I’m now going to explain – and show – what I mean by the Rules

Rule #1 Explanation. Incredibly, I have gotten papers that have no direct relationship at all to the course the student is in. This should be self-explanatory. You submit a paper that is not directly related to the course you’re in, and you get a zero. Period. No excuses.

Rule #2 Explanation. Start with trying to get the title. TITLE of a course research paper is defined as: “The presentation of the essential segments of the paper.” Follow the instructions in “Tips on Selecting Your Research Title.”

Don’t make the reader guess EXACTLY what’s going to be in the paper, based upon your title. Spell it out, in great detail.
TIP: You can almost always do this by spelling out the WHO, WHAT, WHEN , WHERE, HOW and WHY.

Here is a too-short and unspecific title: “An Al Qaeda attack using weapons of mass destruction.”

The reader has almost no idea what that paper would contain. It doesn’t tell the reader when, where, how, what specific weapon, etc.

Here is the long -- correct – and specific title: An Al Qaeda Attack, Using Anthrax, in the New York Subway System, During the Morning Rush Hour, Utilizing Aerosol Dispensing, and How to Prevent Such an Attack.”