10 Easy Steps for College Paper writing
Writing an academic paper in college can be stressful, especially if you aren’t sure how to go about doing it. To help you along the way, we’ve put together 10 easy steps that will have you writing your paper in no time! From choosing your topic to proofreading your finished product, here are 10 easy steps to follow while writing your next academic paper.
Step 1: Research
Research is the most important step. Know your subject and make sure that you are including as much information as possible to give a thorough account of the topic. When researching, it is important to use reliable sources such as books, journals, interviews, newspapers, and other reputable websites.
Step 2: Outline your paper
The second step is to outline your paper. This will help you stay focused and on task. The outline should include a topic sentence, supporting points, and a conclusion. The outline is important because it is the blueprint that guides you throughout the process of completing your paper. Without an outline, you could easily end up with a jumbled mess of sentences that does not make sense.
Step 3: Structure each paragraph with a thesis statement and 3-5 points
Structure each paragraph with a thesis statement and 3-5 points. Thesis statements are important because they tie together each paragraph and make the paper more cohesive. You can find good thesis statements in introductions, body paragraphs, or conclusion paragraphs of other essays or articles. Use this to your advantage by copying it into your own essay!
Step 4: Write every draft by hand before moving on to the computer
Writing out every draft by hand before moving on to the computer is a simple way to ensure your thoughts are adequately captured. Plus, you can always cross things out and make edits as you go if you’re not satisfied with how something turned out.
Step 5: Get rid of all unnecessary phrases and words
Reorganizing your sentence structure is a great way to cut out a lot of unnecessary clutter. When you read through your sentence, ask yourself if any words are not necessary. If so, try to find a way to remove them without changing the meaning of the sentence too much. One strategy is to combine multiple sentences into one. This will make it easier for your reader and you both to understand what you’re trying to say in less time and with fewer words!
Step 6: Always write complete sentences
This is not an exhaustive list of the ways in which to make your paper readable, but it’s a great start. It’s also worth noting that your paper should be written so it sounds like you’re talking to someone and not at them. For example, I think, becomes In my opinion or I believe. There are many other ways to take care of this but this is a good place to start.
Step 7: Use topic sentences, transition sentences, concluding sentences, etc.
One way to ensure your paper is well-organized is by using topic sentences, transition sentences, and concluding sentences. Topic sentences can be used to introduce an idea or a concept, whereas transition sentences are used to show the reader that you are moving from one thought or idea to another.
Step 8: Be consistent with your style (word choice, tone) throughout the whole essay.
In order to create a cohesive essay, be consistent with your tone and word choice. An essay that switches between formal and informal language is jarring and can make it difficult to understand the author’s point. It also keeps readers at arm’s length, which means they won’t feel as personally invested in what you have to say.
Step 9: Proofread several times over once you are finished.
Finally, take a break from the paper and then come back to it. When you are proofreading, look out for grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and any inconsistencies in your work. If you find something wrong with the grammar or sentence structure, consider fixing that area before continuing on with the paper. A spell-checker will not catch all of these problems, so don’t rely on it as a crutch!
Step 10: Revise your article at least one time per week till the final submission date
Revising your paper at least once per week will help you catch mistakes and improve the content of your paper; this is one thing professional paper writers don’t miss. At the end of this process, you should have a polished paper ready to submit. Don’t forget that it’s important to get feedback from other people on your work! Ask your teacher or professor if they’ll be willing to take a look at your draft and give you their opinion. Other people can often see errors or confusing parts that you can’t see because they’re so close to the project.