Get the assignment for the paper. Promptly forget about it until a few days before it is due.
Remember about the assignment at the last minute. Panic and rush to the library. Check out at least five books about the topic that may be useful.
Drink a pot of coffee while you think about how to approach the topic. Create an outline with an introductory paragraph, at least three sections of content and a concluding paragraph. Include as much detail as you can so it will be easier to follow later when you are tired.
Skim the relevant sections of the library books for quotes or ideas to use in your paper. Mark them with sticky notes or flags so you can find them while you're writing.
Start writing. Write the section that you know the most about first. It doesn't have to be written in order. Write as much of your own ideas as you can and then flesh them out with quotes and examples from the books. Properly cite all sources as you go along.
Run a spell-check. Make sure you have met the page or word limit requirements. Have a smart friend review and edit your paper in the morning. Make corrections.
Re-read your paper one last time out loud, editing as necessary. Print off one last fresh copy and run to class 5 minutes before it starts.