Identify your thesis, the scope of your topic and the general structure of your paper before starting to write. Depending on your learning style, you can do this through brainstorming, constructing a detailed outline or both. Make sure that your thesis and scope are commensurate with the length of your paper and that you can cover your topic in detail within the indicated page limit. Your thesis, or the overall argument of which you will try to persuade the reader, should be clear, to the point and stated in the paper's introduction.
Write the introduction. The length of the introduction will vary according to the length of the paper. For example, if you are writing a five-page essay, your introduction should be no more than a paragraph. If you are writing a 30-page research report, your introduction might take up one to two pages. Begin the introduction with an explanation of your specific topic, and do not make broad claims that are outside the bounds of that topic. State your thesis succinctly, and then briefly explain how the argument of your paper will progress.
Divide your paper into sections, and tackle one at a time. You may even want to insert numbers or headings to distinguish the sections, depending on the paper's length. This will help you organize your thoughts more coherently and prevent you from becoming overwhelmed. The use of headings will also assist the reader in following your argument.
Introduce each new section or aspect of your argument with a topic sentence. To construct successful topic sentences, imagine that you are presenting the key ideas of your paper in an outline format. Ask yourself what are the most important points for your readers to absorb or how you can best summarize the upcoming section in one, succinct statement.
Define terms with which readers may be unfamiliar or which have unique meanings in the context of your topic. You can do this in the introduction or at appropriate points during the paper. Definitions should ideally be drawn from the material with which you are working or some other authoritative source in your field.
Cite your sources, whether you are paraphrasing or directly quoting. Social sciences fields typically use APA format, which involves parenthetical author and date citations within the text. APA discourages the use of footnotes and endnotes, but these can be included if you feel they are necessary. If you prefer another format, such as Chicago or MLA, discuss it with your professor.