TAKING THE FIRST STEP: You need to know exactly what your instructor wants. You must be willing to ask specific questions in class, meet with your instructor during office hours, and carefully look over any handout given on the subject. Although not presented as a definitive list, you should at least know the following:

What is the required length of the paper?_______________________

What kinds of topics are acceptable/not acceptable?______________
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Has the instructor indicated how the paper will be graded?  If so, write
down all information you have:________________________________
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When is the final copy due to the instructor?______________________

Date you plan to take the rough draft into the Writing Lab?____________

Are a minimum number of sources required?______________________

Are there any restrictions on sources? (For example, are encyclopedias acceptable, is there a limit on number of Internet sources, can you use your textbook as a source?) _________________________________________________________
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Is the date of the source important?_____________________________

Does the teacher prefer MLA, APA, or standard Footnote/Endnote and Bibliography format?____________________________

Does the Writing Lab have a file copy of a past student's graded paper you can look over?______________________________