Valencia College Professor Baker Reflection Paper Instructions Custom Essay

[meteor_slideshow slideshow=”hp2″]

Miriam-Webster’s online dictionary defines reflection as, among other things, a thought, idea, or opinion formed or a remark made as a result of meditation; consideration of some subject matter, idea, or purpose.
So, with that definition in mind, here is your assignment.
In a well thought out paper of 500 words minimum, look back at the cultures that came before the ancient Greeks and discuss their impact on the beginnings of civilization. What is the relationship of these early cultures to each other and to the cultures that would eventually evolve into civilization as we know it?
There is a lot to chew on there. I wouldn’t attempt to discuss everything. I would choose one aspect of these early peoples and analyses that particular element in relation to later developments.
Each paper should have a thesis. “Early cultures were important to later development” is not a thesis. That’s a “Yeah. No kidding. Why are they important?” kind of statement. A thesis should be something interesting, something that can be disputed by others who don’t see things the way that you do. This is your reflection, not someone else’s. There is a PowerPoint on thesis writing in the Content section of your class shell. Please look at it before you begin. It will help you in your development of this important statement.
• Papers should be at least 500 words. They can be longer.
• Papers should not utilize outside resources. These are your thoughts based on the readings in the book.
• Papers should use parenthetical references in MLA format from the reading in the text to back and defend your ideas.
General Guidelines for MLA format:
• Type your paper on a computer and print it out on standard, white 8.5 x 11-inch paper.
• Double-space the text of your paper, and use a legible font (e.g. Times New Roman). Whatever font you choose, MLA recommends that the regular and italics type styles contrast enough that they are recognizable one from another. The font size should be 12 pt.
• Leave only one space after periods or other punctuation marks.
• Set the margins of your document to 1 inch on all sides.
• Indent the first line of paragraphs one half-inch from the left margin. MLA recommends that you use the Tab key as opposed to pushing the Space Bar five times.
• Create a header that numbers all pages consecutively in the upper right-hand corner, one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin.
• Use italics throughout your essay for the titles of longer works and, only when absolutely necessary, providing emphasis.
Formatting the First Page of Your Paper:
• Do not make a title page for your paper.
• In the upper left-hand corner of the first page, list your name, your instructor’s name, the course, and the date. Again, be sure to use double-spaced text.
• Double space again and center the title. Do not underline, italicize, or place your title in quotation marks; write the title in Title Case (standard capitalization), not in all capital letters.
• Use quotation marks and/or italics when referring to other works in your title, just as you would in your text: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas as Morality Play; Human Weariness in "After Apple Picking"
• Double space between the title and the first line of the text.
• Create a header in the upper right-hand corner that includes your last name, followed by a space with a page number; number all pages consecutively with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.), one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin. (Note: Your instructor or other readers may ask that you omit last name/page number header on your first page. Always follow instructor guidelines.)
Tips:
• Do not use contractions (don’t, can’t, shouldn’t)
• Stay away from the pronoun I as much as possible. Discuss the characters, not yourself, your feelings or your thoughts. Your thoughts and feelings should shine through in your discussion of the topic.
• Do not make me part of your discussion by using the pronoun you. Avoid sentences like “You can see how much the Mesopotamians did.”
• Do not make unsubstantiated assumptions about anything. Do not start your paper out by saying something like “Life in ancient times was boring.”
• Everything you write in your paper should in some way be substantiating your thesis. Everything.

[meteor_slideshow slideshow=”hp4″]