Quick Questions: On Strange Quotes June 4, 2012

Part of our work at the Writing Center includes responding to “Quick Questions” asked by writers from within and beyond the DePaul community. By posting the questions from writers and answers crafted by our tutors, we hope you just might discover the answer to a question you have always wanted (or never thought) to ask!

Question: 

When quoting an author in a research paper, do I duplicate it exactly as it shows up in the book, i.e., leaving the capitalized words in this quote (or do I not capitalize them?): “For this reason, people stayed close to home or, if forced to walk in the darkness, carried IRON or SALT or turned there clothing inside out (SEE PROTECTION AGAINST FAIRIES). Fairies rode forth on the WILD HUNT, hordes of them pouring out of their FAIRY MOUNDS and riding through the night, kidnapping people they encountered on the road. For this reason it was considered ill-advised to walk near a fairy mound on Samhain night, even more so than on ordinary nights.” (Mongahan, 407)

Quick Questions: On Professional Bios May 31, 2012

Part of our work at the Writing Center includes responding to “Quick Questions” asked by writers from within and beyond the DePaul community. By posting the questions from writers and answers crafted by our tutors, we hope you just might discover the answer to a question you have always wanted (or never thought) to ask!

Question:  I am working on a professional bio. Can you tell me how to properly write this, specifically  how to write out the degrees (Masters, Master, master, etc.):

1) . She earned a masters of international marketing from Colorado College and a bachelor of arts in history from Chicago State.

Thank you!

Quick Questions: On Citing Commercials May 3, 2012

Part of our work at the Writing Center includes responding to “Quick Questions” asked by writers from within and beyond the DePaul community. By posting the questions from writers and answers crafted by our tutors, we hope you just might discover the answer to a question you have always wanted (or never thought) to ask!

Question: 

How would I cite a commercial in my works cited page?

Quick Questions: On Apostrophes April 26, 2012

Part of our work at the Writing Center includes responding to “Quick Questions” asked by writers from within and beyond the DePaul community. By posting the questions from writers and answers crafted by our tutors, we hope you just might discover the answer to a question you have always wanted (or never thought) to ask!

Question:

Where do I use the apostrophe?

I wanted to ensure our teams win.

Is it team’s win or teams’ win? Or do I not use one?

Quick Questions: Sources within Sources (Sourception?) April 19, 2012

Part of our work at the Writing Center includes responding to “Quick Questions” asked by writers from within and beyond the DePaul community. By posting the questions from writers and answers crafted by our tutors,  we hope you just might discover the answer to a question you have always wanted (or never thought) to ask!

Question:

How do you cite a source within a source? I found info in an online article that had info from another article and was unsure if I only cited where they got the info from or if I site both sources. Ex An online articles that uses a quote from a USA today article

Quick Questions — On Journaling for a Class June 22, 2011

Question: I am writing a journal for one of my classes.  Normally when I write a journal I write as if I am speaking out loud or tell a story.  My instructor reviewed my journal and stated there was a problem with my diction becasue I an using descriptions of myself.  She suggested I check with the writing center on problems when using casual diction.  She noted that was the major problem with journal.  I have written journals before and never had this problem.  Can you clarify for me the problems she is refering to in regards to casual diction?

Response: Casual language is fine for many things, and I can see why you would approach a journal with that tone. Of course, if the professor says you’re writing too casually, then you must be writing too casually, so let’s look at ways to change that.

Quick Questions — On Resumes and Cover Letters June 20, 2011

Quick Question:  Help! I just need information about how to write a resume and cover letter and I was wondering if anyone would be able to help me write these.

Quick Questions – On Focus(ed) Groups March 14, 2011

Question: I am a bit confused about terminology. Should it be ‘focus group’ or ‘focused group’?  For example, if I am writing the sentence, ‘The chairman is thinking of setting up focus/focused group meetings to collect stakeholders’ views’, should I use focus or focused? Or it doesn’t matter? Thanks! —

Response: Hi —!  Although it seems to make perfect sense that one would refer to a group of people focused on a particular topic as a “focused group,” I have only ever heard it said “focus group.”

Quick Questions – On Citing Online Sources March 2, 2011

Question: How would I cite these two sources (MLA style): Source 1 and Source 2? Thanks, —

Response: Hi —! Thanks for your question. According to the seventh edition of the MLA handbook, works only cited on the web should follow this format:

Quick Questions – On Getting Started February 23, 2011

Virtually every day tutors at the writing center respond to “Quick Questions” asked by writers from the DePaul community. We will start posting on our blog the questions we receive along with the answers our tutors craft in response. Of course, the personal information of each questioner will be redacted. We hope you enjoy this new resource… you just might discover the answer to a question you have always wanted (or never thought) to ask!