Tips for Writing a Successful (College) Paper

Before we start, I want to make it very clear that I am not a professor of any kind. Instead, I am a successful student, having written many 'A' papers throughout my college career (and beyond!). All advice presented should be taken as just that; it is not intended to provide you with a step-by-step guide to writing papers.

Instead, this is intended to present a few tips I've put to good use over the years. If you have success, or feel like you have something to add to the hub, please feel free to comment!

Some people have good luck with just sitting down and starting to write without any real planning. Personally, I've never had very good luck with that method. I prefer to take a few minutes before starting to plan out what I'm going to say. I don't do outlines for small papers, but often I'll write out a series of "talking points" that I'll refer back to while I'm writing.

These talking points allow you to set the framework of your paper ahead of time, while still providing room to grow. Often, I'll be in the middle of writing a paper when a new insight strikes me and I just have to include it. I think that these insights are what transform 'good' papers into great papers. Professors read the same thing over and over again, and it has been my experience that a fresh idea or perspective will grab their interest again. So the goal is not to discourage this (which I think outlines do), but instead to give you an idea of where you're going.

Next, turn off your television. Just turn it off. My quality of work dramatically decreases if the television is on, even if I'm not really paying any attention to it. Distractions are unnecessary and, in my opinion, can dramatically drag your grade down. I had a conversation with a professor a couple of years ago who told me that he could almost always tell who was watching TV while writing. So just don't do it.

Finally, start early! Your papers will turn out much better if you start them a week ahead of time (or earlier). You'll have the time to really flesh out your ideas, edit, and make your paper as tight as possible. Believe me; your professor will appreciate it.

Once you've finished your first draft, the hard part is over. Assuming your ideas make sense and the basic structure of the paper is good and solid, you're almost home free. Well, kind of.

Now comes the time to edit, and you'd be amazed by the number of people who do a really poor job of this, or don't do it at all. Stupid typographical and grammar problems can slip though if you don't do a good job editing, and I can guarantee that your professor will start marking points off in her head every time she finds one.

Editing is actually pretty easy. Here's what I do:

• STEP AWAY for a day or so. Let the paper sit, you'll be much fresher when you come back to it.
• Print a copy out, go sit somewhere else. Get away from the computer, and from any sources you've used. The time for the latter is over (in theory), and the former just isn't needed right now.
• Read the paper out loud. I know you think you might sound a little bit insane, but I promise you it will pay off. When you read something out loud, you're much more likely to catch errors that could impact your grade. You'll notice spelling mistakes, grammar issues, and when something just plain doesn't sound right.
• Make your adjustments in red (or some color other than black or blue). It makes them stand out when you go back to enter the changes into the computer.

Now all you have to do is go make your changes. I usually run through this process a couple of times to really make the whole thing smooth.

Now you're almost ready to turn the paper in. You only have to do a few more things, but make sure you do them!

• Name! I cannot tell you the number of people I've seen turn in their papers without names. It's not a good mistake to make, and it's so easily avoidable.
• Make sure all of your sources are cited. Your professor should tell you what citation format he prefers (in my experience, liberal arts professors prefer the MLA format), ensure you conform to that. It shows that you listened and worked to make sure your paper fulfilled all of the requirements.
• No folders or binders. Most professors don't want you turning your papers in using folders, binders, and other assorted "presentation" equipment. It's just that much more paper they have to flip through to get to the "meat," and it's a cost to you.
• Having said that, make sure your paper is free from folds, creases, stains, and whatnot. A little professionalism goes a long way.

Assuming all went well and the final paper was a cohesive product, you hopefully should receive a grade that is in line with your expectations. If you turn in a paper that you honestly feel is an 'A' effort, you'll probably be rewarded with an A.

But if you don't get the grade you expected, ask why! Go to office hours, ask the professor after class, anything. You need to make sure that they didn't make a mistake, and that you understand the professor's requirements. Every single professor I've ever had has been more than willing to listen to student concerns, and to patiently explain what they're looking for in your paper. That way, you go into writing the next one armed with information. You don't want your final paper to get a low grade just because you still didn't really know what the professor wanted, right? Right.

And with that, good luck to you! The content matters most, but little style issues can make a huge difference in your grade.