Research your topic thoroughly. Use professional references from encyclopedias, journals, magazines and .org, .gov or .edu websites.
Create a thesis to work with. The thesis serves as the focus of your paper, providing direction and amplifying your creative decision skills when formulating the outline. Ideal theses tell the audience what the paper is about and what evidence will be used to its advantage.
Outline the paper with a series of main and sub-points. Use roman numerals to differentiate between paragraphs and letters or numbers to mark sub-points discussed under each main point.
Draft the introduction. Begin the introduction with a lead sentence that captures reader interest, such as a famous quote, anecdote or perceptive observation. The introduction should tell the reader what the paper is about and why it is important.
Write the body according to the outline. Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces each main point and transition into the sub-points by providing evidence to support the main point.
Conclude the paper with a final thought that provides closure for the audience. Include a brief summary of the paper as well as a restatement of the thesis. End the conclusion paragraph with a call to action, witty remark, relevant quotation or by linking back to the intro.