Make sure you understand exactly what your paper needs to contain. Especially if you do not have a lot of paper-writing experience. Read all the directions so that you write the assignment as given. You will need to know: how long should the paper be and how are you expected to back up your opinions.
Make an appointment to talk to your teacher as early as possible if you do not understand what is expected. Teachers usually expect students to do this and would rather clear up confusion than read it in final form. Asking questions early makes it easier for your teacher to help you.
Ask for other help if you need it. The harder the assignment looks, the sooner you should begin figuring it out. Many colleges have a writing center or peer-tutoring to help with writing papers. Find out what is offered, and sign up.
Make an outline of your paper. Paper and pen may seem old-fashioned, and your teacher may want to see your outline on computer. Writing on paper first, however, will help you organize your thinking. Usually, you do that more slowly than keyboarding, which gives you time to think.
Make as full an outline as you can from the assignment page. The assignment may contain questions; the answers to the questions become the main topics in your outline. For example, Question 1, about the causes of the Civil War becomes: I. Causes on your outline. If you know you will be listing at least three causes, number them and write them briefly under I Causes. Go on to the next assignment question.
Review your completed outline against the assignment. Make sure you have answered the questions that were asked (it's easy to get distracted--you may be much more interested in the role of women in the Civil War than the assignment asks you to be!)Get your outline back on track if you have wandered.
Check your assignment for any research resources and requirements. Your teacher may specify books or journal articles that you need to read, or he/she may suggest some choices. The assignment is also likely to tell you how you should handle footnotes, quotations, and research references.
Visit your library or computer center as early as you can to locate research materials, for two reasons. First, reserve copies of books can get checked out early, and computer-time schedules fill up quickly. Leaving critical information out of your paper because you did not plan enough research time will seriously affect your grade. Second, the more quickly you can start your research, the more time you have to think and write.
Make a full list and record of your research sources when you first find them. Note down all the information you will need: author, title, publication date, publisher, and page numbers. Researchers avoid such notes as "B.F., March 3rd." Plowing back through Broderick Ford, Brown & Frederick, "Banners of Freedom," and the Bartonville Falcon is very hard work when the best quote in your paper is at stake.
Add your research sources to your outline. If you need both Broderick Ford and the Bartonville Falcon to back up your point, make a note in your outline. Following your outline, you are now ready to begin writing your paper. Assignment, outline, research sources--you're ready to do a great job of writing your paper.