Set the margins to 1 inch in your favorite word processor. Make sure "left justify" is turned on.
Set the font to Times New Roman, Arial or Courier, depending on what your professor prefers. Set the font size to 12-point.
Add content to the header. Write your name, the name of the class, the meeting day and time of the class and the professor's name, each on separate lines in the header aligned left. Set this to show only on the first page. Include the page number, aligned right, on all pages after the first one.
Write the title of your paper, aligned center, two lines down.
Double space all text from this point forward. This leaves room for your professor to write in comments and makes it easier to read in general.
Write your paper. Fill in all text and follow the directions provided to you by your professor. For example, your professor may want you to number the pages or include footnotes. Be sure to ask if you're not sure.
Include a bibliography or works cited page, again depending on your professor's preferences. This should start on a new page or continue on the same page of your last paragraph a few lines down depending on what your professor requires. Follow the required style guidelines. MLA and APA are the most common.