How to write
How to Write a Paper in College: Your 101 Course
Author:
Samantha Williams
Dec 30, 2024
7 min
Table of contents
College Paper Writing Made Easy: Tips for Success
Whether this is going to be your first or twentieth college paper to write, it can always be a daunting task. The good news is, it’s never too late to discover how to ace a college paper assignment – and this is exactly what we’re going to break down below!
Read on to find out how to:
- Write a compelling introduction to your college paper (without going insane over it)
- Create a useful outline and follow the right paper structure
- Comply with all formatting requirements (without spending hours on formatting)
- Ace your college paper assignment
Beginnings are Tough: How to Start a Paper for College
Before you start obsessing over the introduction, let’s be clear: you don’t have to start with writing it. In fact, it might be a lot easier for you to write a couple of body paragraphs first and then get on with the introduction.
That said, most students struggle with how to start a college paper either way. So, here’s our cheatsheet for writing a good starter:
- Write one introductory sentence with a good hook if the format allows for it
- Set up the paper’s context with the two following sentences
- Add the thesis statement next
- Transition to the next paragraph
You may also be struggling with defining the thesis statement. In that case, think of the thesis statement as the answer to the paper’s central question of the paper. For example, if your topic is “the influence of social media on self-esteem,” the central question is, “How does social media impact self-esteem?”
How to Set Up a College Paper: Outlining Is Everything
The key to writing a good paper is research – a lot of it. But just reading tons of sources isn’t automatically going to make your draft great. That’s because if you don’t take notes, you’re likely to forget about some evidence or miss some connections once you get to writing.
This is where outlining comes in handy. Think of an outline as your whiteboard where you can add interesting sources and jot down ideas for body paragraphs. Some describe the outline as a blueprint, but it’s not 100% accurate. You can and should go against your outline (e.g., throw out some ideas) when you start writing.
What Does a College Paper Look Like?
A standard college paper consists of three key parts: the introduction, the main body paragraphs, and the conclusion. In addition to that, you’ll need to add a title page or a header to your paper.
To be complete, your paper should also include citations and a works cited page (unless no sources are required, like for personal essays). Don’t forget to format your paper according to the requirements and proofread your paper!
The exact look of your paper (margins, font, etc.) depends heavily on the required format, such as APA, MLA, and IEEE.
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How to Head a College Paper: Title Page or Header?
Before we move on to our tips on heading a paper, let’s be clear about one thing. The exact way you should head your college paper depends on either the citation style required or (if it’s not provided) the instructor’s guidelines.
With that out of the way, how to head your paper in college typically depends on whether you need to add a title page or a header. But before we break down how to header a college paper, let’s make sure we’re on the same page regarding what’s what:
- Title page: A separate page with information about you, your instructor, course, and the due date
- Header: Contains the same basic information as the title page but is placed right above the title and the paper’s text; used instead of the title page
- Title: The name of your paper can be added to the title page or after the header
How to Head a Paper in College Depending on the Style
Here’s our mini-comparison on how to header a college paper depending on the format:
- APA: A title page with the paper title, your full name, affiliation (department, university), course name and number, instructor’s name, and due date
- MLA: Four-line header with your first and last name, instructor’s name, course name and number, and submission date
As for the title, follow the rules of the citation style. Here’s how to write a heading for a college paper for APA and MLA styles:
- APA: Centered and in bold on the title page before your first name
- MLA: Centered, no italics or bold text; after the header
How to Set Up a College Paper Fast: Your Cheatsheet
Formatting can take tons of time if you’re starting absolutely from scratch. But, luckily, you don’t have to. Whether you’re writing your draft in Google Docs or Microsoft Word, both tools offer templates for common formatting styles. Here’s how to use them:
- Microsoft Word: Go to File > New and type your formatting style in the search bar to find the template, click on it and then click ‘Create.’
- Google Docs: Create a new document, then go to File > New > From template. Find a relevant template in the Education section, click on it, and you’re all set!
If you need help with the heading for paper in college, you can also take advantage of the many free online generators to speed things up. The same goes for formatting citations: even tools like Grammarly offer a free citation generator these days.
How Long Is a College Paper?
There’s no clear-cut answer here; how long your paper should be depends on your assignment. Some assignments can require one to five pages (which amounts to 500-1,500 words, give or take). Others may be longer than that, especially if you’re tasked with a term paper.
Don’t exceed the instructor’s length requirements—they won’t appreciate it, trust us. Submitting a too-short paper is also a no-no.
Tip: If you have a range for the length requirement (e.g., 3-5 pages) and you don’t have a lot of time, strive to hit the minimum threshold and focus on quality.
In Conclusion: 3 Tips on How to Write a Good College Paper
So far, we’ve been giving you tips on how to write college papers in general. But what about writing good college papers? Well, here are our three tips for knocking the ball out of the park:
- Pay attention to your specific guidelines. While guides like ours are great for some general answers to questions like “How long are college papers?” your assignment should be your ultimate guidebook. Read it multiple times to make sure you understand exactly what’s expected of you.
- Edit with a steady hand. Your paper won’t ever be great without proofreading and editing. Use tools like Grammarly for the former and read the draft out loud to edit it until it’s consistent, easy to read, and concise.
- Use your institution’s resources. If your college or university has a writing center, visit it. Browse the website for some guides, too. Reach out to writing advisors if you can.
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When it comes to how to properly head a college paper, following your instructor’s requirements is the key. If you have to use the APA format, for example, you’ll have to add a title page that contains the paper’s title, your name and affiliation, course information, instructor’s name, and due date. The MLA format, on the other hand, replaces the title page with a four-line header.
That depends entirely on your assignment! If the citation style isn’t mentioned in the instructions, don’t hesitate to ask your instructor which style you should use. There’s also a good chance that your instructor may have some particular formatting requirements of their own – make sure you follow those, too.
For advice on using the applicable citation style, check out your writing center’s resources.
To write an A-worthy college paper, we’d advise you to:
- Make sure you understand your assignment perfectly (read it multiple times!)
- Set aside enough time not just for research and writing but proofreading and editing, too.
- Create an outline as you’re researching your topic – but don’t hesitate to stray from it as you’re writing.
- When pressed for time, focus on writing a shorter but more in-depth paper.
Any college paper consists of the following:
- Introduction (with a thesis statement)
- Main body (with each paragraph consisting of the topic sentence, evidence, and your comment on the evidence)
- Conclusion
You’ll need to add a title and a title page or heading to it. Most college papers also require a Works Cited page.
Keep in mind that some types of college papers require extra structural elements, like the appendices.
