How to write a paper

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paper and pencils for writing a paper

You’ve been assigned a paper. It’s due in a week. You have no idea how to begin. The most important thing is to get started right away. Writing a paper the night before is almost a sure way to earn a poor grade.

Writing is a process. If you break it down into steps, things will flow much more smoothly. Need to know how to write a paper? Let’s get started.

Clarify the assignment

Your teacher will usually give you your assignment in one of three ways: written, orally, or with a demonstration. Or maybe all three. A written assignment may be a printed handout or a post on a web site, blog, or electronic classroom. It could even be in the schedule included in your syllabus.

Your first step is to locate the information you already have about the requirements. Look over the assignment and make sure you understand it. If you are unclear on anything, ask a classmate or the instructor. If you don’t like raising your hand in front of your classmates, talk to your instructor after class, or in his or her office. You may be able to use email, phone, or Instant Messaging. Use whatever method your teacher has specified as contact information.

Some details you need to know before you begin:

  • Subject matter and focus
  • Type of assignment: narrative, argumentative, etc.
  • Length
  • Date Due
  • Format
  • Sources required?

Set up a plan and do your research

The amount of time you spend on a paper does not necessarily translate into the grade you earn. Your instructor is looking for a paper that addresses the assignment. You may have a beautifully formatted paper (more on that later), but if it doesn’t cover the material, you have not produced an acceptable paper.

If your paper is to include outside research, allow extra time. Finding the sources takes time. Find out whether your teacher wants you to use MLA, APA, Chicago, Turabian, or some other style sheet.

When you take notes, copy down all the information about your source. You will need this to cite ideas you have found. This step is extremely important in order to avoid plagiarism.

Develop a thesis statement

You need to express the direction of your paper in a concise sentence. Write this before you start on your outline or draft. If you don’t know where you’re going, you won’t get there. Find out how your teacher wants it worded.

Outline

Any kind of writing contains a beginning, middle, and end. You need to get your reader’s attention from the very first sentence. Make an outline that shows what you plan to develop in each of these sections.

The middle, or body, will be the longest. Depending on the length of your paper, the body may contain 3 to 5 main ideas.

The end should pull together the loose ends. Emphasize your point again—in different words. Show your reader why he or she read this paper.

Draft

Very few people can produce a polished piece of writing on the first try. Allow for time to revise your paper. But first, get a rough draft down on paper. It is called “rough” for a reason. Don’t worry if it’s not worded the way you want it at this stage.

You can either handwrite your draft or compose it on the computer. There is no one way that works for everyone. Do what helps you get your ideas down quickly. At this point, don’t worry about whether it makes sense. Keep your outline and thesis statement in front of you to keep yourself on target.

Revise, revise, revise

This is the part everybody likes to skip. Revision doesn’t guarantee you a better grade. Sloppy revision can actually hurt your paper. But usually, reading through the paper and marking needed changes will improve the final draft. Make at least one paper copy during this process. It’s easy to miss the big picture when you only revise on the screen.

Be cautious of “cut and paste” revisions. A sentence that sounds good in its original location may not make sense when you move it. Have someone else read your draft over for you. Read it aloud. Set it aside for a day or two and come back to it with fresh eyes. (This is another reason to avoid procrastination.)

Polish and proofread

If you haven’t come up with a title yet, now is the time to decide on one. Pull something from your writing that represents the subject matter. Focus on your emphasis or your unique approach to the subject.

If you have been focusing on the content, now is the time to get out the fine toothed comb and look at the little details. Grammar, punctuation, spelling, and mechanical errors can destroy an otherwise outstanding paper. Get out your red pen before your teacher does. If your school has a writing center, take advantage of its services. Refer to a good English handbook—either a paper copy or online.

Check your format

Some teachers will not even accept papers unless they are submitted in the correct format. Others will deduct a significant amount from your grade. Find out exactly what form your work should take.

Here are some questions to answer:

  • What size and style of font?
  • What size and type of paper?
  • Should it be handwritten or word processed?
  • What heading is required?
  • What spacing and margins are required?
  • Where should the title be? What should it look like?

A Happy Ending

Learning how to write a paper takes some time and concentration. But the rewards are substantial. You will feel better about yourself because you know you have put forth your best effort. You will feel more confident the next time you have to prepare an assignment. And you may even receive a better grade.