My tips for writing a paper in one night (I just wrote a 10-page paper in 2 hours, 30 minutes)

1. Create an outline as fast as possible. I write everything down quickly and then I go back and organize the map. Then I start breaking out the argument. The biggest thing here is that you need to have a clear argument for your professor to follow. Make sure that your argument is as clear and concise as possible. Use evidence to help your argument, and try to get the evidence from the most credible sources possible. I will also say this: It is much easier to write a paper about something that you are passionate about. So if you have the option, pick something you are passionate about. It will make your life so much easier. <br>2. Turn off your phone. This is very important. You cannot allow distractions to get in your way. I will go so far as to say this: Don’t take any breaks. If you are going to complete a paper in one night, you need to be able to stay in the game mentally. I will also note that caffeine is a very helpful tool for writing a paper. A couple of cups of coffee can really help you get into a zone. <br>3. Do the math. Determine how much you have to write per hour, and how much you have to write per minute. Since I already wrote a 10-page paper, I know that I can write 5 pages an hour. On the 10-page paper, I wrote 250 words per hour, or 4.17 words per minute. In the paper, I cited 8 sources. So to determine how many sources you need to cite per minute, you can calculate how many words you need to write per minute. In the case of the example, you will be citing one source every 2.08 minutes. <br>4. Start to write as soon as possible. Just start typing. I don’t care how bad it is, just start writing. You can always go back and edit. Editing is a minor part of writing a paper. It’s the actual writing that takes the longest. So get a draft done, and go back from there. <br>5. Use how much time you have left to determine how you will cite your sources. If you have plenty of time left, you may want to use the in-text citations. If you are short on time, you can pay for a subscription to a website that creates citations for you. I use Easybib, but there are several others out there. Don’t get me wrong, it is very important to cite your sources. But if you are on a time crunch, it can be very difficult. <br>6. Finally, the best way to write a paper in one night is to write everyday. The more you write, the better you get. The better you get, the faster you can write. Just keep practicing, and keep pushing yourself. You can do it.