future use. Be sure these settings are correct before you begin the actual writing of your thesis. Spending some extra time setting the margins to the correct measurement before typing your work may save you hours later. If you have to change the margins after you have written your thesis, for example, all other formatting and headings will move out of place--and you will have to go through the entire document to fix them.
If you are using a Macintosh program, it is very important that you do not use headers to put page numbers on your documents. In most programs, the headers create page numbers in a different font and size than the text, and put the page numbers in the margins. Also, there have been cases when students were unable to remove headers once they were put on their documents.
Click here for instructions on setting the margins and page numbers in Microsoft Word.
Writing clearly should be a goal for every paper and other assignment you write. Here are some suggestions for improving your writing, you may also refer to the APA Manual (starting on p. 31).
Start with an outline. It is easier to maintain a logical structure and flow if you plan your paper before you start writing. Each idea should be a step in a sequence. If your flow of ideas appears abrupt, work on the transitions between sections, to make sure each one leads smoothly and logically into the next.
Choose your words carefully. Be sure to select terms that mean what you want to say, and are specific rather than vague. Do not use slang or technical jargon, and avoid being wordy and repetitive. Check to see that verb tenses agree throughout sections of your work.
One of the most common pitfalls of writing is overusing the passive voice. You should write in the active voice whenever possible. Your work will be bolder, more direct, clearer, and more concise. Passive sentences are often longer than active constructions, and may be hard to understand, because the subject of the sentence is either implied or buried. If you find yourself trying to figure out who or what did the acting, you have probably just read a passive sentence.
Some examples:
Passive Voice - There were a great number of dead leaves lying on the ground.
Active Voice - Dead leaves covered the ground.Passive Voice - The students were given the survey.
Active Voice - The students completed the survey.Passive Voice - In the past several decades, a variety of measures of personality hardiness have been used.
Active Voice - Researchers used a variety of personality hardiness measures during the past several decades.Passive Voice - The way hardiness has been theorized to reduce an individual's vulnerability to stress life events is two fold.
Active Voice - Theorists believe personality hardiness reduces an individual's vulnerability to life events in two ways.