Of all the new experiences that freshmen will encounter during the start of first semester—first time living with a roommate, first time at a frat party—there is nothing quite as daunting as writing your first college paper. But as you sit down to write, you find yourself staring at the blinking cursor on your computer screen for five, ten, twenty minutes and feel your mind beginning to wander, realizing you have no idea where to start. Suddenly, your weekend plans seem ages away, while the paper’s due date is ominously looming in your planner.
What now?
First thing’s first.
Don’t panic.
Start by turning off your phone, finding a quiet spot, opening a new Word document, and writing anything that comes to mind.
“Even if you have no idea what you want to say, write anyway,” said Audrey Burba, French professor. “Force yourself to free-write and ideas will come that way. Set your timer and write until you hear the buzzer go off. You’ll be amazed: ideas will emerge while engaged in the act of writing.”
If writing out your ideas doesn’t click for you, you also have the option of talking about them. You can make appointments at Emory’s Writing Center to meet with a tutor who will help you refine your ideas and form an outline. Make sure to book the appointment early!
Next, get a first draft down on paper, and remember that it doesn’t have to be perfect! Once you’ve re-worked your draft a few times, schedule a meeting with your professor to go over what you’ve come up with. It’s a helpful and productive way to get some of your most important questions answered, and it shows that you’re proactive in your efforts to do well!
“Go to the professor or TA’s office hours with your thesis/outline and again with a rough draft,” said junior Sarah Mosby. “They can point you to new resources, help you solidify ideas, and it will show them that you have put in extra effort!”
Then comes editing. Be sure to read your paper aloud several times—it will help you catch hidden mistakes! If you’re in a time crunch and can’t make another stop at the Writing Center, the Center’s website offers plenty of helpful editing tools such as grammar and style guidelines, revising tips, ESL resources, and more.
So, it’s the night before the paper’s due, and you’re finally ready to hit print. You followed the guidelines, and now you can officially say you made it over the hurdle that was your first college paper. Hopefully we helped make it a little less chaotic.
And if you didn’t get the grade you were hoping for?
“Think honestly about the grade that you received and the work that you put in.,” explained Mosby. “If you think your effort is not reflected in your grade, go to your professor’s office hours and politely ask him or her to comment on the grade given and explain why you think you deserve a different one.”
Basically, don’t expect to get it perfect on your first try. Don’t worry, you’ll be getting plenty of chances to practice over the next four years. Lucky for you, this is only the beginning!