These nine steps may be used for almost any type of paper you may be required to write while you attend college. These steps are:
Step #1 Understand the assignment
- What is expected?
- How long must it be?
- Date due? Penalty if it is late?
- Special format needed?
Step #2 Prepare a schedule
- Set deadlines.
- Take into consideration the time you have available to work on the project.
Step #3 Brainstorm, then choose a topic
- Choose a good topic that is:
Narrow enough so you will learn a good deal about it.
Broad enough so that sufficient information is available for you to use and to write about.
- Avoid topics that do not interest you.
Step #4 Make a simple, tentative outline to guide your research
- Write a tentative thesis sentence to refer back to at the top of the outline.
- Write some titles for main divisions.
- Fill in the outline and develop the various divisions as you research.
Step #5 Accumulate research
- Places to look for information in the library include: the computer information terminal, periodicals, reference books, and the internet.
- Take notes on cards according to subdivisions in your tentative outline, recording the source on the back. You may want to color code or label them. These sources are used in the bibliography, so be sure to document them completely.
- Record research findings as: summaries, paraphrased thoughts, direct quotes, or as your own original thoughts.
Step #6 Make a final outline to guide writing
- You should have previously revised your tentative outline throughout the research stage.
- File note cards according to the headings in your final outline.
Step #7 Write a rough draft, using your outline as a guide
- Write rapidly as thoughts go through your mind, using your outline as a framework.
- Don’t worry about sentence structure, spelling, or punctuation.
- Write on every other line. This gives you space to make revisions.
- Be sure to develop and support each thought clearly.
- Don’t be afraid to use footnotes. It is much safer to recognize the source than to plagiarize.
- Include an introduction which states the main points of the body of the paper and the central theme in a thesis statement.
- End the paper with a conclusion. Good papers don’t just stop. It may include:
Restating the central theme.
Restating the major points in the paper.
Stating an opinion or belief and explaining how the information in the report supports it.
- Quotes if the paper concerns literature.
- Bring the rough draft to the Tutorial Center for editing help.
Step #8 Revise and rewrite the rough draft
- Wait a day after writing the rough draft. This will give you time to think of new insights on the paper.
- Check your organization to see if your ideas are presented in order and make sense.
- Make sure the paragraphs are linked together so the reader can follow your thought process.
- Check paragraph construction.
Is there a topic sentence?
Is there one main idea with supporting details?
- Reread the second draft.
Check for sentence structure and complete sentences.
Edit—get rid of ‘wordy’ sentences.
- Reread a third time and check for mechanical errors.
Spelling
Punctuation
Poor word usage
- Bring the revised rough draft to the Tutorial Center.
Step #9 Put the paper in final form
- You should have previously:
Revised for organizational, sentence structure, and mechanical errors.
Put footnotes and bibliography in acceptable and consistent form.
Written a title that tells your reader what to expect.
Read it aloud and felt satisfied with the sound of it.
- Format considerations:
Make certain there are one inch margins on the top, bottom, and sides of each page.
Double-space your paper
Title page should include: title of the paper and your name.
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