3 Tips for Writing Academic Papers
Write down an outline
We're taught to do this from a very early age. Map out your intro, three main points, supportive information, and conclusion. It gets old, but you know what? It works. It doesn't have to be done in the same fashion as what you did in grade school, either. What I do is just jot down some notes about ideas I have before starting. I generally write down my thesis (central point of the paper), my main points, and supportive information such as ideas for citations. It helps me greatly once I start writing. It also will give you an incredibly concentrated direction in your paper. Having an outline to follow prevents rambling better than anything else.
Write down your thesis and refer to it constantly
Writing without a thesis is like driving without a destination. Maybe it's fun, but you just end up wasting time and fuel and don't accomplish anything. What I like to do is write down my thesis on a sticky note and stick it to the bottom of my computer screen do my programming homework . It's a constant reminder while typing up a paper to tie everything I write back into the thesis. Not doing so is a very easy target for teachers to take points of for, too. If you don't tie in your main points to your thesis, what's the purpose of having main points? It will hurt your grade every time. Being able to tie everything back into your central idea will result in a very focused paper and will be easily readable by your audience.
Just start writing
My girlfriend has a major problem with this and I know she's not the only one. It's easy to procrastinate, but it doesn't help anything. The sooner you start, the sooner you get your paper done. You can only plan so much before writing. Once you've got a rough outline, just dive in. I always find that once I start writing, the paper isn't too bad. What's bad about it is the anxiety I feel before starting. Put an end to the anxiety and just start! That way, you can get done with your first draft and you won't be as pressed for time for revisions.
What are some of the things you do to write better papers? Comment!
