How to Write a Paper: Your Guide for Acing Your Assignment
Jan 10, 202512 min read
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Paper writing is never easy. You may get stuck hesitating about what to write a paper on. You may end up rewriting or deleting a good chunk of the draft without a good outline. You may get a lower grade simply because of the incorrect formatting. Let’s break down how to avoid these and other woes with tips and strategies for writing a knockout paper – and doing it fast if necessary.
How to Choose the Topic and Get Ready for Writing
Before you ask yourself, “How do I write a paper?”, you should pose yourself another question: “How do I choose the topic?”
To answer that question, start with understanding your assignment. To do that, consider:
- What purpose your paper has to serve. Are you meant to demonstrate your understanding of a specific concept? Or apply your knowledge to solving real-world problems?
- Its objectives and scope. What does your instructor expect you to do: persuade, describe, reflect, etc.? Are you limited in the range of topics?
- Grading rubric. This will be your checklist on what to do – and not to do – to get a good grade.
How to Come Up with Topic Ideas
Now, you’re ready to start brainstorming the list of potential topics. To do that, consider what sparks your interest the most within the domain. You can also do a basic search for topic ideas to get inspired.
N.B. Keep your academic level in mind. If you’re looking for tips on how to write a paper for school, your ideas won’t have to be as advanced as for those googling how to write a paper for college.
How to Write a Paper Outline
Once you settle on the paper’s topic, the next question on your mind is probably: How do you write a paper outline? Here are our three tips:
- Start by looking for information. Google your topic, use Google Scholar or your school’s research databases, or pay a visit to the library.
- Take notes. Whenever you see anything that could come in handy in your paper, take a note – or at least bookmark it.
- Develop your outline. Define the paper’s thesis or key point and briefly describe every talking point in a list. Add evidence with sources to the list.
Typical Structure of Any Paper
Depending on your guidelines regarding what to write a paper on and to what end, the paper’s structure may differ. For example, a reflective essay won’t require the same structural elements as a term paper.
That said, any paper has a beginning (introduction), a middle (body paragraphs), and an end (conclusion). The introduction usually contains the thesis statement, while every body paragraph consists of a topic sentence and supporting evidence.
3 Tips for Creating a Helpful Outline
If you need a bit more guidance on the “How do I write a paper outline?” matter, here are our three tips on making an outline that works for you:
- Use a multilevel list to organize your thoughts in a hierarchical manner
- Strive to describe every paragraph in one topic sentence
- Don’t hesitate to revise your outline if you find new evidence that supports or contradicts a certain point
How to Write a Paper in APA Format
The paper format style dictates not just how you add the citations and format the list of references. You’ll also need to keep in mind its guidelines for:
- Margins
- Font
- Title page setup
- Paragraph alignment and indentation
- Headings
- Line spacing
- Page headers
- Order of pages
The APA style is, by far, one of the most popular paper format styles, used by students across multiple disciplines like psychology, sociology, economics, and linguistics. So, you’re likely to be asked to use the APA style for your paper.
How do you write a paper in APA format? Let’s break down its key rules below.
APA Style 101: 6 Basic Rules to Keep in Mind
Here are the six cornerstones of the APA 7th edition style:
- Title page: Required
- Line spacing: Double
- Margins: 1” on all sides
- Paragraph indentation: 0.5” for the first line
- Font: Has to be accessible (e.g., Times New Roman 12pt., Arial 11pt.)
- Page number: Required in the upper right corner
N.B. You can load an APA report template on Google Docs before you start writing to save yourself some time.
How to Write a Paper in MLA Format and Other Formats
Of course, the APA format isn’t the only fish in the sea. MLA is the next in line among the most popular academic writing formats. It’s common for assignments in humanities and liberal arts disciplines. Chicago and IEEE, the two runner-ups, are certainly well-known among history (Chicago) and engineering and computer science (IEEE) students.
Don’t know which format you should use? It should be stated in your assignment or its grading rubric. If you’re in doubt, drop a line to ask your instructor for clarifications, though.
Let’s break down how to write a paper MLA format, as well as how to follow Chicago and IEEE guidelines.
MLA Style 101: 7 Basic Rules to Know
Now, if you’re meant to use the MLA format, here are its seven rules that you should abide by:
- Title page: Not required; instead, add a four-line header
- Title: After the header, centered
- Running head: Your last name + the page number in the upper right corner
- Line spacing: Double
- Margins: 1” on all sides
- Paragraph indentation: 0.5” for the first line
- Font: Has to be easy to read (e.g., Times New Roman 12pt., Arial 11pt.)
N.B. You can generate MLA bibliography and citations with in-built features on Google Docs and on Word.
Chicago and IEEE: Two Honorable Mentions
Chicago is quite similar to MLA in many ways (spacing, indentation, font, etc.). Here are the four essential tips on how to write a paper in Chicago style:
- Page numbers: Required in the upper right corner or at the bottom center
- Title page: Optional
- Headings: Have to be capitalized
- Block quotes: Required for quotations of 100+ words or more than five lines
IEEE is far more restrictive in certain aspects. Here are the four basic rules on how to write a paper in IEEE format:
- Font: Times New Roman 10pt
- Layout: Two columns per page
- Required elements: Byline, abstract, keywords
- Page numbers: Not required
How to Write a Paper Quickly
How long does it take to write a paper? Well, that depends on its scope and complexity. Plus, some people may simply need more time than others.
That said, if you realize you’re getting too close to the deadline for comfort, you may need to speed up your writing process. Here are three tips for speeding up your writing process:
- Set a time limit for research: The rule of thumb is 30 minutes for every page
- Create a flat outline: Keep it minimalistic – but don’t forgo it
- Eliminate distractions: Maximize your productivity by working in a dedicated study area
3 Strategies to Speed Up Paper Writing
Need a playbook on how to write a paper fast? Here are three strategies for you:
- Focus on writing the minimum amount required. It’s better to write a good three-page paper instead of a so-so five-page one.
- Use the standard structure. Take advantage of templates to speed up outlining and formatting.
- Start with the main body. It’s easier to write the introduction and conclusion once the body paragraphs are ready.
Don’t Forget to Proofread and Edit Your Draft
Even when you’re on a tight deadline, don’t overlook this step. At the very least, check your draft with a tool like Grammarly and LanguageTool and read it out loud once – that’s the bare minimum. Plus, even if you’re short on time, don’t try to edit as you’re writing the draft.
If you have time for more – and if you’re striving for the highest paper quality possible – make sure you let your draft sit, even if for half an hour. (Ideally, though, leave it alone for a day.) That’ll enable you to look at it with a fresh pair of eyes.
Frequently asked questions
If you’re wondering, “How do you write a paper worthy of A+?”, study your grading rubric: it’ll tell you exactly what criteria your paper should meet. Besides that, make sure you understand your assignment perfectly and set aside enough time for proofreading and editing your paper before submitting it.
First, read your assignment multiple times. That’ll ensure you have a perfect understanding of what’s expected of your paper. Then, set a time limit for your research and set up shop in a dedicated study area to be at your most productive. Use templates and prioritize quality over quantity.
You can use the built-in tools in Google Docs and Word to generate APA citations and references. You can also load an APA template to speed things up. On top of that, we advise you to pay attention to the margins, line spacing, paragraph indentation, and other guidelines.
Leave your draft alone for some time, whether it’s a 15-minute break or a whole day. (The longer, the better, usually.) Then, use a grammar checker to quickly remove typos and basic mistakes from the draft. Read the text out loud to identify repetitive or clunky sentences and illogical passages.