• Organize the paper so it has a beginning, body, and an end—the beginning should introduce or establish the direction for the paper; the body should build your ideas logically and according to the boundaries set by the assignment; the end should draw an appropriate conclusion or summarize your main message
  
• Select a format that conveys your information clearly. While standard paragraphs are often best, sometimes the information or ideas you present might be more clearly organized into a table, columns, or bulleted lists.
  
• Strive to present a unique perspective, for example, through use of original examples and insightful thinking. Even when the course text is your primary resource, you must present your ideas in your own words.
  
• Plan ahead – some writing assignments involve additional data gathering steps such as interviews.
  
• Do not substitute the excessive use of quotes for original thoughts.

Additional tips for organizing and writing a successful paper can be found on the links page.