Photo: thinkstock when it comes to writing college papers, many new students find themselves at a loss. Writing college papers is much simpler if you are organized and understand the type of paper you are writing. Essays, research papers and thesis papers are very different from creative writing projects, and it is important to understand each kind of writing.

The college essay may vary in length, but it has a typical three step format comprising an introduction, a body and a conclusion. The introduction of your college essay lays the groundwork for the rest of the essay. Within it, you must include a thesis statement as well as the essay topic, points you will discuss in the main text and what your essay will prove.

Nothing hurts a paper's quality like not having enough time to complete that paper. In the body of your essay, you will provide relevant information for each point you laid out in the introduction. The conclusion of the essay should be a restatement of your introduction paragraph.

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Most professors will also want you to cite the sources you used to write your essay, including materials from the class and outside sources, either print or electronic. Common citation guides include those set by the modern language association and the chicago manual of style, although citation guides differ by subject and the professor’s preference. The college essay is probably the most common type of paper you’ll write in the early part of college. The format may vary slightly according to the subject, but it remains basically the same throughout various classes. College research papers follow about the same format as essays, but go into more depth.

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In a research paper, it is often constructive to include a counter argument, which you then disprove, making your argument stronger. You can also include direct quotes from sources to help bolster the points you’re making. The transition between writing papers in high school and college can be overwhelming. Tutors at college writing centers are useful for editing and formatting academic papers.

Remember to always outline your thoughts and arguments before you put anything on paper.

your research paper's format

recommendations here are based on the mla handbook for writers of research papers. It is important to note, however, that individual instructors and institutions or departments may vary from these recommendations somewhat and that it is always wise to consult with your instructor before formatting and submitting your work. If you prefer to use erasable paper in the preparation of your paper, submit a good photocopy to your instructor. Except for page numbers see below , leave one inch margins all around the text of your paper left side, right side, and top and bottom. Paragraphs should be indented half an inch set off quotations should be indented an inch from the left margin five spaces and ten spaces, respectively, on standard typewriters. The mla guide says that the research paper must be double spaced, including quotations, notes, and the list of works cited.

At the top of the first page, at the left hand margin, type your name, your instructor's name, the course name and number, and the date all on separate, double spaced lines. Titles might end with a question mark or an exclamation mark if that is appropriate, but not in a period. Titles written in other languages are capitalized and punctuated according to different rules, and writers should consult the mla guide or their instructors.

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page numbers:

number your pages consecutively throughout the manuscript including the first page in the upper right hand corner of each page, one half inch from the top. Most word processing programs provide for a running head, which you can set up as you create the format for the paper, at the same time you are establishing things like the one inch margins and the double spacing. This feature makes the appearance and consistency of the page numbering a great convenience. Make sure the page number is always an inch from the right hand edge of the paper flush with the right hand margin of your text and that there is a double space between the page number and the top line of text.

tables and figures:

tables should be labeled table, given an arabic numeral, and captioned with those words flush to the left hand margin.

Other material such as photographs, images, charts, and line drawings should be labeled figure and be properly numbered and captioned. Your instructors or their departments may have their own rules about binders, and you should consult with them about this matter. A sample research paper with embedded commentary is available in the principles of composition section of the guide to grammar and writing. The same essay is available on the guide to grammar and writing forms of communication page in an acrobat reader .pdf format. Guide to writing research papers in the mla style this style sheet is intended only as an overview and does not cover all aspects of the mla style. For more complete information, see the mla style manual or the mla handbook for writers of research papers. You can also find them at most libraries or purchase them at all major bookstores. always ask your mentor which style to use before you begin your paper.

The mla style refers to the method of writing research papers recommended by the modern language association. The mla style is used in some areas of the humanities, e.g., composition and literature. Other humanities disciplines such as history, philosophy, and religion may require other styles for formatting your papers. ask your primary mentor which style to use, then come to the writing center for further guidance.