Write your thesis. The key to any successful academic paper is a strong thesis statement. Keep your statement flexible enough to allow for research for and against your topic, but make sure it asserts your position. For example, in a paper about digital security, rather than saying there is no secure coding language available to developers, state that many tools have weakness that can lead to breaches -- in this way you give your research a focus and your readers a reason to keep reading.
Develop an outline. Using your thesis as a guide, outline the body of your paper. Section one should include a summary of your research; section two should assert your position; and section three should address any opposing viewpoints or counter arguments. If you are researching the role of the Internet in developing nations, for example, section one might include the current location and access load of Internet and wireless services; next, section two would discuss ways in which these networks are helping people; finally, section three would cover the aspects of computing that might be considered detrimental.
Gather data. For an IT paper, your data might include test results of a program, application, or network, or historical information about how a coding language or application has changed over time. You should have a reference for each fact that you present in your paper.
Write an abstract. Your abstract should summarize your research and your conclusion. It should introduce each section and reference any major works cited. The abstract will be used to index your paper and will give other academics a clear indication of what your research proves. For example, if you are discussing operating systems, list whether your paper is about Linux, OS, or Windows, so readers know what to expect.
Assemble your related material. If your paper includes long sections of computer code, or multiple full-page diagrams -- of networks, for example -- include these in appendices at the end of your paper, rather than within the body. Use standard notation to direct your reader to the additional material.