Could you critique my paper I have a list of formatting at the end in those boxes could you identify the basic APA formatting tell me whats wrong or correct in each box.
My Paper
Judy Student
May 18, 2007
Instructor: Alexander Hill
Making the decision to return to school was not an easy decision, but returning to school will create a better future for my family and me. Trying to get a college degree while I have to work full-time and raise children will be a challenge. This challenge will be worth the hard work, however, so that the future is better for all of us.
Learning new skills and knowledge is something that is required every day in my job. Currently, I am not eligible for promotions because I do not have the necessary college degree. Also, when I try to compete with others for jobs that do not require a college degree, the other applicants have some type of formal education on their résumés that outweighs my background. I want this college degree so I can compete with others for the jobs for which I am qualified. Today’s employment market is filled with talented people who have various degrees, speak multiple languages, and have varying experience levels. Without a degree, it will become more difficult as I get older to find a position I not only enjoy but that also provides for my family.
1. MY EDUCATIONAL GOALS
At the end of my degree program, I hope that I gain skills in three areas: critical thinking, writing, and collaboration. Of these three areas, I think my critical thinking skills need the most attention. I need to work on the following areas:
• Improve my ability to look at other options
• Improve my ability to ask open-ended questions
• Improve my ability to do research
To develop my critical thinking skills, the first thing I need to so is develop some type of study schedule. I usually am very busy from 6 to 7 AM because I have to get my children off to school. I am thinking that studying in the evenings and during my lunch hours will give me the best chance of being able to focus on my school work.
Formatting Category Deviation from APA Suggestion for Correcting the Error
Font (type and size)
Manuscript page header
Page numbers
Title page
Margins
Heading levels
Spacing
Indentation
Abbreviations
Lists
Making the decision to return to school was not an easy decision; however, returning to school will create a better future for my family and I. Although seeking to attain a college degree while having to work full-time and raise children, will be a defininte challenge, this challenge will be worth it (try to find a better word than "it" though...if that doesn't work for you so much) to ensure a brighter future for all of us.
Learning new skills and knowledge is required everyday in my job. At present, I am not eligible for promotions due to not holding the necessary college degree. Also, when I try to compete with others for jobs that do not require a college degree, the other applicants have some type of formal education on their résumés that outweighs my background. I desire to attain a college degree so that I am able compete with others for the positions for which I am qualified. Today’s employment market is filled with talented people who have various degrees, speak multiple languages, and have varying experience levels. Without a degree, it will become more difficult as I grow older to find a position I not only enjoy but one that also provides for my family.
1. MY EDUCATIONAL GOALS
I am not sure if this is to be an actual "formal" letter for a very specific reason...but, I have rearranged just a few areas. Check to see if those help somewhat.
Perhaps someone else will also be able to add/edit your piece further. If this letter is being written in hopes of being selected for post-secondary Ed, of some sort, perhaps throw in the words that show desire & dedication or persistence. If the above is a formal letter, try not to bring what others have over you quite as much, especially if it for applying to further you education. Just sell yourself. Somewhere you "may" have wanted to state about furthering your education in hopes of....etc...rather than just calling school "school".
take out "Making" at the beginning, also. Just begin with "The decision".
Take out the comma I put in after children & before will in the 2nd sent.
To critique your paper and identify the basic APA formatting errors or corrections, I would need to see the specific formatting details in the boxes that you mentioned. Without that information, I cannot provide you with specific suggestions for correcting the errors.
However, I can explain some of the basic APA formatting guidelines that you should follow:
1. Font (type and size): Use a clear and legible font such as Times New Roman or Arial, with a font size of 12 points.
2. Manuscript page header: Include a page header, also known as a running head, at the top of every page. It should be a shortened version of your paper's title (up to 50 characters) in uppercase letters, aligned to the left. The page number should be aligned to the right.
3. Page numbers: Number all pages consecutively starting from the title page. Use Arabic numerals in the top right corner of each page.
4. Title page: The title page should include the title of your paper, your name, the date, and the name of your instructor.
5. Margins: Set 1-inch margins on all sides of the document.
6. Heading levels: Use different levels of headings to structure your paper. APA has specific guidelines for formatting headings, including using bold for level 1 headings, italics for level 2 headings, and sentence case capitalization.
7. Spacing: Double-space the entire document, including the title page, abstract, main text, and references. Do not add extra spaces between paragraphs.
8. Indentation: Use a hanging indent for references and block quotes. In the main text, do not indent the first line of paragraphs.
9. Abbreviations: Spell out abbreviations on their first use and provide the abbreviation in parentheses.
10. Lists: Use bullet points or numbered lists when presenting lists in your paper.
These are some basic APA formatting guidelines. If you provide the specific details of the formatting errors or corrections in the boxes you mentioned, I can give you more specific suggestions for correcting them.