I'm typing a second paper for a history class, and in my first paper, the professor criticized my opening introduction, but when I go back to look at it, I'm not sure what he meant. Lately I've been so unsuccessful with typing papers, I'm questioning everything I type. Hopefully someone can help me with this.

Anyways, my most recent paper, I had to read an article by an author named Brands. So when I was introducing my paper, I wrote:
"In reading Brands' essay, American national interest has three main components..." to which the professor wrote: "Rule No. 1: Write for a general audience. I know who Brands is....your roomate[sic] may not"

At first, I thought he meant I didn't need to mention the author (or title) since he assigned it paper, so he knew what I was referring to, and didn't need to reiterate it in my paper. Now, I'm wondering if he meant I should be more specific. Should my introduction have been: "In reading H.W. Brands' 'American Foreign Policy', American national interest has three main components..." So I would be mentioning the author's full name, as well as title of the article.

Another example, the book I had to read for this next paper is called An American Ascendancy by Michael Hunt. So when I type this paper, should I reference the full title and author in the introduction? This seems like an elementary question, but I've been doing so poorly on papers lately, I need to reexamine what I'm doing wrong.

Yes he wants you to write your paper to someone who has no prior knowledge of the topic. So you should introduce the author and book. But I would never start a paper out with "In reading Brandt's essay". You have to come up with a better lead in sentence. Like maybe a good quote out of it, and then introduce the title of it and who the author is.

iclfan2 wrote: Yes he wants you to write your paper to someone who has no prior knowledge of the topic. So you should introduce the author and book. But I would never start a paper out with "In reading Brandt's essay". You have to come up with a better lead in sentence. Like maybe a good quote out of it, and then introduce the title of it and who the author is.

This.

After reading 'American Foreign Policy' by H.W. Brand, an American Historian and Professor at the University of Texas, it is evident that American national interest has three main components...

qualify the author

friendfromlowry wrote:...Another example, the book I had to read for this next paper is called An American Ascendancy by Michael Hunt. ...

Definitely refer to this author as "Mike Hunt".

thats english 101 for ya