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What’s Your Point? Make It Clear With a Great Thesis Statement

A well-crafted thesis statement is a great way to prepare your reader for the information they are about to receive. After all, that’s the point of any writing project -- to communicate something, in this case, in a written format. More than a topic sentence, a thesis statement provides a snapshot of what your essay or research paper will contain. It also serves as a valuable touchstone for you, as the writer, as a step in your final editing phase, to ensure you have accomplished the goals you set out when you began drafting. So what exactly is a thesis statement? Put simply, it’s a one-sentence summary of your entire paper. The thesis statement is typically the last sentence in your introductory paragraph, which allows you to transition the reader to the information contained therein. The reader therefore knows what information will be presented in your paper and what to expect.  Thesis statements: Sum up your entire essay in one sentence. Include specific and detailed i
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Increase Readability With Colons & Semicolons

Colons and semicolons are among the most misunderstood of punctuation marks. Used correctly, these little grammatical joiners can add readability and interest to your writing. Try these ideas for making your writing even more accessible, understandable and impactful:  1. Use a semicolon to join two complete sentences that are related in some way. ↪ EXAMPLE:  I was driving too fast; I was issued a traffic citation. 2. Use a semicolon to help you use transitions in your paragraphs and sentences. ↪ EXAMPLE:  I am the family shopper; however, everyone in my home has an opinion on what to purchase. 3. Use a semicolon to separate complex items in a list when using commas would create confusion. ↪ EXAMPLE:  I went on vacation with Laura, my sister; Ryder, my nephew; and KC, my brother-in-law. 4. Use a colon at the end of a complete sentence to emphasize information. ↪ EXAMPLE:  There is one thing I always purchase: cereal. 5. Use a colon as a substitute for a signal word su

New Year, New APA Style Guide!

A new version of the APA Style Guide is on its way! Click here to learn how you -- and your writing -- will be affected. To view a video detailing the updates, click here .

APA 7th Edition: What's Changed?

Happy New ... edition of the APA style guide? Just when you thought you had finally mastered the guidelines of the 6th edition, the APA 7th Edition style guide has arrived! Fortunately, the new changes should simplify the layout, citation and referencing process. Highlights include: Paper Format No more running head on students' papers More flexibility when it comes to students' title pages Simplified student paper header levels Grammar One space after each period at the end of a sentence Singular use of "they" permitted In document, broader use of quotation marks rather than italics will increase visibility References Page Most titles, including webpages, are in italics rather than quotation marks No place of publication is required for book references No database name or URL are required for online database references "Retrieved from" is no longer required before any URL During this time of transition from 6th to 7th