Provide structure in the assignment.
Shape the assignments in a way that helps students succeed by indicating how they might organize the essay. Consider the difference in these two assignments:

• Write an essay about how Institution A and Institution B approach Controversial Topic.
• Write an essay about the three principal differences in the ways Institution A and Institution B approach Controversial Topic. Be sure to account for each difference.

• Write a lab report about your experiment.
• Write a lab report that tells what you did, step-by-step, in your experiment, reports the results you had, and then tries to account for those results.

Make your expectations clear.
Tell students that you expect them to proofread for grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Suggest that they edit one another's work (and consider using edit sessions during class time). Explain that getting matters of form right is professional courtesy. A sentence or two in the assignment makes it plain to students that you care about form as well as content. (And talk plainly about academic honesty!)

Offer models.

• Consider giving students a style sheet if certain matters of form or documentation are important to you.
• Consider offering a sample essay or essays for an assignment.
• When you make a reading assignment, talk about how the author writes, covering both strengths and weaknesses.

• Ask students to submit for your approval a thesis statement on major essay assignments. (A thesis statement should include both the paper's topic and the paper's focus, how the writer will limit and shape the topic.) Return these with brief comments, e.g., "Great topic, but you're trying to cover too much," "I like your approach. Have you considered using XYZ as an example?" "I'm worried about your form; don't forget to proofread your work so that the presentation is as strong as your ideas."
• Ask students to submit a brief outline, on which you comment.
• Ask students to fill out an information sheet that includes key pieces of data if the assignment is suitable for that approach.