Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Building your paper
• Part 2 of 3: Writing your paper
• Part 3 of 3: Following general guidelines
• Tips
• Warnings

Writing a paper can be challenging and time consuming. In this article you will learn how to build a good paper and find tips on what every teacher likes to see in a paper. The deadline is coming - let's get started quickly!

To step

Part 1 of 3: Building your paper

1. View your assignment and topic. Your paper should meet your teacher's requirements, so make sure the topic you want to write about is appropriate for the assignment. Then check that you are writing the right kind of paper and using the right research material. You don't want to do all the work of writing a paper and find out you got it wrong.
   • If you have a topic, then you know exactly what to do to get a high grade. Think of the topic as a checklist for your paper.
2. Do your research and analyze the substance. Before you can start writing, you will need to research the topic you have chosen. Write down points of interest and continue on them.
   • You use the sources you find during this phase to substantiate your paper. Make sure you use good sources that your teacher will not disapprove of.
   • Use the internet, books and academic databases to find good primary and secondary sources.
   • If you have chosen a topic on which not much information is available, you can still change the topic. Choose a topic that interests you, but is easier to find information about.
3. Formulate a thesis. You have full control over your paper. What questions come to mind while researching the topic? What patterns do you see? What do you think of the conclusions of others? Immerse yourself completely in the topic and then come up with a thesis that connects all the interesting elements.
   • A good thesis conveys the main idea of ​​your paper in one or two sentences. Further:
     • Are all arguments from your paper briefly mentioned?
     • Is the importance of your argument explained;
     • Is the thesis logical;
     • Is the thesis at the end of the introduction.
   • Here's an example: In a story, a person shows his hypocrisy by admitting that he is satisfying his own greed and committing the same sin that he condemns.
4. Conduct research to substantiate your theses. In most cases, your first round of research is not enough to write a good article. You need to do specialized research to find sources that support the claims you want to make. You switch from a general search on your topic to a targeted search to find information that supports your ideas.
   • Choose the sources that most strongly support your ideas.
   • Check that your sources are trustworthy by making sure they are unbiased, finding the writer's credentials, and checking that the publisher is trustworthy.
   • Books, academic journals, and online databases are the best places to find good resources.
5. Write out the structure of your paper. List your thoughts and incorporate them into a brief summary of your paper. Mainly state your main points and arguments. Don't worry too much about details just yet, but make sure you put the structure of your paper on paper. This can save you quite a bit of time in the long run.
   • Write down which sources support each argument. This way you avoid having to look up all your sources again later, which can be a time-consuming job.
   • Make sure your outline includes your introduction, main points and conclusion. In the introduction you try to interest the reader in the topic. Then you explain your argument by means of main points and you finally come to a conclusion.

Part 2 of 3: Writing your paper

1. Write your introduction. Your paper is like a sandwich, as it were - the introduction is the first slice of bread. In the first section, you draw the reader's attention and your thesis is explained.
   • Explain the topic your paper is about. Start with a relevant quote, an intriguing question or by mentioning a counter argument.
   • Make sure your thesis is clearly stated and introduces the substantive part of your paper. The reader should have a good idea of ​​what you are trying to say in your paper by the end of the introduction.
2. Build up your main points. This is the "meat" of the sandwich: the part where you tastefully substantiate your thesis with arguments. Divide your main points among three paragraphs and explain one point in each paragraph.
   • Make sure every point makes sense and substantiates your thesis. A main sentence (generally the first sentence of the paragraph) should clearly state what your point is. Make sure to highlight all sides of this point - did you explain different sides of the story in the sentences that follow? Support your arguments with multiple sources.
   • In most cases you will have at least 2 sources for each point, but you may have more in a longer article.
   • Build each paragraph the same way. Clearly highlight each point and then substantiate it. How does each point relate to your thesis? Do you leave things out?
     • If you are writing a five-paragraph paper, it is common for you to explain your main points in three of those paragraphs. If your paper is longer, you can add extra points.
     • If your points are not all equally strong, it is best to place your weakest point between two stronger points.
3. End your paper with a strong conclusion. This is the "bottom sandwich," the last paragraph of your paper. You now only need to summarize your points and repeat your thesis again to leave your reader with a satisfied feeling.
   • End your paper with a memorable thought or quote or call the reader to action. You can also discuss what will happen if the points in your paper are not addressed. What do you want the reader to think or do based on your paper?

Part 3 of 3: Following general guidelines

1. Make sure you know what the assignment is. Your teacher may have already explained the task five times, but if you don't know something, it's best to just ask.
   • Should you use MLA or APA?
   • Can you use the third person or not?
   • Should you use page numbers or a certain line spacing?
   • How many resources will you have to collect? Are there any sources that are not accepted?
2. Check your text for grammar and substantive errors. You have been working on your paper for so long that you can no longer see the wood for the trees. Put it aside for a moment and then go through the text again to get the last mistakes out.
   • Have your text read by someone else. It may be clear to you what you want to say in your paper, but it may not be the case for someone else. Also ask if your second reader checks the punctuation marks and grammar - you have read your text so many times yourself that you can hardly see what is right or wrong.
3. Use transitions. An easy way to keep your paper running smoothly is to use transitions even within your main points. This shows the logical connections between your ideas.
   • Transitions allow you to smoothly merge paragraphs into each other. Moreover, this allows you to put extra emphasis on your main sentences.
     • You can use all kinds of transitions, but the most famous are: first, in relation to, like, in combination with, in addition, etc.
4. Write in the third person and the present tense. While some teachers may not like this, it is generally best to write papers in the third person and present tense. This means that you should never use the word "I".
   • Also use the present tense when discussing something from the past. After all, your paper makes a point that is "now" relevant. So don't write: "Ralf and Peggy had trouble with ...", but "Ralf and Peggy to have trouble with.
   • If you think you can improve your point by adding "I" sentences to your text, ask your teacher if you can. Some teachers have more difficulty with this than others.
5. Do not write a summary or plagiarize. If you hand in a summarized version of someone's text as a paper or literally copy sentences from someone else, this can result in a suspension. So always try to avoid this.
   • A paper summarizing someone else's text is in fact not your own work. Your teacher wants to see what you think about something - not what someone else has already explained in their paper, thesis or article. In fact, if you give your own opinion and substantiate it well, you can't go wrong. Stand up for your opinion and use it to formulate your own unique thesis.
   • If you commit plagiarism, your teacher is guaranteed to find out. Everyone has a different writing style and if your paper does not suit your unique style, this is immediately noticeable. If you are considering completely pulling a paper from the internet, it is good to know that teachers can easily find out. There is special software to detect plagiarism and a teacher will undoubtedly use it if he suspects that you have not written your paper yourself.

Tips

• Make sure your paper lends the reader a hand. Let him know what topic you cover and why you are researching something. Be as precise and clear as possible.
• Keep your paper interesting! A paper written by someone who is really interested in the topic will also be more interesting to the reader. Your passion for the subject is reflected in your words.

Warnings

• If you have any questions or run into problems while writing your paper, it is best to talk to your teacher right away. Not sure what is expected of your paper will complicate the writing process.
• If you think your teacher may not approve of the topic of your paper, you better inquire before spending days researching and writing.