What Constitutes a Well Written College Paper?

Academic Research Sources

• Avoid using a general search engine to find research sources. Look for scholarly articles, websites from educational or government sources and books published by academic publishers. Examine the credentials of the research source's author for demonstrated expertise in the field. Check that the research is current. Ask your instructor or college librarian if the school subscribes to a reference database service, such as GALILEO or JSTOR, that features full-text scholarly articles on a variety of subjects.

Attention-Grabbing Introduction

• The paper's introduction should give needed background information about the topic. It is your chance to capture the audience's attention. For example, provide a compelling statistic about your subject, put the topic in its historical context or explain how you became interested in the issue.

Concise Thesis Statement

• A thesis statement tells in one sentence the topic of your paper and the point your paper will make about that topic. The thesis appears at the end of a paper's introduction. An effective thesis statement clearly explains the stance the essay will take and is narrow enough that this position can be supported within the paper's assigned length.

Interesting Conclusion

• Your paper's conclusion should synthesize the main ideas of your paper without repeating the points verbatim. Other ways to add interest include using a provocative quote that enhances the point of your paper, showing the broader implications of the topic and showing the audience how the topic influences their daily lives.

Correct Formatting

• Your professor will tell you the style in which you should write the paper. It is your responsibility to format the paper correctly. Some of the most common formatting styles are Modern Language Association, American Psychological Association and the Chicago Manual of Style. If you are unsure about which style to use, consult your instructor.

Well-Edited Final Draft

• Don't be afraid to reread and rewrite your work. It is a mistake to accept your first draft as being your final draft. Look for typos, especially those that will not be caught by your computer's spell checker. Check that every point made in your paper works to support your thesis statement. If it does not, delete it. If possible, take your paper to the school's writing center and have another set of eyes look over it.