You are a bit lazy. This sounds like something to you: you have to deliver in the next few hours the essay on which your entire grade depends and you have not even started. Do not worry! Follow these simple steps and you will embark on the path of your academic salvation.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Prepare to Work
Step 1. Don't panic
You need to put everything in perspective, adopt an attitude of calm: stop obsessing over what you should have done. Tell yourself that you "can" and just stand there, convinced that you are going to finish what you are doing.
Compress the amount of work. To a large extent, staying calm is about realizing, for example, that it's not like you have to write a novel. Most academic papers, whether college or school, require double spacing, so you can start by counting the number of pages required and dividing by two. That's the amount of work you really have to do and it sure is less intimidating
Step 2. Go to the library immediately
If none are open, go online to Google Scholar and any other database you have access to. Do a basics search. In any case, you don't have a lot of time to dig deep, so you will have to do a superficial search and take advantage of all the information you can get from that quick search.
Step 3. Avoid all possible distractions
You are in the library or glued to the seat of your desk. Put away anything that could make you lose focus. Keep your iPod, iTunes, phone, to-do list, TV, radio, any games, etc. away from you. Unless you really need it to work: disconnect the internet.
Step 4. Feed your brain
Always have healthy snacks on hand to energize you and encourage you to keep working. Choose those rich in protein such as soy, peanut butter or other carbohydrates such as fruits and vegetables. Don't gorge yourself on just refined sugar and caffeine; at some point you are going to feel down and you will feel worse than you were before eating.
Step 5. Take a break every so often
About every hour get up, do stretches: about two or three minutes. Walk around the room, get some exercise to get the blood circulating. This way you will concentrate better than if you sat down writing for five hours in a row.
Step 6. Think of it as a test
You are writing under pressure; there is no time for drafts and there are no second chances, it just has to be written. Pretending that you are taking an exam will help you to cut corners and focus on your work.
Method 2 of 3: Writing Strategies
Step 1. Start with the general ideas
Concentrate on the fundamental points that you should mention. If, for example, your work is about Shakespeare, you should know what the main characteristics and motivations are in "Romeo and Juliet." There is no time for nuances and subtleties. However, be careful when transforming a general idea into a statement of your work. Make sure the statements you make are true, but not obvious or your teacher will know that you are making a desperate attempt. Write down every generalization you can think of about the topic and see how they relate to each other.
Help yourself with manuals that deal with the subject you are writing about. This will help you to create a brief summary of the arguments, conflicts, ideas, facts, results, etc., in any of the areas that you write about. Do not reuse an analysis of others, much less copy anything, but do use the information you have to replace everything that you do not have time to read
Step 2. Have a discussion
Academic papers consist of persuading the reader of your argument. Developing a discussion can be done simply by affirming some points and denying others. You can play devil's advocate; You can even let go of your true beliefs, only if that makes it easier for you to finish the essay or make a stronger argument.
If you don't want to have an argument, summarize the potential conflicts. In any case, find a minimum of three conflicts to compare and summarize and with them build the body of your essay. If you can't find more, three will be enough to organize your essay
Step 3. Include your opinion, always with measure
In some cases, such as Spanish Language or History, your opinion can be as important as the facts. Lean on this to deepen what you propose. Use your opinions to expand on what the main facts and ideas of the matter are, and take the opportunity to delve into the different interpretations. You can get a lot of points if your own ideas are well reasoned. Assuming everything you write is eloquent and realistic.
- Don't exaggerate your opinions just to fill space. Say things once and carry on. It is better to mention things only once rather than saying the same thing in different ways. Although the information is limited, let it be seen that you know what you are talking about.
- If you are making an interpretation of why a human being did or said a certain thing, try to put yourself in their shoes and imagine how you would have handled the situation. Slide these types of opinions into your reasoning carefully such as "In my opinion, the monster Snark acted this way because he had to finish something under pressure and find a way to finish it quickly and deliver it." Your ability to put yourself in their shoes can help your current situation, so use it to your advantage.
Step 4. Go to the opinion of the experts
In addition to including your own, you can have a good time affirming or denying the opinion of others. Find the point of view of an expert on the subject to be able to quote it and, from there, include which are the points of agreement and which are the points of contention. In this case, it is recommended that you at least justify your ideas with two good reasons, because who you contrast is an expert. Then make your point of view sound interesting. You will get even more points if what you propose is a novel counterpart to the expert's opinion. Sometimes the crazier your proposal is, the better (although you will need some good rhetoric to make your argument work).
Avoid getting off topic or making fun of other points of view. It won't get you anywhere and can influence the proofreader, as an expert, to think that he may be the next one you mess with
Step 5. When in doubt, do not put anything
Writing for the sake of writing is not going to be of much use. Many times it is better to write something shorter and with precision, as long as what you say is thoughtful and original and not pure verbiage.
Step 6. You can use some of the tricks of the trade writer
Focus on the presentation as well, not just the content. For starters, don't bother the reader with basic mistakes. Pay attention to grammar, spelling, and punctuation. A well-written piece of work makes a better impression and will convince the proofreader that you have taken your time with the text. Other things to consider include:
- Use a cultured registry. Take care of the syntax and elaborate sentences with subject and predicate. Avoid the colloquial tone and use connectors between sentences such as "is due to …", "a limited amount of …", which contribute to a more formal tone and a greater length. Check out lists of connectors that you can find online that will make your writing more complete. If you are really desperate and do not mind getting a lower grade, there are other tricks such as writing the years with letters or the full name of the one you mention (Homer Jota Simpson instead of Mr. Simpson, for example).
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Replace common words to avoid becoming repetitive and expand your vocabulary. You can help yourself with a thesaurus.
Some cultured expressions in Greek or Latin can be used to impress
- Using the same terms that connoisseurs use shows that you know what you are talking about. Make sure to explain the jargon you are using when necessary. Some words from the scientific vocabulary must be used in the original language to avoid misunderstandings.
Step 7. Adapt the formatting requirements to your needs
If you have to reach a certain number of pages, there are ways to help yourself: you can use a certain type of font (Arial takes up more space than Times New Roman, for example) or you can expand the margins, among others:
As you type, select what you've typed, right-click and go to "Source." Click on "Spacing between characters" and where it says "In" after the "Spacing" box, hit the up arrow, but only a few times (like three or four), then hit "OK." This increases the space between words almost imperceptibly
Step 8. Don't have high expectations for the final grade
It will be difficult for you to roll an A or B, unless you are really brilliant working under pressure. Teachers often recognize pitfalls and act accordingly. Your grade should be lower than usual, if you normally try harder. You may get a C or D, but it will be better than a zero for not delivering anything.
Method 3 of 3: Some Dating Tricks
Step 1. Cite several works by the same author
Following the instructions in the MLA format for citations can help you achieve the required number of pages. This is because you have to add the title of the work: (Poe "Annabel" 2-3) instead of (Poe 2-3).
Step 2. In addition, you can enter the citations describing the author
For example: Edgar Allan Poe, such a well-known and widely published writer, said “Instead of saying it directly…”.
Step 3. Use long quotes
These types of quotes have a very good impact, but it is not recommended that they be longer than a few lines. However, it will not be so common that you find yourself with the need to use them and, in addition, accompany them with a long analysis.
Step 4. The graphs also look good when quoting
If relevant, it can make a good impression: a table, a graph and a text explaining the accompanying font (the longer it is, the better).
Advice
- If you have an essay that you did for another subject and that can serve you without being considered plagiarism, it may be a good option. Check it out before.
- Consider going cry to the teacher to give you more time.