11 Tips and Strategies for Writing College Papers

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11 Tips and Strategies for Writing College Papers

  1. Stake your own claim. Make sure that your argument means something to you, that it is of you, and that you’re not just cobbling together secondary source quotes for 10-20 pages.
  2. Make sure that you give yourself enough time to write a strong paper. I’m a big believer in false deadlines, which is basically pretending that the paper is due 3-5 days earlier than it actually is.
  3. Research your topic as much as possible; again, avoid just relying on the words of others/secondary sources.
  4. Create an outline for yourself in order to keep your paper organized and coherent. I’ve had students create an outline after they’ve written the paper, which is fine, but a good outline is like a road map to where you want to go. As a famous quote by Dale Carnegie states, “Tell the audience what you’re going to say, say it; then tell them what you said.”
  5. Create a very compelling thesis statement that makes an argument and then back up that claim with evidence. A good way to do this is to ask your thesis statement: “So what? Why is this important? Could I argue the reverse claim?” Pull together your thoughts and research.
  6. Write a first draft. Don’t worry if this isn’t pretty or doesn’t make sense; just get your thoughts down on paper. Walk away from it for a bit and then look at the draft with fresh eyes to organize and review.
  7. Make sure to actually read your paper over; editing and polishing makes a pronounced difference in the final product. Read the paper aloud. Have your roommate or a writing tutor or the instructor read it over. Good writers aren’t born; they just write a lot.
  8. Use citation management tools, like EndNote, as they will make your life much easier.
  9. Make sure that you have avoided grammar, spelling or formatting mistakes. No passive voice, for example, unless you’re taking a gamble.
  10. Done is better than perfect, every time. Avoid perfectionism, particularly if it is coming at a cost (if you’re unable to hand the paper in on time, etc.).
  11. Make sure that your instructor has received your paper in whatever way you have submitted it.