What kind of presentation should an essay have?

Question

Always double-spaced? single-spaced? arial 12?

Answer 1

The presentation of your essay has two jobs to do. Firstly it should be easy to read; that is both clear in meaning, and easy on the eye. Secondly, it should allow the marker sufficient room to leave comments, make corrections and so on. Remember, it isn't meant to look creative, but academic, so no coloured fonts (although illustrations/charts/tables may be useful where applicable).

Generally accepted rules are:
- Use New Times Roman, Arial, or similar (Tahoma is nice). Serif fonts - like Times New Roman - have little lines on the letters that lead the eye forward (that's what they say anyway!) and sans serif fonts - like Arial - don't. It's a matter of taste. I tell my students to avoid Comic Sans, as it reminds me of Primary level Displays!
- Use 12 pt. Too small is tiring on the eye, and too large is blaring.
- Hit enter/return twice for a new paragraph.
- Make sure you have around a 1.5 inch margin either side of your text, but don't centre it (as some of my students have!), or make leave such a large margin that it reads like a column in a newspaper!
- Put your bibliography on a separate page, with a clear heading.
- Number pages
- Avoid justifying the right hand margin for academic essays although it may suitable for letters, prose fiction and so on.
- Put your name and course on it - use a header.
- The title/question you are answering should be a clear heading, i.e. underline or put in bold.
- Make sure you check spelling, grammar and punctuation too. Avoid using abbreviations - write 'cannot' instead of 'can't', and beware of the common its/it's error... its = possive case it's = it is.
- Hand in pristine copy. That means in a folder or clear plastic wallet, clearly labelled, cover sheets filled in properly if applicable, and no coffee stains or banded, ink-running-low printouts! Show you care about your work so others will too.

Read your course booklet for specific guidelines from your university or college, and ask tutors what they want and expect. Things like paragraphing are often down to personal taste or 'house style' so again, if in doubt, ask.

A final note on paragraphing. You should make one point and develop it, per paragraph. As a general rule, do not indent (although if in doubt ask). However, if you are using sub-paragraphs (where you are you are making connected but secondary points that are closely related to the point in the main (un-indented paragraph), hit enter/return once and indent.

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

Never single spaced. Either have 1.5 spacing or double-spacing!! It makes it clearer for the marker to read!! As for the font I typically use Arial 12, or Bookman Old Style sometimes. But there are others you can use such as Times New Roman, also size 12. 12 is the standard size font. Just use a font that you like but that is not too fancy or too different to the standard Times New Roman font!!

Answer 3

Double Spaced. 4 or 5 centimetre margins ALL round. Ariel or Times New Roman 11 or 12.

NEVER indent the first line of paragaphs.

FULL pagination (having a ragged right margin looks REALLY messy and un-professional).

Leave at least 3 clear lines between paragraphs.

Answer 4

It depends on the college/University. The University that I taught at recommended a double-spaced, 10/12 font size and justified format.

Hope this helps!

Answer 5

ideally, it should be double spaced, size 12 font and either arial or times new roman font because according to most lecturers it is much more recognisable, as well as legible

Answer 6

Preferably, wide margined, double spaced, new times roman-bold. that way it is well presented and easily read.