Writing and Editorial Guidelines Organization with a clear structure Precision and clarity Logical and rational arguments/statements Well researched and documented Concise, yet informative, and readable Research Paper Overview 2 Introduction Statement of the Problem Discussion Judgment Conclusion Common Structure 3 Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (11th ed.) http://www.merriam-webster.com/ Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association Better known as the “APA style guide” Tools 4 Do not use double spaces following sentence-ending periods Do not use underlines Avoid sexist language Common Problems 5 Take care in the use of such adverbs as “very” and “quite” Do not mix singular nouns with plural pronouns Capitalize only proper nouns Italicize only book, movie and TV program titles, and words that are defined Common Problems Do not add quotes for emphasis Understand the different applications for commas, semicolons and colons Break up your paragraphs such that you deal with only one primary theme in each Substantiate any statements of fact Common Problems 7 Verbose: It seems that the state government is looking for every possible way to reduce debt and expenditures in every corner that they can. Better: It seems that the state government is looking for every possible way to reduce debt and expenditures in every corner that they can. Wordiness 8 Verbose: The criminal justice system in California has many areas where there are many problems, but in my opinion I think the correction area has the most problems. Better: The criminal justice system in California has a variety of problems in many areas where there are many problems, but in my opinion I think the corrections area has the most problems. Wordiness (cont’d.) 9 Verbose: I think by having our punishment system aim significantly more toward deterrence in such a way as to have those who are considering criminal activity see the crime as not worth the possible consequences, our crime rate will greatly decrease. Better: I think by having our punishment system aim significantly more toward deterrence in such a way as to have those who are considering criminal activity see the crime as not worth the possible consequences, our crime rate will greatly decrease. Wordiness (cont’d.) 10 Criminals specifically research in advance specific countries to which they can flee in order to avoid capture and prosecution in the United States. Our tax dollars and grants often go to ensure that prison inmates are given luxuries that many people who work hard every day outside the prison walls are not able to afford. Substantiation 11 Bayley (1991) reported that… The incidence of elder abuse has increased twofold over the past five years (Fuentes & Gatz, 1983; Leishman, 2007; National Police Agency, 2003a). As a result of the decision in Lessard v. Schmidt (1972),… Appendix 7.1, Section A7.03, provides a nu.

1. Writing and Editorial
Guidelines
Organization with a clear structure
Precision and clarity
Logical and rational arguments/statements
Well researched and documented
Concise, yet informative, and readable
Research Paper Overview
2
Introduction
Statement of the Problem
Discussion
Judgment
Conclusion
Common Structure

2. 3
Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (11th ed.)
http://www.merriam-webster.com/
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
Better known as the “APA style guide”
Tools
4
Do not use double spaces following sentence-ending periods
Do not use underlines
Avoid sexist language
Common Problems
5

3. Take care in the use of such adverbs as “very” and “quite”
Do not mix singular nouns with plural pronouns
Capitalize only proper nouns
Italicize only book, movie and TV program titles, and words
that are defined
Common Problems
Do not add quotes for emphasis
Understand the different applications for commas, semicolons
and colons
Break up your paragraphs such that you deal with only one
primary theme in each
Substantiate any statements of fact
Common Problems
7
Verbose: It seems that the state government is looking for every
possible way to reduce debt and expenditures in every corner
that they can.
Better: It seems that the state government is looking for every
possible way to reduce debt and expenditures in every corner
that they can.
Wordiness

4. 8
Verbose: The criminal justice system in California has many
areas where there are many problems, but in my opinion I think
the correction area has the most problems.
Better: The criminal justice system in California has a variety
of problems in many areas where there are many problems, but
in my opinion
I think the corrections area has the most problems.
Wordiness (cont’d.)
9
Verbose: I think by having our punishment system aim
significantly more toward deterrence in such a way as to have
those who are considering criminal activity see the crime as not
worth the possible consequences, our crime rate will greatly
decrease.
Better: I think by having our punishment system aim
significantly more toward deterrence in such a way as to have
those who are considering criminal activity see the crime as not
worth the possible consequences, our crime rate will greatly
decrease.

5. Wordiness (cont’d.)
10
Criminals specifically research in advance specific countries to
which they can flee in order to avoid capture and prosecution in
the United States.
Our tax dollars and grants often go to ensure
that prison inmates are given luxuries that
many people who work hard every day outside the prison walls
are not able to afford.
Substantiation
11
Bayley (1991) reported that…
The incidence of elder abuse has increased twofold over the
past five years (Fuentes & Gatz, 1983; Leishman, 2007;
National Police Agency, 2003a).
As a result of the decision in Lessard v. Schmidt (1972),…
Appendix 7.1, Section A7.03, provides a number of examples.
Text Citations

6. 12
A citation is required for any quote
that is used.
Where possible, the page number should also
be included.
Example: The study shows “a significant need to develop new
policy initiatives to address the issue of elder abuse” (Katz,
Webb, & Schaefer, 2001, p. 141).
Text Citations
You must provide a citation for any quote that you use.
13
A quotation of 40 words or more must be set up as a block
quotation:
A nation which has forgotten the quality
of courage which in the past has been
brought to public life is not as likely to
insist upon or regard that quality in its
chosen leaders today—and in fact we
have forgotten. (Kennedy, 1961, p. 17)
Text Citations

7. 14
A personal communication is cited as follows:
The program was outlined by T. K. Lutes (personal
communication, April 18, 2011).
(V.-G. Nguyen, personal communication, September 28, 2008)
A personal communication is cited only in the text, not in the
Reference listing.
Includes private letters, memos, e-mail, personal interviews,
phone conversations, and the like.
Text Citations
One Work by One Author (Book)
Bayley, D. (1991). Forces of order: Policing modern Japan.
Berkeley: University of California Press.
Article without DOI (Government Document)
Cabinet Office. (2006). White paper on the national lifestyle
2006. Retrieved on January 5, 2010, from
http://www5.cao.go.jp/seikatsu/whitepaper/h18/10_pdf/01_honp
en/index.html
Journal Article with DOI
Fuentes, M. E., & Gatz, M. (1983). Fear of crime in the elderly:
Its relation to leaving one’s abode, self-reported health and
sense of personal control. Gerontologist, 23, 296–315.
doi:10.1037/a0009036

8. References
16
Government Report
Kanayama, T., & Eguchi, A. (2009). Japan’s challenge on the
increase in crime in the new century. Tokyo: Police Policy
Research Center, National Police Agency of Japan.
Book Chapter
Knight, J., & Traphagan, J. W. (2003). The study of the family
in Japan. In J. W. Traphagan & J. Knight (Eds.), Demographic
change and the family in Japan’s aging society (pp. 3–23).
Albany: State University of New York Press.
References
17
Title Translated into English
Kochi Prefecture. (2009). Kochi no Tokei 2008 [Statistics of
Kochi 2009]. Kochi, Japan: Author.
Two Works from the Same Author in the Same Year
National Police Agency. (2003a). Keisatsu hakusho, 2002-1

9. [White paper on police 2002-1]. Tokyo: Author.
National Police Agency. (2003b). Keisatsu hakusho, 2002-2
[White paper on police 2002-2]. Tokyo: Author.
References
18
Book (edition)
Reichel, P. L. (2008). Comparative criminal justice systems: A
topical approach (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice
Hall.
Journal with No Volume Information
Wilson, J. Q., & Kelling, G. (1982, March). Broken windows:
The police and neighborhood safety. Atlantic Monthly,
29–38.
References
19
What Is a Scholarly Journal?
Scholarly Journals

10. Commercial Publications
20
What is the purpose of the article?
Who is the author?
Who are the target readers?
What does the article look like?
Are information sources cited?
5 Factors to Consider
21
Scholarly Journals
Report on research findings and scholarship
Review other scholarly works

11. Other Periodicals
Report on current topics, events,
and news
Entertain and/or persuade
Purpose
The main purpose of a research report is to condense the
findings in order to enable readers to understand the
implications of the data analysis.
22
Scholarly Journals
Scholars, researchers, experts, and students
Written in scholarly or technical language
Other Periodicals
General readers
Written in non-technical language for anyone to understand
Audience

12. 23
Layout
Scholarly Journals
Other Periodicals
Serious and formal
Few or no advertisements
Tables of statistics, graphs, maps, or photos that support the
text
Articles are usually lengthy and detailed
Attractive and entertaining
Glossy paper, photos, illustrations, and advertisements
Articles are often short (1‒5 pages), little depth or detail
24
Sources
Scholarly Journals
Other Periodicals
A bibliography (references/works cited) and/or footnotes are
ALWAYS provided to document research thoroughly

13. Cited in the particular style assigned by the journal (e.g. APA,
MLA, Chicago)
A bibliography is usually not provided, although names of
reports or references may be mentioned in the text
25