Q: What should I do about incorrect feedback in RD sessions?

A: Ignore them. Reviewers should refrain from providing suggestions that might mislead writers. Here are a few that are either incorrect or misleading. For exceptions to these rules, email me at jamess@hawaii.edu.

1. The title of your essay must be in bold. (Don't bold, italicize, quote, all-uppercase, or underscore the title of your essay.)

2. You must use hanging indentation in the works cited section. (Don't indent.)

3. The thesis must be a single line. (It should be a single sentence in length.)

4. You'll be penalized if your paper is longer than the maximum. (No penalty for papers that exceed the maximum word count.)

5. The thesis must be the last sentence in the intro paragraph. (It doesn't have to be the last sentence in the intro paragraph. However, it must be labeled.)

6. The use of "you" is always incorrect. (Second-person is OK when used in dialogues. Also, in some cases (e.g., in speeches where the writer is directly addressing an audience), it is allowed.

7. Rhetorical questions (RQs) are always incorrect. (RQs may be used when they serve a strategic purpose. However, if it's obvious that you're simply setting up your own response, avoid it.)

8. Get and its variations, as well as empty-it and empty-there, should always be avoided. (These and other AIP style "errors" are acceptable when the usage is logical or alternatives are lacking.)

9. Indentation is required for block quotes. (No. See item 3 in the FAQs under "Other Topics" on our class webpage.

10. Avoid the first-person "I" construct. (In papers for this class and in most college papers that are between formal and informal in style, the first-person point of view is acceptable if not preferred.)