We’ve all done the last-minute shuffle of doom. Whether it’s working three jobs or just not vibing with productivity, it’s far too easy to suddenly realize that all the papers you thought you had plenty of time to work on are due simultaneously. If this situation sounds familiar, you’ve come to the “write” place!

I’m going to go ahead and assume you’re on a time crunch, so I’ll skip the whole “planning ahead would have helped you avoid this” lecture because 1) sometimes life just happens and 2) you already know this. What you need to know is what to do next.

For a 6-8 page research paper, the ten-step process I describe below takes me (an undergraduate senior with chronic health issues) about four hours to complete. However, your familiarity with researching, writing, and the page requirements of your prompt will affect the estimated time this process might take, so please adjust your expectations accordingly.

Step One: Spend 20-40 Minutes Selecting and Researching a Topic

One of the hardest things in the writing process is deciding what to write about. Conquer this challenging step by looking at the prompt, narrowing your field of possible topics based on your current knowledge and interests, and doing a Google Scholar search on up to three different topic options. The one that has the most articles/books easily found is probably going to be your best bet to form a coherent thesis. After you have a general topic direction, spend about 20 minutes online (or up to 40 minutes in a library) gathering sources, writing down quotes (and where you got them!) in a Google or Word Doc, and summarizing general themes you find on the topic as a whole. This will help you avoid plagiarism down the line and give you a general idea of what you’re going to write about.

Additionally, if you are having a lot of difficulty with topic selection, narrowing, or research, here are some resources that go more in-depth:

https://libraries.indiana.edu/sites/default/files/Reading_Scholarly_Articles.pdf 

https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/evidence/ 

https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/understanding-assignments-demo/ 

https://ggu.libguides.com/c.php?g=106905&p=694002 

Step Two: Set a Timer and Start Brainstorming

Get out a physical piece of paper, a whiteboard, or another blank slate medium of your preference. Write out the prompt or the research question. Then, set a timer for no more than 15 minutes and make a brainstorm bubble map (or another brainstorming outline that works for you). In your map, fill in what connections you’ve made, the resources you want to include, and any general direction you want/need the paper to go.

If you are stuck and don’t know which method of brainstorming to choose, here are some additional resources that break down the different types and how to use them:

https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/brainstorming/ 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNLN0Ws8pJs 

Step Three: Take a 5-10 Minute Break

For real though, take a breather. Although this may seem counterintuitive, taking a break after mapping out all your thoughts will help this process feel less overwhelming and give you some time and distance from any potentially tangled thoughts. During an approximately 5-10 minute breather (any longer risks the dangerous realm of procrastination), drink some water, eat a carrot, dance to a song, use the restroom; basically, do something to nourish you as a human.

Step Four: Spend 20 Minutes Constructing a Thesis

Once again, grab yourself a timer and set it for 20 minutes. Then, on a new piece of paper (whiteboard, etc.), write down possible thesis statements (shoot for no fewer than three and no more than seven) related to the prompt and general ideas you have laid out in your brainstorming map. If you’re stuck on how to structure your thesis, this article from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Writing Center is a great place to start: https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/thesis-statements/

Step Five: Give Yourself 30-45 Minutes to Create an Outline

Alrighty, this part might be a bit tricky, but you’re halfway there, and after you’re done with this step, you get a long break! To outline, focus on your overall argument (thesis statement) and the categories that you want to use to support that thesis in your paper. These categories can be extrapolated into multiple subpoints (which will become paragraphs) depending on the prompt, so if you need to make a page count, these sections will become your best friends.

If outlining still feels overwhelming or if you’re not sure where to start, these resources do a fantastic job outlining what an outline is and what it should look like:

https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/outlines-demo/ 

https://slc.berkeley.edu/writing-worksheets-and-other-writing-resources/how-outline 

https://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/outlining 

Step Six: Take an Hour-Long Break!

Eat a real meal. Go on a walk. Take a nap for an hour. Snag coffee (or tea) with a friend. Do something to take care of yourself. In the moments when you feel you absolutely cannot afford to take a break, you need to take one. It’s better for you to turn in something that would have been mildly better after an hour’s more work than to burn yourself out for the sake of refinement. You are a human, and at this point, the goal is good structure and completeness; it will not be your Mona Lisa, so try not to go down the da Vinci rabbit hole.

Step Seven: Spend 20-30 Minutes on Writing Topic Sentences and Transitions

Welcome back! For this step, you will need to revisit that outline you made and roughly write topic sentences for each point. A topic sentence is like a baby thesis because it presents a central point/argument and provides some background for why it is significant in the context you’ve crafted. After you write your topic sentences, the next phase is to create some transitions. Transitions are essential because they make your paper cohesive and provide your reader with signposts so they know where they’re at in your overall argument.

If you are having difficulty structuring your topic sentences or transitions, here are some comprehensive resources to help you:

https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/paragraphs/ 

https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/transitions/ 

Step Eight: Set a Timer for 30-45 Minutes and Craft your Content

For this step, you will expand on that outline and topic sentences to compose paragraphs. You’ve already done the research and outlining; now, all you need to do is fill in the gaps with some analysis, connect some quotes to your arguments, and tie in your overall themes to create a cohesive narrative.

If putting together a completed paragraph is something you find challenging, here is a beneficial description of what to do in writing your content:

https://wts.indiana.edu/writing-guides/paragraphs-and-topic-sentences.html 

https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/301/study-skills/writing/academic-writing/paragraph-flow-connectivity 

Step Nine: Spend 15-25 Minutes Finishing Citations and Formatting

Time to properly format your citations and paper! Citations are critical because they give credit to the original authors you reference and bolster your paper’s credibility. Depending on which format your professor requested (APA, CMS, or MLA), you’ll need either parenthetical citations or footnotes, along with a References, Bibliography, or Works Cited page, respectively.

If you are having trouble with formatting your citations, Purdue Owl has fantastic resources, along with sample papers so you can see how the citations are supposed to work for each formatting type.

APA:

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/in_text_citations_the_basics.html 

CMS:

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/chicago_manual_17th_edition/cmos_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html 

MLA:

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_formatting_and_style_guide.html?_ga=2.19623804.558179429.1522454400-1709346682.1522454400

Step Ten: Just 20 More Minutes on Grammar and Submit your Paper!

At this point, run your paper through Grammarly (free to Concordia University Irvine students) or another grammar service, and focus on word choice, punctuation, and citations. Then, submit your assignment, and celebrate! No matter if you have another paper or two to write due tonight, take at least 30 minutes to detox from this cycle. For real, put down your phone, laptop, or other electronic device. Give your eyes and brain a well-deserved break!

Concluding Disclaimer and Thoughts

Although this method will most likely help you tackle multiple papers in a relatively short amount of time, it is also meant to be a last-ditch effort and not your first plan of attack. The art of writing a paper gets more refined the longer you spend on it.

That all said, please try to also remember not to beat yourself up if you weren’t able to start as soon as you would have wished. Life happens, you’re human, and you should treat yourself with the grace and kindness that entails.

Hopefully these steps will help you conquer your papers and avoid Death by Due Date!

Blessings, Peace, and Clarity to you now and always. Happy Writing!

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Rachel Tillman is a senior majoring in behavioral science with an emphasis in psychology and minoring in philosophy and sociology. From her childhood in Wisconsin to her collegiate adventures in California and Cambridge, her passion for the written word has been challenged and cultivated into something that conveys her voice as an academic and person. When she’s not reading or researching for school or fun, you can typically find her practicing pieces with Concordia University Irvine’s Forensics Family, making too many puns as a Core Philosophy Tutor, having crazy conversations with friends, or just generally drinking too much caffeine.