Call me a nerd, but I love to write college essays. Checking out books, making outlines, and (best of all!) turning in the finished project just makes me happy. Over the years, I’ve worked out a system and a schedule for writing all my essays – and now that I’m at Oxford and writing two essays a week, I need it more than ever! For those of you who are new to college writing or just can’t get the hang of it, I thought I’d share my advice – here’s how to write a college paper, from start to finish.
The rest of this post is available on my college site, College Compass. As of August 2016, all my college help posts and downloadable have been updated and moved there to help you navigate your college years! To read more about this decision, read my announcement.
I always struggle writing essays! They always come out so good in the end, but getting there is a task! I need to start utilizing the note tabs on my Microsoft!
Thanks so much for your comment, Leanna! I hope that small tip helps you with your writing process!
Oh my goodness This a great list of tips Sara! I will hopefully be starting school in the fall and Essays along with Math are the two main things that are freaking me out. As a southerner, proper english is a second language to me by nature lmao! Thanks again for these awesome tips 😀
Thank you so much for your comment, Christal! I am so glad that you think these tips will be helpful. Where will you be going to school? (:
I used to hate writing college essays.. But one time I had 3 – 2500 word essays due in one week.. and I had to sit and give it some real bit of thought. I then figured out a method that perfectly suited me.. And now, I love it.. I look forward to write the essays every semester.. Crazy. But true…
And I must say, first taking ALOT of time to figure out your topic, helps alot.. Also, making the basic outline helps you in the end..
Your article is really helpful, Sara.. And I agree with like all the points you’ve mentioned…
Oh my goodness, three essays in one week! I can hardly imagine. I’m glad you found a system that works well for you!
Very helpful and thorough! Just reading through your blog now – love it!
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you’re enjoying it!!
How do you make the word document with tabs (easily) using Microsoft 2010? I googled it, but all of those methods are very complicated!
It’s part of Microsoft Word; instead of opening a plain file, open up a Microsoft Notebook file! Go to file, click on Project Gallery, and then click on Word Notebook Layout. Good luck!
I found one but it doesn’t look like yours. It’s a report notebook that’s printable. The tabs aren’t listed as one page and aren’t clickable. I tried your search but nothing came up. Project gallery is not an option on my word 2010 through office 365.
I’m sorry! It seems that maybe Microsoft has replaced Microsoft Word Notebook with a new program called Microsoft OneNote (https://www.onenote.com/). This is the only explanation I can find! Very sad, as I have found Notebook very useful in the past!
I’m a first year at a small college in Canada, and your blog has saved my life! Thank you so much for everything! xox
This is great thank you Sara! I use OneNote to take all my notes, this includes lecture and seminar notes. I take a tab per class each semester and have a new notebook per semester 🙂
I’m in my final year now and have finally mastered my essay technique! 😀 Thanks for the help!
What a helpful post! Many thanks to you! Our world provides so much educational opportunites and so little time. I suppose that many of students face this tough dilemma. No worries! In case you have to write a paper asap, don’t hesitate and pay for custom essay writing pay for custom essay writing There you’ll find a wide range of writers and a great variety of subjects. Feel free to rely on professional work and literacy of the writers. Include any needed information in your order and receive it completed shortly. Your grades will be high and your time will be yours with the company of special assistance. Good luck!
WOW! thank you , i just finished my first semester (starting my second semester tomorrow) and my major struggle was how to sort and compile all my resources for essays and reports! I will be looking into notebook word for sure:)
This guide is helping me so much right now! Thank you! I only wish I had the love for writing college papers that you do – if I’m being honest, it’s one of the things about college that I dread the most!
Hey, it’s so useful. Thanks for sharing this.
Happy to help, Mark!