Some Reminders for Spokane Historical Text

I mostly really liked what I saw tonight. I do have a few reminders though:

• Remember that the reader will, theoretically, be standing in front of your site. Be sure to connect the reader to the experience with a phrase or two. "This striking building is the Cebula mansion..." or "If you look on the east side of this building you will see a ghost sign for..."
• Limit your editorializing. Don't tell the reader what to think about historical events.
• Brief quotes from primary sources are great.
• Begin your paragraphs with short declarative sentences.
• Do not write in the first person.
• Balance your interpretation between people and architecture. "The Cebula Mansion was built in 1908 by Bushrod Ebenezer Cebula, who made his fortune teaching dogs to whistle." Then have a paragraph about Bushrod. The second paragraph might begin: "The Catalonian style of the Cebula mansion is exemplified in the elaborate corbels of the second story balcony..."
• Use all available sources! Research your location, its owners, and your architect.

Finally, be very careful not to plagiarize--accidentally or on purpose. When working from only one or two sources it is easy to fall into the trap of paraphrasing too closely or even copying word-for-word. Double check your writing and compare it to your sources and make sure what you are writing are your own words. If you are unsure, ask before you submit.