Tip #1: Don't misspell anything. And when I say anything, I mean it. I had a teacher that used to have a rule: Three grammar errors and you get a failing grade. Use spell check, but don't think that spell check will get them all, because it won't. Like two, to, and too? Or maybe their, there, and they're? This type of problem brings us to Tip #2...

Tip #2: Proof read. Proof read again. Have someone else proof read it. Have a whole slew of people proof read it. Ok, maybe I'm going overboard on this one, but when three errors gets a failing grade, one tends to proof read a lot.

Tip #3: Don't use contractions ;-)

Tip #4: Use grammar check at your own risk...

Tip #5: In a research paper, term paper, or any other type of paper that has sources, make sure you use lots of quotes. The longer the paper has to be, the more quotes you need. The teacher is not going to want to see a 10 page paper with only one quote per page.

Tip #6: Don't use too many quotes. I'm not being contrary here; it is possible to use too many quotes. The teacher doesn't want to see a ten page paper with only about one page of original writing. Try to find some happy medium. Not too many, not too few. I suggest about three or four quotes per page.

Tip #7: If you've got a fairly even spread of quotes, feel free to write a paragraph or two without any quotes. Also, if you have two or three quotes in one paragraph, you will definitely want to write a paragraph or two without quotes. It worked for me, should work for you.

Tip #8: Don't plagiarize.

Tip #9: Don't change tense. You know, past tense to present tense to future tense.

Tip #10: Don't use the word "I".

Tip #11: Commit the following to memory:

All the major grammar rules

Punctuation rules

Commonly misspelled and/or misused words

MLA styles for: using quotes, siting sources, etc.

If you can't memorize everything in Tip #11 -- I couldn't so don't feel too bad -- then do what I did: Keep your textbook within reach and look everything up as you use it.