Writing, Essay

S T Y L E

[number] characters long, set in Palatino Roman and Italic, 12/16 pt (12 pt

body, 16 pt leadign), justified (last line free), with hyphenation.

[1.]   The text box should be 15 by 23 cm, the position of its top left corner has to 

have coordinates x= 4 cm, y= 3.5 cm being the top left corner of the page the 

zero of your rulers (i.e. left margin 4 cm, top margin 3.5 cm). Use 0.5 cm

indention for all the paragraphs but the first(s) one.

[2.]   In a second text box having top left corner position x= 2 cm, y= 1.4 cm, set 

in Palatino Roman 9/12 pt, name, prof. name, course code, date – each of them 

separated by a line break.

[3.]   In a third text box having top left corner position x= 19 cm, y= 1.4 cm, set, 

in Palatino Roman 12 pt, the page number.

[4.]   In a fourth text box having top center point position x= 11.5 cm, y= 1.4 cm, 

set, centred alligned, the title of your essay, all upper case (capitals), Palatino 

Roman 10 pt, 60 units (a bit) letter spaced.

C O M P O S I T I O N

The thesis statement should appear very close to the beginning of the paper, 

often placed in the last sentence of the first paragraph, anyhow clearly defined 

by the end of the second paragraph at last.

Introduction: Topic and Thesis

Your introductory paragraph should do two things: introduce your reader to 

your topic and present your thesis. It is important to distimguish in your mind 

between your topic – what you will write about – and your thesis – what you 

will argue or attempt to prove. An hint, after you’ve written a first draft, go 

back, look at each paragraph you’ve written, and ask yourself the following 

questions: “What is my point in this paragraph?” “How exactly does that point 

support my thesis?”

A good thesis is :

Argumentative.

It makes a case. That’s the biggest difference between a thesis and a topic, 

hence a good thesis tries to prove something. One way to tell a thesis from a 

topic: if it doesn’t have an active verb, it’s certanly still a topic.

Controversial.

It means that it has to be possible for an intelligent person to disagree with 

your thesis; it also has to be something you can reasonably argue about, it’s not 

enough merely to give an unsupported opinion.

Analytical, not evalutative.

You are not required to praise or criticize a designer, only to evaluate the ides 

on the designer’s own way of expression/language. A good thesis should emerge 

from, not precede, your analyses.

Specific.

Every line must be specific, informative and relevant; that is, it must add to 

and advance your argument.

Avoids generalizations.

Look out to fall in the obvious, delete the lines of your generalizzation if they 

cannot be supported or proved.

Avoid ‘big’ words.

As a rule of thumb, if you have to choose between a ‘big’ word and a ‘small word 

with the same meaning, choose the latter.

Well supported.

That is the key to the rest of the paper after the first paragraph. All ideas and 

opinions in your essay have to be fully supported with facts, figures, examples 

or quotations from the relevant texts and designs.

It is especially important that you proofread your work before you send it in.

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