How to write a big paper efficiently (and quickly)
Hey all! I know finals are over for a lot of us, but I still wanted to sit down and make a post outlining the way I personally write big papers (10-20 pages). This is the method that is most efficient for me, so I’m hoping it helps someone else out there! (This works best if you have at LEAST 3 days to write your paper. Hopefully you left yourself more time, but I get it doesn’t always work out that way).
My biggest problem when I write a paper is, well, writing. It used to take me HOURS just to finish a paragraph-- just sitting there, agonizing over sentences and clicking away to watch youtube or scroll tumblr every 10 minutes. If this sounds like you, you need a system!
Let’s get started!
Step 1: Set up!
The first thing I like to do for a project is get a 3 prong folder. Put a chunk of loose-leaf in the middle, grab a pen and you’re set!
Step 2: Read your primary source!
I’m an English major, so most of my big papers revolve around a book. Still, many other papers have a primary source from which you get most of your information. Sit down with your folder and read your book. Working in the 3 day time-frame, this is day 1. As you read, note any quotes that stick out to you, highlight them and write them down in your folder, with page numbers (trust me, that’s important, you don’t want to go scavenging for the page numbers of all your quotes after you’ve written the damn paper and are ready to be done). Under your quote, be sure to note what stuck out to you. Was it theme, characterization, etc that caught your eye? Maybe just an interesting word choice on the author’s part? These little things are important in a strong paper!
Many teachers will say that to truly understand a book, you need to read it at least twice. Well I’m here to tell you that while that’s a nice idea, I had an assignment on Moby-Dick this semester and that s*** just ain’t happening. It’s much better in my opinion to mark down everything significant the first read around, and then if you need to you can go back and reread the relevant passages. Don’t tell, but if I’m really desperate, I’ll just read the chapter summaries on Schmoop (oop) but trust me, it’s a lot easier in the long run if you read the book and get a feel for it yourself.
Step 3: Choose a paper topic!
Alright so you’ve read your primary source, gotten some good quotes. Chances are as you were reading, some ideas for a paper topic popped into your head. If your prof isn’t assigning topics (which most in college won’t) make sure to pick something you’re genuinely interested in. Even if they are, if you have a topic idea you’re really interested in, pitch it to them! 9/10 times I guarantee they’ll let you write that instead.
A good method I find in picking a strong topic for a research paper is to pair your idea with a pre-established field of study. Marxism, gender theory, queer theory, religious studies, feminism- all that good stuff. Doing this will help guide your research and also teach you a lot about something new!
If you’re having difficulty coming up with anything, there’s nothing wrong with going to a website like Schmoop and reading up on the book’s themes, analyses etc to get a better grasp on it. That’s what those websites are actually for.
At this point you may or may not be ready to write an actual thesis. I say go ahead and make a rough one, which can be amended depending on what you learn in:
Step 4: Research!
Aw hell yeah, baby it’s research day. This used to be the part I dreaded, but now I absolutely love doing research for my papers. Get thee to a library and start searching. And yes I mean that, you’d be surprised how much more productive and convenient it is to do research in an actual library. Start by searching your libraries database. I usually start with really broad terms, just my book and paper topic and see what’s available, then narrow it down from there. ALSO don’t be afraid to use books. Most academic books have very helpful chapter titles. Skim those and add a print source to your Works Cited (professors love that s***).
Print out all of the relevant sources you find and put them in your folder. The next step is much like the first: sit down, read through your articles and write down any quotes you find relevant with page numbers. Personally i give each source it’s own page and put the full title at the top to save time later.
Another good tip, during this step, make your works cited as you go! Most databases like j-stor and google scholar will even cite your source for you. Still, double check the formatting for these citations as I’ve lost far too many points to over-trusting automatic citations.
A rule of thumb I use is to have at least half as many sources as pages in your paper. Once you really get into the groove of researching, I guarantee you’ll find even more than that.
Step 5: WRITE. THAT. PAPER.
This is the hard part, huh? But look, while you were doing all that research and reading, I bet you got plenty of ideas for what you wanted to write about, which you hopefully jotted down as you went. With all the preparation in the last 4 steps, writing the actual paper is a breeze. If it helps, you can make an outline, but I usually don’t.
Your paper is an argument for why your thesis is true, and each paragraph should support that thesis. A simple formula: each paragraph should focus around a direct quote/ instance in your primary source that supports your thesis. Introduce that quote then explain how it’s supportive, even if you think the quote speaks for itself. Then use your secondary sources to back up the conclusion you came to with that quote. You must have secondary sources to support each point you make!!! Same with those, hug your citations with an introduction and explanation. This not only ensures your argument is well supported and expounded on, but adds word count! Finish your paragraph up with a mini conclusion and a lead in to the next paragraph, then rinse and repeat till the page count is met or you have fully defended your thesis.
Lastly, I know we scoff at rough drafts, but I’ve found that telling myself I’m only writing a rough draft and just need to get words on the page pushes through the paralyzing aspect of my perfectionism. And you’d be surprised by how good what you write actually ends up being. Then even if it’s not, revision is your friend!
Step 6: Revision and final touches!
Double, triple, quadruple check those sources and citations. Read your paper aloud. Leave it for a few hours and come back. If you have the time, take your paper to your professor to get their opinion or to the writing lab for help if your school/university has one available. Polish that paper to perfection, baby!
I hope this helps anyone who actually bothers reading! I think these are some really valuable tips that I personally wish I’d been told years ago. Some (or all I guess) of them may seem obvious, but to someone with as much executive dysfunction and perfectionist tendencies as me, having a plan that isn’t just “write a paper” has been ridiculously beneficial.
As cliche as it sounds, getting started is the hardest step, so sit down and get started!!!
