9. Sometimes it pays to be narrow minded.
You can’t possibly write about everything there is to say about a subject.

8. Sink rocks, don't skip stones.
Pursue a few things in detail. No one wants to read a paper that merely mentions things; discuss them.

7. Oh yeah, says who?
Don’t even bother to quote unless it’s clear in the text itself who it is you’re quoting.

6. So what?
If the material does not relate to your thesis, it might be interesting but it’s not relevant. It is also your job to analyze the material you present.

5. Finish your veggies…and your thoughts!
Don’t forget to tell the entire story and to tell your reader why you have included what you chose.

4. One good example is worth a thousand colorful adjectives.
Be specific. Every time you make a point, have at least one example to illustrate it.

3. Who the hell are "the people"?
Avoid general categories that are so vague they are meaningless. Be concrete and specific.

2. Don’t put socks in your underwear drawer.
The vast majority of "organizational" problems come when the writer fails to keep related material in the same place. Thoroughly discuss a topic, then move on to another point.

1. Proofread and edit.
This is number one because so few actually do it. Careless errors, chunky phrases, spelling mistakes, and deplorable grammar abound simply because too many writers think they’re done once they put the final period onto the page. WRONG!!!!