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How to Write a Last Minute Essay

←What If I Don’t Have Anything Interesting to Write About in My College Essay?

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Ooops! You waited until the very last minute to begin the college application process, and it’s probably stressing you out. But never fear – CollegeVine is here to make sure that your procrastination impacts your essay as minimally as possible.

We’ve included a guide for the 30-day essay, the 15-day essay, and the 3-day essay. If you have multiple essays to write in a short time, you can follow the appropriate guide for multiple prompts simultaneously, or offset it by a few days.

The 30-Day Essay

At this point, you want to focus on ideas. You have the freedom to spend a few days figuring out which direction your essay is going to take, so take your time to think about what you want to convey in your essay. Find four to five topics to begin with—you can ask your parents, friends, and teachers about what they find interesting about you in order to speed this process up. Try to choose anecdotes from your life that, in retrospect, you learned from, and these stories will inform your topic. Even the shortest, most insignificant moment can make a great essay if it shaped you in some way. If you are writing a “why this school” essay, make a list of reasons why you are applying. Do appropriate research to find strong reasons that show your genuine interest in the school. 

Now that you have a few potential topics, think about how each one would respond to the prompt. Spend 15 minutes outlining each one, using your prompt to guide the outline. In essays that ask you to tell a story, a good topic should write itself and finding a strong essay idea will nearly always be more productive than forcing a story to respond to the prompt. For “why this school” essays, focus on the structure and connection between your reasons. Giving this step the necessary hours now will pay off later. Narrow your list of potential topics to your top one to three choices.

Now it’s time to put pen to paper. If you’re having a hard time, try writing in different environments—coffee shops, your room, or a library, for example—and alternate between topics, and remember that at least at this stage, more words is better than fewer; there will be a step to polish your writing later. 

By day 14, you should have written one rough essay for every “top choice” topic you decided on during day 5. This means that you should now have anywhere between one to three potential essays for a single prompt.

If you do have more than one essay written, it is now time to choose a single essay. Out of the two or three essays you have written in the past couple days, there is probably one that speaks to you more than the rest. If you’re having a hard time, think about which of the topics you’d like to spend another two weeks with, and try to figure out which one says the most about you. Essays with twice the number of words allowed or more should be ruled out; the anecdote is probably too long, or the topic requires too much detail to be effective.

Break days! Distance is important when writing. Take a break from your essays so that you can continue to edit with a fresh mind. These are great days to give your essay to other people to edit—school faculty members who know you well, a coach/music teacher, your parents, and one or two friends. If you are over the word limit, ask specifically for these editors to help you cut down the essay.

Reading your essay with a fresh mind should help you catch big, structural edits. Your first round of edits should involve content edits; you’re looking for what the essay really says about you as a person, and whether that was what you were trying to get across. How does the sentence flow? Does the essay move itself?

Break day! Get some more distance from your writing.

At this point, you might have received some edits back from the people you handed your essay to. Go through each of the edits and decide which suggestions you plan to take, and which seem to alter your personal voice or which don’t match the essay stylistically. Try to stay objective as you review these edits—some of them will be detrimental. If you can’t see why the change was made, it’s probably best to ignore it. If multiple people give you the same feedback, however, you may want to give it some thought.

Implement the edits that you liked. Then read through the essay again and make sure that there are no structural edits or content edits that still need to happen.

These days are the middle stage of your editing process. You’re looking for words that don’t fit the style of the essay, or which could be improved, as well as sentence flow problems. Are all your sentences the same length? Is one paragraph not as well written as the rest of the essay? This should also be the time that you cut words. If you are still more than 70 words over, try to cut full sentences. Otherwise, start by cutting unnecessary phrases and words.

Start doing smaller grammatical edits. A great way to catch edits is to record yourself reading your essay aloud and then listening to the recording. As you go through this process, highlight, mark, and comment on your essay. Afterwards, go through and use your notes to fix word flow, word choice, and grammatical mistakes.

Break day! It’s close to the deadline, we know. Take a break anyway – you need and deserve it.

Last minute edits! Spend some quality time with your essay by just reading it every few hours. Try to catch any small mistakes or random sentence flow problems. (If you suddenly realize that you hate your essay, reference the 3-Day Essay below. Be sure that you aren’t being hyper-critical, though—you may just hate the essay because you’ve spent so much time on it).

Congratulations! Your essay is done! It’s time for you to catch a break. 

The 15-Day Essay

Spend a few hours working on a list of ideas that could become potential essays. Choose one and make an outline.

Write your essay!

Ask a few people who you think would give constructive comments to read your essay— teachers, parents, and  friends. Spend some time doing content and structure edits. Figure out what you want the essay to convey about your personality, and determine whether your essay actually gets this across.

Do some structural editing. Pay attention to sentence flow, the length of paragraphs, overall organization. If your essay is too long, try to cut down on unnecessary information. Pay close attention to the way that you have structured paragraphs and make sure each one makes sense.

Take a break!

Synthesize the comments you received on your essay. Decide which suggestions you want to use and which ones you don’t. If you can’t figure out why a particular suggestion was made, ask the person who gave it. After you’ve gone through all the feedback, edit your essay accordingly.

Cut your essay down to the word limit – ask yourself which anecdotes, details, and adjectives are truly necessary. If you’re having trouble, reference the editors that you spoke to previously.

Work on grammatical and other small edits. Look for minor things that need to be corrected, such as punctuation and word choice. This process requires a few dedicated hours. Aim to really spend some time polishing your language. Reading your essay aloud can be a productive way to accomplish this.

Take a break from your essay!

Spend the whole day with your essay. Every few hours, do a reread and see if you can catch any small last minute edits. Don’t try to change anything major—you don’t have time!

Submit the essay and take a good nap. You’ve finished! 

The 3-Day Essay

Don’t panic. This is doable, but it’ll be a busy few days. Spend the morning coming up with ideas for your essay. Choose one, and use the afternoon to write it. Email this draft to teachers, and show it to your parents. Then, take a few hours off, and later at night, read it through to edit for content. Does the essay say what you intended it to?

Check your email throughout the day. When you get edits back, start incorporating those into the essay. Be picky about which ones you choose to include because you don’t want to take your own voice out of the essay. Spend the day doing structural edits. Every hour, take a thirty minute break from editing. By the end of the day, you should have an essay that fits within the word limit and also has a strong flow. The organization should be good, and you should be able to see how the essay builds upon itself.

DO NOT OPEN EDITS. If any of your readers have replied to your email, don’t open them at all. At this point, the extra edits will just freak you out, and you don’t have time to do major fixes. The name of the game today is small edits; look for grammar, word changes, and minor sentence structure changes. When you’re finally done, take a breath; you can finally relax. 

The 1-Day Essay 

Of course, writing a college essay the day before it’s due is far from ideal, but we know there are probably some of you out there who will find yourself in this situation. Don’t worry, it is not hopeless. Instead of trying to fit a step-by-step plan into a tight timespan, we’ve compiled some general tips to help you churn out that essay in one day. 

Choose your prompts strategically.

If you already know what you’re going to write about, great! Move on to the next tip. If not, see if you might have already written an essay to any of the available prompts. Especially if the prompts are open-ended, you may have already addressed a potential topic in previous school papers. Look through your files to see if you have any essays that you might be able to recycle. The key here is recycle : it goes without saying that you shouldn’t use a previously-written essay word for word for your college submission. You should still take time to tailor it to the prompt and make sure that it conveys your message clearly, whether it’s illustrating your strengths or expressing why you wish to attend that particular college. 

Make an outline. 

Yes, you may feel that you don’t have time for extensive planning, and that you should just jump in and get everything on paper. Try to rein in this urge and take one hour to make a brief outline, spelling out your “thesis” and all the points you want to address. This will help keep your thoughts in order as you write, especially in such a time-constricted context. 

Get that distance, re-read, and edit. 

It’s always tempting to just click submit once you’re done with a project you worked long and hard on, to feel that relief when you know it’s done. However, especially given the rushed nature of a last-minute essay like this, the revision and editing process is crucial, even if it’ll be minimal. Blatant errors will reflect poorly in your application! 

So when you’re done writing, set it aside for a few hours. Then, reread it, and make any necessary corrections—grammar mistakes, typos, sentence flow. When you’re sure it sounds they way you want it to, then you can submit. 

Wrapping it Up

Procrastinating on your college essays isn’t the best way to go, but it can be saved. If you haven’t started applying yet, start your college essays as early as possible! Longer breaks between editing sessions will allow you to get the distance necessary to be objective, and to produce the best quality essay you can.

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses. You can also get your essay peer-reviewed and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

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Tips To Write A Good Quality Essay In A Day

28 Nov 2022

Have you left your university essay until the last minute? Don’t worry, it is possible to write a good quality piece of work within a day.

It might not be an enjoyable experience but with the right tips and tricks, it can be done.

With our help you’ll have your essay submitted on time!

Although, we wouldn’t recommend getting into the habit of doing this too often.

Carry on reading to find out our top tips to writing an essay within a day…

1. Maintain A Positive Outlook

Possibly the most important thing to do before trying to complete an essay to a tight deadline is to get yourself in the right mindset.

It’s hard to keep the positive vibes flowing when you’re stressed out about completing your university essay.

However, if you can, try your best to remain calm and have a can-do approach.

Telling yourself it’s not possible or you haven’t got enough time isn’t going to help.

Instead, hype yourself up and take some deep breaths.

Whilst is isn’t an ideal situation to be in, it’s possible for you to complete your essay in a day – believe in yourself, you can do it!

After all, you will have completed exams within a set time frame, so this is something you have experience in doing.

You should also remember that stress can be a great motivator when it comes to completing uni work.

Although, a little stress is great, a lot of stress can be a recipe for disaster.

2. Choose Your Working Environment

Our next tip for getting an essay done in a day is to think about your working environment.

Such as, are you going to work on your essay at home or the library?

It’s best to think about where you work best, and which space will have the least distractions.

The last thing you want to do is get distracted by your flatmates partying so find a quiet place you can focus in!

Plus, if you’ve only got a few hours until the submission time, you don’t want to waste time getting to the campus library, or vice versa, heading to your student accommodation from uni.

You should also think about which place has the strongest Wi-Fi connection.

There’s nothing worse than trying to complete uni work and your internet keeps cutting out – it will just stress you out even more!

Once you’ve chosen your study session base, get everything you need ready whether it’s your laptop, books, pen, paper or bottle of water.

If you work well with music on, get your study playlist ready too.

This way you’ll be nice and organised so you can focus on the task at hand with minimal distractions.

If you’re short on time, don’t waste time procrastinating getting everything ready!

3. Fuel Your Body & Mind

You may be running on short time to write your essay in a day but you still need to ensure you fuel your body and mind.

So, make sure that you’ve eaten a healthy breakfast and you’ve drank enough, this way you’ll have the energy you need to get your essay done.

We’re not saying you should spend an hour in the kitchen cheffing up a full English if your essay deadline is fast approaching, just make sure you eat at least something and keep yourself hydrated.

Try to be careful with caffeinated drinks too, you may think the only way you’ll get your essay done is by chugging back tons of energy drinks or cups of coffee.

However, you’ll end up crashing after a few hours and feel super fatigued if you knock back too many red bulls.

Instead, just go for the one or two energy drinks or cuppas and you’ll have enough energy to get your work done!

4. Create An Essay Plan

Next within our guide to tips to write an essay in a day is to create a plan to follow and refer back to throughout the process.

As you know, for any piece of academic writing, you should always spend time beforehand planning.

Whilst you may be short on time in this instance, it’s still important to research and understand what your essay topic is about.

Even if you just spend half an hour researching and planning what you’re going to discuss within your essay, this is better than no planning at all.

If you dive straight into writing, you won’t have gathered enough material and information to write your essay to a high standard – we don’t want that!

One tip we have for you is to create your plan within the document you’ve created for your essay.

This way you’ll have bullet points and notes to follow for your key ideas so you won’t suffer from writer’s block.

Plus, it will save you a little more time and that’s exactly what you need, ay?

5. Set A Schedule

When it comes to writing an essay quickly, you should try to set a schedule to follow for the day.

You may struggle with time management, but try your best to plan your time for the day and set a schedule to follow.

If you give yourself a certain amount of time to get different sections of your essay written up you’ll ensure that you hit the word limit and get each section complete in the time required.

You don’t want to submit a half finished essay because you spent too long on the introduction and didn’t have time for a conclusion which contains all the information you need for a good mark!

For example, if you’ve got a essay which has a word count of 2000 words, spread it out throughout the day so that the task is more manageable and more like mini-tasks per hour, rather than one massive essay.

We would recommend being realistic about your essay writing though, as it may not be possible for you to hit the word count within a certain time frame – quality over quantity!

Remember to also also ensure you fit in breaks within your daily schedule, you’re not a robot, everyone needs some time to re-charge even if your deadline is just hours away.

This way, you’ll stop yourself from feeling completely drained and you’ll boost your productivity levels!

6. Switch Off From Technology

This next one might seem obvious, but if you’re working against the clock you need to limit as many distractions as possible.

Switch off your phone, your TV or anything else which may distract you before starting to write your essay.

The last thing you want to do is spend an hour scrolling through TikTok rather than writing your essay.

If you feel like you’ll be tempted to keep checking your messages or checking your socials, give your phone to your flatmate or keep it out of sight.

If you like having your phone nearby to you, put it on do not disturb or airplane mode to limit any notifications coming through.

Your time is precious, so try your best not to check social media and procrastinate!

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with taking a break from your work and then checking your phone, just don’t do it too much otherwise your essay won’t get done.

7. Reach Out For Help If You Need It

If you’re reading this guide, chances are you’ve left your essay to the last minute as you don’t have a clue what to write about, or you’ve been too busy to get it done.

Whatever the reason is, don’t be afraid to reach out for help from your lecturers if you are struggling.

Whilst you may think they’re going to judge you for your lack of time management, we’re sure they’d rather you ask for support if you need it.

Your tutors are there to help you, drop them an email or arrange a video call to ask any questions you have if they’re available.

Bear in mind if it is the day of the deadline, they may not be free and could have tons of other people asking them things too, but it’s worth asking!

You could also speak to your course mates and see if they can help you with anything you’re unsure about.

8. Save Time Referencing

No matter what type of essay you’re writing or the subject, you’ll need to include at least some academic sources.

We know, it’s the most dreaded part of any essay even if you have all the time in the world.

It’s something we all hate doing but it’s an important aspect of all good quality articles.

Our first tip is to not leave your referencing until the last minute.

Try to cite your sources as you go through your essay to ensure you don’t leave yourself too much work to do.

Otherwise you’ll have to go back and find the quotes and sources which can be a NIGHTMARE.

If you’re writing your essay using Microsoft Word, make use of their referencing tool to save yourself time spent creating your bibliography.

You can also use helpful referencing building tools like Cite This For Me .

9. Make Sure To Proofread

Our last tip to write an essay in a day is to make sure you proofread.

As you know, writing an essay is a process with many different stages, with the final stage being proof reading and editing.

Chances are, you probably won’t have much time at all to proofread your essay once you’ve finished writing.

However, if you can, spend the last few hours before the deadline to just go through your essay and check for mistakes.

Take a re-read of your essay and check for grammar or spelling errors, as well as sections you may need to re write.

The editing stage is essential and is just as important as the writing part itself.

So, spend at least some time checking over and making amendments before you hit that submit button!

If you’re able to, ask someone else to quickly go over your essay to check for any errors you may have missed.

Don’t spend too long checking your essay if your deadline is quickly approaching as you don’t want to lose marks for submitting it late.

Remember, uploading your essay online can sometimes take a while, so bare this in mind!

Hopefully our tips to write an essay in a day have been helpful for you – we believe in you.

The power is now in your hands to get your essay done, stop procrastinating and go and get it done!

One final thing to takeaway is to remember that you can ask for a deadline extension if there are genuine reasons why you couldn’t submit your essay or any piece of work on time!

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How to write an essay in a week (or less)

Katie October 17, 2022 goal setting , time management , writing tips

By Katie Azevedo, M.Ed.

Let me be clear: Although this blog post teaches you how to write an essay in a week, I am not suggesting that you ever rush your writing. Good writing takes time, planning, deep thinking, and revision. While one week is enough time to write most high school and college essays, some advanced research papers require more time. Knowing the difference is important.

How to write an essay in a week or less

Below, I list the general steps for writing an essay in one week, from start to finish. Depending on your grade level, essay topic, and teacher’s requirements, you might need to adjust things here and there – but following the sequence below will get you to the finish line. 

If you’re in a pickle (I see you, procrastinators), then you can adjust the framework timeline to complete an essay in four days.

Day one: Plan and Outline

For this step, it’s important to gather all the materials you think you’ll need for the writing process. Get your articles, textbook, novel, or whatever you’ll need for researching and referencing as you write. 

1. Write and clarify your thesis.

Every essay has a thesis. A thesis is what you’re arguing. Here are three possible thesis scenarios:

• Your teacher gives you a thesis
• Your teacher gives you a prompt that can be turned (reworded) into a thesis 
• You have to create your own thesis

Scenario 3 (you have to write your own thesis) requires more work because you have to come up with your own argument. Here are my best tips for writing a thesis statement .

Remember, a good thesis will have two parts. What you’re arguing, and then how or why.

2. Outline the essay.

I suggest you outline the essay on day one, right after coming up with your thesis. In some cases, you will create the second half of your thesis statement (the how or why) as you work through your outline and think more about the topic.

How to outline an essay:

• In a Google Document, write your thesis at the top of the page. Leave this thesis statement here for the entire time you’re writing the essay. It’s your North Star. When you lose focus, come back to the thesis statement.
• Determine the structure of your essay. (You may need to follow your teacher’s requirements.) Do you need to write five paragraphs? Four pages? Is it a compare and contrast essay? See the graphic below for various suggestions for structuring different types of essays.)
• Outline each paragraph of your essay according to the structure you chose in step 2 above. The main bullet headings should be the topic sentence, and supporting details with evidence should be bullet points below that.

Day Two: Write

You’ll spend Day 2 writing your essay. Do not edit at this point! Editing is done on a separate day. You may start with your introduction paragraph, or you could start with one of your body paragraphs. I suggest you build momentum by starting at the point you feel most confident writing about. Again, that could be the middle of your essay. If you’re including quotations in your essay, you will need to thoroughly analyze them. Here’s my step-by-step on how to analyze quotes in an essay .

It’s important to take breaks when you write. A good work-to-rest ratio is 45 minutes to work, and 15 mins to take a break. If you build momentum and don’t want to break after 45 minutes, then keep going, but cap it off at 90 minutes. 

After 90 minutes, take a longer break. It’s also okay to split your writing sessions over the course of the day: plan one writing session in the morning or afternoon, and another one in the evening.

Day Three: Write

Day 3 looks similar to Day 2. Continue writing. As before, avoid editing your work while you are writing it. The more well-built your outline is (Day 1), the quicker the writing process will be.

Writing tip: If you’re incorporating quotations into your essay, be sure to integrate and analyze them well.

• Properly integrated quotations don’t stand alone as sentences; rather, they are part of a larger sentence. 
• Your analysis of quotations should be around three to seven sentences long. Dig deep and explain a) what the quote means, and b) why it matters to the point you’re making.

Days Four – Five: Write or Edit

How you spend Days 4 and 5 depends on how complex your essay is, and how tight your deadline is.

If you’re planning to write your essay in a week, then you can use Day 4 to continue writing, and Day 5 to edit (more on that below). If you’re planning to write your essay in less than a week, then you should spend most of Day 4 editing. 

Day Five-Six: Finish Writing; Edit

Depending on your deadline and essay complexity, you will begin the editing process on Day 4, 5 or 6. 

• Here is my full tutorial with step-by-step instructions for editing your essays .
• Here is my free Essay Editing Checklist (free pdf download) to help you know what to edit for.

Remember, editing your essay should be done on a different day than writing your essay. You need to break the two processes apart with time in between so that your brain has time to “flush the cache” and come back to your writing with fresh eyes. 

Day Six: Edit and Submit

Your essay is due on Day 7. It should be completed the day before, on Day 6. At this point, you’re simply ensuring you’ve used the proper format ( MLA, APA, etc .), your works cited page is adequate, and you’ve checked your rubric thoroughly. 

If your teacher allows, you can submit your essay on Day 6, before it’s due. 

Day Seven: Done

Submit the essay. Make sure your submission is complete (pdf uploaded, essay printed and handed, etc) before you consider yourself “done.”

Final notes about planning and writing essays

The tips in this article teach you how to write an essay in a week or less. But, it’s important to create your timeline by working backward from the day you’re assigned the essay. If your teacher assigns an essay on Monday, and it’s due on Friday, reverse engineer your days so that you complete the essay on Thursday night. Reverse engineering your time allows you to see exactly which days you need to complete which steps. In some cases, you might need to create your thesis, write your outline, and begin the writing process all on Day 1.

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How to Write an Essay in Under 30 Minutes

Last Updated: December 19, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Arash Fayz . Arash Fayz is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of LA Tutors 123, an academic consulting and private tutoring company based in Los Angeles, California. Arash has over 10 years of educational consulting experience, managing the tutoring of students of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to score higher on standardized tests and gain admission to their target schools. He has a BA in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of California, Los Angeles. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 600,285 times.

If you’re taking your SATs this year, you may be preparing to write a solid essay within the 30 minute time limit. Or you might be trying to improve your writing speed to complete essay exams faster and more efficiently. Writing a five paragraph essay in under 30 minutes can seem daunting, but with the right planning and time management, it is certainly achievable.

Sample Essays

Planning the Essay

• For example, you may get a prompt in the form of quotation: “Time has a doomsday book, on whose pages he is continually recording illustrious names. But as often as a new name is written there, an old one disappears. Only a few stand in illuminated characters never to be effaced.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow [3] X Research source
• You may then receive a question attached to the prompt: “Are there some heroes who will be remembered forever? Or are all heroes doomed to be forgotten one day?" Plan your response, and then write an essay to explain your views on this issue. Be sure to support your position with specific points and examples. You may use personal examples or examples from your reading, observations, or, knowledge of subjects such as history, literature, science. [4] X Research source

• For example, you may brainstorm the Longfellow quote/question by thinking of personal examples of heroes who are remembered or forgotten, such as family members, friends, teachers, or peers who have acted as heroes to you or to others. Or you may focus on a historical figure who seems to be a forgotten hero or a decorated hero.
• This essay question is asking for two sides of the discussion, the forgotten hero and the remembered hero. Your thesis should discuss both sides and choose one side to argue for or against.
• You may choose to spotlight a historical figure who encountered opposition and challenges in her life, such as the suffragette Susan B. Anthony. Anthony worked tirelessly for decades to get the government to recognize women’s right to vote, and was often derided by the government and by individuals within her own organization. She is a good example of a hero who was not recognized as a trailblazer until late in her life, though she is now remembered as a heroine in history. Try to refer back to the quotation in the essay prompt in your thesis, if possible, to show you have read the entire question.
• A possible thesis statement could be: “Though Longfellow argues that names, or heroes, may be forgotten over time, one historical figure, Susan B. Anthony, was derided in her lifetime for her beliefs but is now remembered as a heroine of her time.”

• Introduction: Your beginning paragraph should contain an engaging first sentence and your thesis statement. Some writers find it easier to write create a temporary introduction and revise it once they are finished with the essay. This will ensure the introduction is cohesive with the rest of the essay.
• Conclusion: This paragraph should summarize your main argument and restate your thesis. You may also want to include last thoughts around the essay question.

Writing the Essay

• Try to spend two to three minutes on each body paragraph. Then, take three minutes on your conclusion paragraph and go back to your introduction. Spend the last three minutes revising your introduction so it matches the tone and perspective of the rest of your essay.

• An interesting or surprising example: This could be a personal experience or a key moment in the life of the historical figure you are discussing in your essay. For example, you may discuss Anthony’s childhood as a Quaker and her later adoption of more casual dress and growing interest in social reform at the age of 26. [9] X Trustworthy Source University of North Carolina Writing Center UNC's on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process Go to source
• A provocative quotation: This could be from a source you used for your essay or one that feels relevant to your topic. For example, you may use a well known quote from Anthony, such as: “Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputation and social standing, never can bring about a reform. Those who are really in earnest must be willing to be anything or nothing in the world's estimation, and publicly and privately, in season and out, avow their sympathy with despised and persecuted ideas and their advocates, and bear the consequences.” [10] X Research source
• A vivid anecdote: An anecdote is a very short story that carries moral or symbolic weight. Think of an anecdote that might be a poetic or powerful way to start your essay.
• A thought provoking question: create a question that will get your reader thinking and engaged in your topic. For example: “Did you ever wonder how women received the right to vote in the United States?”

• Body paragraph 1: You may start by discussing Anthony’s early successes. Look at the establishment of the Women’s Loyal National League in 1863 by Anthony and Stanton. As the first national women’s political organization in the United States, it had a membership of 5000 and provided a platform for women to speak out on issues like slavery and women’s right to vote. [11] X Research source
• Body paragraph 2: You may discuss Anthony’s mid career struggles. Look at the split in the women’s movement in May 1869, with the establishment of the National Woman’s Suffrage Association (NWSA) by Anthony and Stanton, and the rival American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA). Note how after the Civil War, Anthony devoted her time and life to the suffrage movement, assuming leadership of the NWSA in 1890 and continuing to advocate for women’s rights. Anthony also remained unmarried, which gave her an advantage under the law, as married women at the time were not permitted to sign official documents and had to defer to their husbands. [12] X Research source
• Body paragraph 3: You may discuss Anthony’s later life, including her many speaking engagements throughout the United States on the need for women’s suffrage and equal rights. Though Anthony died in 1906, and did not live to see the passing of the Nineteenth Amendment of the Constitution, affording women the right to vote in the United States in 1920, her forty years of tireless work paved the way for the legal precedent and gave women a strong sense of empowerment and equality. [13] X Research source

• For example, you may restate your thesis: “Throughout her life, Susan B. Anthony’s sacrificed her time, energy, and personal livelihood to advocate for women’s rights, proving that though many heroes may be forgotten, their actions will live on in history.”

Editing the Essay

• For example, an essay on Susan B. Anthony could have the title: “An Unsung Heroine” or “Susan B. Anthony: An Advocate for Change”.

Community Q&A

You Might Also Like

• ↑ Arash Fayz. Test Prep Tutor. Expert Interview. 1 November 2019.
• ↑ https://libguides.newcastle.edu.au/essay_planning/essay-planning
• ↑ https://resources.warburg.sas.ac.uk/pdf/emh823b2778298.pdf
• ↑ https://www.hunter.cuny.edu/rwc/handouts/the-writing-process-1/invention/Writing-a-Response-or-Reaction-Paper
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/thesis-statements/
• ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/test-terror.html
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/introductions/
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/should-i-use-i/
• ↑ https://www.rochester.edu/sba/
• ↑ https://repository.library.georgetown.edu/bitstream/handle/10822/553350/laCossJoanHarkin.pdf
• ↑ https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/susan-b-anthony
• ↑ https://www.britannica.com/biography/Susan-B-Anthony

About This Article

In order to successfully write an essay in under 30 minutes, you need to plan it out and work efficiently. Take a good 10 minutes to plan out the essay and come up with a thesis statement that will convey your argument and help guide your essay. It may seem like a large chunk of your time, but it will save you from having to rewrite or restructure your essay later on. Then, take 15 minutes to write your introductory paragraph, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Use the last 5 minutes to proofread your essay and look for spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors. Don’t worry about coming up with a title until you’re finished. It will be much easier then. For tips about how to edit an essay you write in under 30 minutes, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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• How to write an essay introduction | 4 steps & examples

How to Write an Essay Introduction | 4 Steps & Examples

Published on February 4, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on July 23, 2023.

A good introduction paragraph is an essential part of any academic essay . It sets up your argument and tells the reader what to expect.

The main goals of an introduction are to:

• Catch your reader’s attention.
• Give background on your topic.
• Present your thesis statement —the central point of your essay.

This introduction example is taken from our interactive essay example on the history of Braille.

The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability. The writing system of raised dots used by visually impaired people was developed by Louis Braille in nineteenth-century France. In a society that did not value disabled people in general, blindness was particularly stigmatized, and lack of access to reading and writing was a significant barrier to social participation. The idea of tactile reading was not entirely new, but existing methods based on sighted systems were difficult to learn and use. As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness. This essay begins by discussing the situation of blind people in nineteenth-century Europe. It then describes the invention of Braille and the gradual process of its acceptance within blind education. Subsequently, it explores the wide-ranging effects of this invention on blind people’s social and cultural lives.

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Table of contents

Step 1: hook your reader, step 2: give background information, step 3: present your thesis statement, step 4: map your essay’s structure, step 5: check and revise, more examples of essay introductions, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about the essay introduction.

Your first sentence sets the tone for the whole essay, so spend some time on writing an effective hook.

Avoid long, dense sentences—start with something clear, concise and catchy that will spark your reader’s curiosity.

The hook should lead the reader into your essay, giving a sense of the topic you’re writing about and why it’s interesting. Avoid overly broad claims or plain statements of fact.

Examples: Writing a good hook

Take a look at these examples of weak hooks and learn how to improve them.

• Braille was an extremely important invention.
• The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability.

The first sentence is a dry fact; the second sentence is more interesting, making a bold claim about exactly  why the topic is important.

• The internet is defined as “a global computer network providing a variety of information and communication facilities.”
• The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education.

Avoid using a dictionary definition as your hook, especially if it’s an obvious term that everyone knows. The improved example here is still broad, but it gives us a much clearer sense of what the essay will be about.

• Mary Shelley’s  Frankenstein is a famous book from the nineteenth century.
• Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale about the dangers of scientific advancement.

Instead of just stating a fact that the reader already knows, the improved hook here tells us about the mainstream interpretation of the book, implying that this essay will offer a different interpretation.

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Next, give your reader the context they need to understand your topic and argument. Depending on the subject of your essay, this might include:

• Historical, geographical, or social context
• An outline of the debate you’re addressing
• A summary of relevant theories or research about the topic
• Definitions of key terms

The information here should be broad but clearly focused and relevant to your argument. Don’t give too much detail—you can mention points that you will return to later, but save your evidence and interpretation for the main body of the essay.

How much space you need for background depends on your topic and the scope of your essay. In our Braille example, we take a few sentences to introduce the topic and sketch the social context that the essay will address:

Now it’s time to narrow your focus and show exactly what you want to say about the topic. This is your thesis statement —a sentence or two that sums up your overall argument.

This is the most important part of your introduction. A  good thesis isn’t just a statement of fact, but a claim that requires evidence and explanation.

The goal is to clearly convey your own position in a debate or your central point about a topic.

Particularly in longer essays, it’s helpful to end the introduction by signposting what will be covered in each part. Keep it concise and give your reader a clear sense of the direction your argument will take.

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As you research and write, your argument might change focus or direction as you learn more.

For this reason, it’s often a good idea to wait until later in the writing process before you write the introduction paragraph—it can even be the very last thing you write.

When you’ve finished writing the essay body and conclusion , you should return to the introduction and check that it matches the content of the essay.

It’s especially important to make sure your thesis statement accurately represents what you do in the essay. If your argument has gone in a different direction than planned, tweak your thesis statement to match what you actually say.

To polish your writing, you can use something like a paraphrasing tool .

You can use the checklist below to make sure your introduction does everything it’s supposed to.

Checklist: Essay introduction

My first sentence is engaging and relevant.

I have introduced the topic with necessary background information.

I have defined any important terms.

My thesis statement clearly presents my main point or argument.

Everything in the introduction is relevant to the main body of the essay.

You have a strong introduction - now make sure the rest of your essay is just as good.

• Argumentative
• Literary analysis

This introduction to an argumentative essay sets up the debate about the internet and education, and then clearly states the position the essay will argue for.

The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its critical benefits for students and educators—as a uniquely comprehensive and accessible information source; a means of exposure to and engagement with different perspectives; and a highly flexible learning environment.

This introduction to a short expository essay leads into the topic (the invention of the printing press) and states the main point the essay will explain (the effect of this invention on European society).

In many ways, the invention of the printing press marked the end of the Middle Ages. The medieval period in Europe is often remembered as a time of intellectual and political stagnation. Prior to the Renaissance, the average person had very limited access to books and was unlikely to be literate. The invention of the printing press in the 15th century allowed for much less restricted circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation.

This introduction to a literary analysis essay , about Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein , starts by describing a simplistic popular view of the story, and then states how the author will give a more complex analysis of the text’s literary devices.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale. Arguably the first science fiction novel, its plot can be read as a warning about the dangers of scientific advancement unrestrained by ethical considerations. In this reading, and in popular culture representations of the character as a “mad scientist”, Victor Frankenstein represents the callous, arrogant ambition of modern science. However, far from providing a stable image of the character, Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to gradually transform our impression of Frankenstein, portraying him in an increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in his own telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
• Post hoc fallacy
• Appeal to authority fallacy
• False cause fallacy
• Sunk cost fallacy

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Your essay introduction should include three main things, in this order:

• An opening hook to catch the reader’s attention.
• Relevant background information that the reader needs to know.
• A thesis statement that presents your main point or argument.

The length of each part depends on the length and complexity of your essay .

The “hook” is the first sentence of your essay introduction . It should lead the reader into your essay, giving a sense of why it’s interesting.

To write a good hook, avoid overly broad statements or long, dense sentences. Try to start with something clear, concise and catchy that will spark your reader’s curiosity.

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

• It gives your writing direction and focus.
• It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

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Can You Write 3 Essays in One Day? Tips to Write Many Essays In a Day

Some of us may be fast writers, but many of us are unfortunately not. For example, a skilled writer could write an essay quickly; the same paper that would take some inexpert writer hours.

It would help if you had a grasp of speed typing abilities to write an essay very quickly. Additionally, you would require an adequate strategy and some devoted coaching.

You would want to know; even with a grasp of all these necessities, can you write three essays in one day?

To get the answer to this question, read through this article and also learn the art of proficient essay writing.

Can You Write 3 Essays in One Day?

Anyone can write three essays within a day if they possess exemplary research and writing abilities. If the number of pages required for the essays is small, writing three of such essays in a day is possible.

Writing an essay in a short time is not a walk in the past.

A well-written essay serves the reader with a legible thesis, lucid supporting paragraphs, and a polished conclusion.

Also see: Is it wrong to pay essay writing companies to do your work?

Composing such a fluent essay will, therefore, certainly consume a lot of time.

Nevertheless, writing three fluent essays in one day is still a possibility.

All you need to accomplish the task is to arm yourself with a qualified plan and proficient writing skills.

Of course, you’d also need to develop a writing discipline and avoid unnecessary distractions.

How Many Essays Can I Do in One Day?

As an amateur writer, you can compose 1 to 2 essays a day, while a proficient writer can tackle 3 to 5 essays daily. The number of essays you can do in a day will highly depend on how skillful you are in essay writing.

Again, the number of words required for each essay should be a consideration.

The number of short essays I can tackle in a day will be more than the number of lengthy essays.

This question will also depend on the complexity of the subject I am tackling in the essay.

For example, a complex topic would require me to conduct more research, which will consume more time. As a result, I will compose fewer essays.

There is a strategy to writing many essays in a short period. Avoid being too wordy and apply fewer words that communicate clearly.

Can I Write a 3 Page Paper in 2 Hours?

Armed with a clear writing plan, you can comfortably write a 3-page paper in 2 hours. Furthermore, if the paper is double-spaced, you should complete the task even within 1.5 hours.

The topic you are tackling would, in such a case, be simple, and the quality of writing expected not very high.

The topic you are writing on could call for exhaustive research, citations, and links. But, unfortunately, 3-page writing of such work could take longer, longer than even 5 hours.

How Long Should It Take to Write a 3-page paper?

It should take a professional writer 2 hours to an hour and approximately 4 hours for an amateur writer to write a 3-page paper. However, there is no definite time that one should consume to write a 3- page paper.

The technicality of the subject matter will surely command the time you consume. Your familiarity with the topic is also crucial.

A topic you are well conversant with will take you less time; You will spend less time researching.

The amount of time accorded to complete the assignment is a vital determinant. The more time you have to complete the project, the longer you take to write the 3-page paper and vice versa.

The answer to this question will also depend on the author’s writing abilities. A seasoned writer with quality research and typing skills will consume less time to write the paper.

Tips on How to Write Many Essays in a Day

Writing any well-researched essay is not an easy assignment. Moreover, composing multiple such essays within a day is an even more complicated task.

You are a student, an employee, or a professional essay writer with a deadline to submit your essays approaching.

Also see: Will My Instructor Tell If I Hired An Online Essay Writer?

How do you write multiple essays in a day to meet the stipulated deadline?

Below is a list of tips that you could employ to help you compose many essays within one day.

• Apprehend the assignment first . Clearly understanding the topic will ensure you spend less time in research. You, therefore, consume less time in writing the essay. If you spend little time writing one piece, then you will comfortably cover many in a day.
• Conduct proper research . Research competently on the subject matter. As a result, you will be left with sufficient information to write your essay. You, therefore, speed up your writing process. Make it a mission to improve your research skills.
• Hire an online essay writer . If you are a slow writer, hire the services of an online professional writer . The writer will deliver the essay faster and more effectively. Such a service can write multiple essays a day for you. In return, you meet the deadline comfortably.
• Choose a suitable writing environment . Distraction is second to procrastination which is the main obstacle to complete any task. Choose a peaceful place to beat distractions. Move to a quiet place and assemble all your requirements. You will therefore be able to work faster and write many articles in a day.
• Set up a deadline. Establish a deadline to complete an essay and strive to meet the deadline. By doing so, you can effectively manage your time and write more essays in a day.

Final Thoughts

Do you have the necessary writing skills to compose multiple essays within a given time? If so, can you write 3 essays in one day? Practice more and more to become a proficient essay writer.

In the end, practice will make perfect.

How to write a whole research paper in a week

Writing up a full research article in a single week? Maybe you think that’s impossible. Yet I have done it repeatedly, and so have students in my courses. This is an exceptionally joyful (even if demanding) experience: being so productive just feels great! You are not wasting any time, and a paper produced in one go is typically coherent and nice to read. Even if you are a slow writer, you can write a whole paper in a single week — if you follow my strategy. Read below about what you need to prepare and how to approach this project.

I wrote my first scientific research article in 7 days. It started as a desperate effort to stop my procrastination and “just do it”. But I was surprised what a positive experience it was: focused and efficient, I was making daily progress, feeling motivated and content. Finally, the fruits of my hard work were gaining shape — and they did it so quickly!

I realized it was highly effective to write up a paper like this: writing for the whole day, every day until the first draft was finished. My writing project was firmly present in my mind — I didn’t lose time catching up with what I have written in the last session. Since I was not doing anything else, my wandering mind settled in very fast, and I was getting into a routine. The daily progress was clearly visible and motivated me to continue. And the result was a coherent paper that was easy to revise.

Meanwhile, this paper-a-week approach is my favorite. That’s how I write my papers, and that’s what I teach to students. In on-site courses young scientists draft a whole paper in 5 days, writing one major section per day. At the beginning of the week, many participants have doubts. But at the end of the week, they are all excited to see how much they managed to write in just a single week.

If you would also like to try out this approach, then read on about the necessary preparations, the optimal setting, and a productive writing strategy.

If you would like to get support during the preparation, drafting and revising of your research article, check out my online course Write Up Your Paper .

Prepare well

• First, think about your audience and pick a suitable journal . This is an important step because the audience and journal determine the content & style of your paper. As a reference, pick two recent papers on a similar topic published in your target journal.
• Create a storyline for your paper. What is the main message you want to convey, and how are you going to present your results?
• Put together all the results that you need to present your story convincingly: collect the necessary data, finish analyses, and create figures and tables.
• Select and read the relevant background literature as well as studies you want to compare your work with. As you read, note down any point that comes to your mind as something to be mentioned in the Introduction or Discussion section.
• Draft a preliminary Abstract : it will help you keep the direction and not get distracted by secondary ideas as you write the individual sections.

Depending on how complete your results already are, you might need 2-4 weeks to finish all these preparations. To help you keep an overview, I created a checklist with detailed steps that you need to take before you attempt to write up your paper in a week. Subscribe to our Newsletter and get your copy of the checklist.

Reserve a whole week for writing

Now, writing a paper in a single week is a serious business. You can’t do it if you don’t focus solely on the writing and create good writing conditions. Therefore, I recommend the following settings:

• Find a place where you can write without distractions. I have written my first paper over the Easter holidays when there was nobody in the office. You might choose to write at home or in a library. Though if possible, the best is to go for a retreat: removing yourself from your everyday settings immensely helps focus on the writing.
• Cancel (all) social obligations for the week. While it’s crucial to relax in the evening, you want to avoid disturbances associated with social events. Anything that makes your thoughts drift away from your work because it requires planning, exchanging of messages with others, or simply because it’s too exciting is better left for some other week. On the other hand, a quiet meeting with a good friend over a glass of wine or beer might be just the perfect way to unwind and rest after a productive, yet exhausting day of writing.
• Get support from the partner, family or friends — if possible. It’s best when you don’t need to run errands, cook and clean during this week. If you live alone, you can probably easily arrange yourself for undisturbed work. If you live with other people, ask them for consideration and support.

What I described above are the *ideal* conditions for undisturbed writing. But don’t give up if you can’t create such conditions for yourself. Work with what is possible — maybe it will take you 7-8 instead of 5-6 days but that’s still a great result, right?

Do you need to revise & polish your manuscript or thesis but don’t know where to begin?

Get your Revision Checklist

Click here for an efficient step-by-step revision of your scientific texts.

Maybe you think that you can never ever draft a research article in a single week. Because you write so slowly, producing only few paragraphs per day. Well — I agree that if you don’t optimize your writing strategy, it would be hard to impossible to write up a whole paper in a week.

• Separate the processes of writing and revising. That’s the most important principle. Resist the urge to revise as you write the first draft. Moreover, don’t interrupt your writing to look up missing information. Work with placeholders instead. This allows you to get into the state of flow and proceed much faster than you can imagine.
• Start your writing day with 10 minutes of freewriting . Write without stopping about anything that comes to your mind. This helps you to warm up for writing, clear your head of any unrelated thoughts, and get into the mood of writing without editing.
• Take regular power breaks. I recommend to follow the Pomodoro technique : write for 25 minutes and then take a 5-minute break. After 3-4 such sessions take a longer break of 0.5-1 hour. During the breaks get up, walk a bit, stretch, look around, and breathe deeply. These breaks help you sustain high focus and productivity throughout the whole day.
• Eat and sleep well. What you are doing is similar to a professional athlete. So take care of your brain and body, and they will serve you well.
• Reward yourself. Every day celebrate the progress you have made. You have full right to be proud of you!

Write the individual sections in a reasonable order

If you have written a research paper before, you have probably realized that starting with the Introduction and finishing with the Discussion is not the ideal order in which to tackle the individual sections. Instead, I recommend the following procedure:

• Start with the Methods section. This is the easiest section to write, so it’s great as a warm-up, to get into writing without the need to think (and procrastinate ;)) too much. Look at your figures and tables: what methods did you use to create them? Then describe your methods, one after another.
• Results section: Writing the Methods section refreshes your memory about the research you have done. So writing the Results section next should not be too hard: Take one display object (figure or table) after another, and describe the results they contain. While you do so, you will come across points that need to be discussed in the Discussion section. Note them down so you don’t forget them.
• Introduction : When your results are fresh in your mind, you are in a great position to write the Introduction — because the Introduction should contain selected information that gives the reader context for your research project and allows them to understand your results and their implications.
• Discussion : When you have taken notes while writing the Results section, the Discussion section should be quite easy to draft. Don’t worry too early about the order in which you want to discuss the individual points. Write one paragraph for each point , and then see how you can logically arrange them.
• Abstract and title : On the last day, revise the preliminary Abstract or write a new one. You could also take a break of a few days before tackling the Abstract, to gain clarity and distance. Generate multiple titles (I recommend 6-10), so that you and your co-authors can choose the most appropriate one.

Just do it!

Once you have written the whole draft, let it sit for a week or two, and then revise it. Follow my tips for efficient revising and get your revision checklist that will guide you step-by-step through the whole process.

Now I am curious about your experience: Have you ever written up an academic article quickly? How did you do it? Please, share with us your tips & strategies!

Do you need to revise & polish your manuscript or thesis but don’t know where to begin? Is your text a mess and you don't know how to improve it?

Click here for an efficient step-by-step revision of your scientific texts. You will be guided through each step with concrete tips for execution.

7 thoughts on “ How to write a whole research paper in a week ”

Thank for your guide and suggestion. It gives to me very precious ways how to write a article. Now I am writing a article related to Buddhist studies. Thank you so much.

You are welcome!

excellent! it helped me a lot! wish you all best

Hi Parham, I’m happy to hear that!

I have never written any paper before. As I am from very old school.

But my writing skill is actually very good. Your help is definitely going to help me as this has inspired me alot. Will let you know, once done. I really like the outline that you have given. Basically you have made it so easy for me .

Hope fully will be in touch with you soon.

Thanks and ki d Regards, Shehla

Dear Shehla, that sounds great! I’m looking forward to hearing about your paper!

Comments are closed.

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How to Write a Research Paper in a Day: Step-by-Step Guide

Julie Peterson

As all other students, you put a lot of effort into studying and writing homework assignments. You do your best to complete every single project on time. Unfortunately, that’s not always possible.

Research papers are long-term assignments. Your professors advise you to start early, and you try to do that. However, you have to think about tests and other assignments. Plus, you can’t stay in the library forever when you should also work on your social life.

Sooner or later, every student ends up in the same situation: the deadline is too close and the research paper is nowhere near finished. There are two usual reasons that lead to that scenario:

1) You forgot all about this project. You were too occupied with studying and classes. You didn’t set a reminder on your calendar, and your teacher just reminded you that the deadline is tomorrow .                

2) You kept procrastinating. The topic seemed simple enough, so you thought you had enough time. The day before the deadline, you’re facing the harsh reality: a research paper is more complex than it seems.

1. First Thing’s First: Calm Down!

What’s the first thing you do when you realize you have very little time to complete a whole research paper? Panic! It’s the usual reaction. You start saying to yourself:

• “There’s no way I can do this!”
• “It’s just impossible.”
• “Oh my God, what am I gonna do?”

That’s the wrong approach to have. Panic will block you from achieving your full potential. The first thing you need to do is relax . You forgot about that paper. Now, you’re left with a tight deadline. That’s okay. You still have time and you can still do something about it.

Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Then, repeat to yourself:

• “I can do this. I will research and write whole day. I’ll get it done by tomorrow.”

That positive self-talk will prepare your mind for the challenge that follows. Eat something nice, make yourself some coffee and get to work. If necessary, take a 20-minute power nap before you proceed with the following steps.

2. Use the Pomodoro Technique

When you have to stay focused on a challenging task, it’s important to have a system. The Pomodoro Technique is a pretty effective method that helps you do more work in less time. It’s based on a simple principle:

• You work for 25 minutes straight, with no distractions.
• After the work session, you take a 5-minute break.

It sounds pretty simple, but it works. Twenty five minutes doesn’t seem like a long time. Your mind can stay focused on the task at hand without much effort. After the short break, you’ll be able to get back to work.

If you start writing the paper without such system, the task will seem overwhelming. With the Pomodoro Technique, you’re giving yourself small steps towards the ultimate goal.

You can use a browser extension like Strict Workflow to keep track of your working and resting session. It’s great because it blocks your access to distracting websites during the working session. When you give yourself a break of 5 minutes, you can check what’s new on Twitter.  

3. Start With Brainstorming

Before you get to work, you’ll need to get an idea. How do you want this paper to look like? Go through a brief brainstorming stage, so you’ll form an outline to guide you to the process of research and writing.

• Your teacher gave you a prompt for the research paper. Focus on it. What ideas do you get?
• Make a list of a few possible topics. The brainstorming stage doesn’t need much thinking. You just write whatever comes to your mind.
• Now, do a preliminary research on those topics. It shouldn’t take much time. Give 5 minutes to each idea you have. What topic gives you the greatest foundation for research? That’s what you should focus on.
• First, form your thesis statement. It’s something you will prove throughout the research paper. The preliminary research provided you with enough resources. Keep in mind that professors don’t like broad thesis statement. If, for example, the prompt was related to World War 2, you’ll have to narrow it down. You can opt for a specific event during the war, or even explore the Italian uniforms. Whatever it is, you need to make it very specific.
• Think of at least 3-4 subtopics. When you focus on the main topic, what questions do you have? You’ll want to answer those questions through the subtopics. That will be the body of your research paper.
• Finally, the outline should include a conclusion, which will sum up the claims and connect the loose ends.

4. Now, Onto the Research!

Here is an important piece of advice: don’t research as you write. When you’re working on a serious research paper, you need to explore many resources that will help you get ideas and form opinions. This should be a separate stage. Since you have only one day to write this paper, you can give yourself 2 hours for the research. Here are few tips to consider:

• Use Google Scholar instead of the usual Google search engine. It gives you access to high-quality scientific and academic sources. Only authoritative sources will make the paper look serious and well-researched.
• Keep track of all online sources you collect. You will need to reference them. Otherwise, you’ll be guilty of plagiarism. You can create a private Pinterest board, where you’ll collect all materials you plan to use. As for the referencing, you can use a free citation generator , which will save you a lot of time.
• Take notes! You can’t expect to remember everything you read and all ideas you get during this stage. If necessary, update the outline and make it more detailed.

5. Write It!

Finally, you’ve come down to the writing part. You might want to take a break before this stage. Have another cup of coffee and an energizing meal.

• Again: relax! You have an outline with good ideas. You have enough resources to work with. At this stage, you should just bring everything together, and that won’t take more than 4 hours.
• You don’t have to start with the introduction. Many students find it easier to write the thesis and develop the arguments first. Then, it’s easier to explain what the paper is about in the introductory part.
• Don’t think much about the style and grammar at first. This is your first draft, which will go through changes later on. Focus on expressing your ideas in a logical way.
• Support your arguments with quotes from the resources you have. They will add strength to the claims.
• Use simple, clear language. Don’t try to make a good impression by writing endless sentences and using words you just found in the dictionary. You don’t need complex style to show you know what you’re writing about.
• Don’t leave the references last. Cite the sources as you go!
• Keep up with the Pomodoro method while you write. If you feel exhausted and you need a longer break, take a power nap and you’ll continue later.

6. Don’t Forget the Editing

You’re almost done, but it’s not time to celebrate just yet. When you finish writing the research paper, it’s important to take a break. You must be hungry, so get something to eat. Try not to think about the paper for at least one hour. When you go back to it, the mistakes will be more obvious.

SEE: Top 6 Editing Tools for College Students

• Get rid of sentences and paragraphs that are not directly related to the thesis statement and subtopics.
• Add more information when you notice gaps in the logical flow.
• Pay attention to the citations. You have to format them in accordance with the required referencing style.
• Proofread! Once you’re done fixing the major aspects of the paper, you can do the last reading. At this point, focus on the grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

Now, you can congratulate yourself. You made it! You wrote an entire research paper in a single day. It’s not smart to procrastinate until the last day. However, it’s not impossible to write a paper in such a short timeframe. Now, have a good sleep. You deserve it.    

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Is it possible to write a 1500 word essay in a day: tips from a straight-a student.

As a straight-A student, I’ve had to do many essays in little time with few resources since I’ve had so much other work to attend to. This means I have had to tackle 1500 word essays in a single day. It is perfectly possible to do this, although it is tough, and you’ll need to follow these vital tips. Learn from my mistakes!

• Make sure you use your day properly

Making sure you make the most of your 24 hours means that the first thing you need to do is make a plan. It can seem like a waste of time, but this really is the most efficient way to make the most of the hours you have. Make sure that you mark into your schedule the times you need for breakfast, lunch and dinner, of course, and ensure also that you take regular breaks (although these should be no more than 15 minutes in length each time). Then make sure you know what you need to do from hour to hour. For instance, use the morning to tackle the research part of the essay. Work out the best way for you to work.

• Research efficiently

The most time-costly part of writing anything is doing your research and reading around your subject. This can take hours and hours and, obviously, you have no time to waste. This means that you need to be reading and researching efficiently as well as effectively. Only read the materials that you know will be useful to you (selecting these comes under the ‘planning’ part of your day - see above) and don’t get distracted by non-relevant articles or books. Try to read quickly and make efficient notes.

• Do not get distracted!

One of the real reasons why most people cannot complete a 1500 word essay in a day is because they get easily distracted. You need to avoid this! That means you need to turn off things like the television, your phone (to avoid being tempted to send and read texts) and your computer. If you need your computer to write your essay, disconnect the internet or disable the Wi-Fi so that you are not tempted to browse social media sites or send or check an email (which is very time-consuming). If you cannot work with music, remember also to turn off your MP3 player. Remember all these tips, and you will be able to complete your essay in a single day!

Writing Guides

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• Outlining an informative essay
• Where to get title page samples
• 5th grade descritpive paper: picking a topic
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• 5 steps for completing your paper
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• Professional writing help

Writing Resources

Very good essay writing tips for college students.

© 2012-2024 - CollegeWritingHelp.com. Simple and explicit essay writing tips.

How To Write A 3000 Word Essay In A Day?

Table of Contents

Is it possible to write 3000 word essay in a day.

On many occasions, students find themselves struggling to beat an approaching deadline and deliver their essays within the stipulated timeline. While many manage to deliver, few accomplish or achieve as per their strength dictates.

Lateness comes about because of different reasons and the most probable ones include:

• Procrastination – postponing things is almost like a disease which infects many people and in most instances is the main hindrance when you are looking to write your perfect essay in less than 24 hours. This habit contributes to students losing a lot of marks and never living up to their high standards. While some students are simply lazy and thus prefer to do other things when they should be working on their assignments, others lack the time or are involved in other activities that take up most of their time. Whichever the situation, procrastination greatly contributes to students being late with assignments, especially those that involve essay writing .
• Having to choose between other deadlines – at any time in college, students find themselves with a lot of assignments but less time to deliver. In such situations, some seek the help of professional writers, and others make coffee their closest friend as they try to finish their essays on time. Whichever the option a student opts for, at a certain point, they will find themselves behind the schedule.

Regardless of the reason why people find themselves behind the schedule, panicking as some of us resort to is never the answer. As a matter of fact, panicking while late leads to one delivering a substandard essay or job. Students need to learn to keep calm and focused on the task ahead if they are to beat short deadlines. A task such as writing a 3000-word essay is indeed quite huge, and while it is not advisable to leave it to the last minute, in case it happens, students need to understand that it is indeed possible to finish it in 24 hours. This article is not in any way encouraging students to leave their assignments to the last day, but only letting you know that if you ever find yourself in such a situation, it is indeed possible to finish such a task.

Actions That Can Help a Student to Write 3000 Word Essay in a Day

The question how to write a 3000-word essay in a day is quite common among students. However, finishing a 3000-word essay in 24 hours is indeed easy, but doing a good job while at it might present the biggest challenge to students. However, this article outlines some actions which, if embraced, can help you achieve both. Here are the actions to help you deliver a high quality 3000-word essay in 24 hours :

Having a plan is a key to a good essay. Lecturers always ask students to plan and prepare a study timetable to help them manage their time well. However, few take them seriously and therefore end up being late for almost everything within the school curriculum. Planning helps you to factor in everything and allocate ample time for all of your assignments.

In 24 hours, you can do a lot of things, and it begins with the kind of breakfast you take. A healthy breakfast is indeed essential in this case. You need to have the right brain food to help your mind to relax and to distress yourself. Heavy breakfasts are, therefore, discouraged and snacks like fresh veggie sticks, nuts, asparagus, coconut, come highly recommended. Other fruits such as berries, oatmeal, bananas, dried fruit, etc. are also recommended. You need food that will help to lower your stress levels and the above are some of the most preferred.

2. Select your place of work

Distractions contribute to you spending a lot of time doing very little. The place you decide to select as your working station should be quiet and allow you to work with minimal distractions. Whether it is at home or the school or local library, quietness should be the first factor for you to consider and it is closely followed by the how comfortable the place is. Choosing a place that is uncomfortable will contribute to your tiring fast and losing focus easily.

It is also essential to be organized and always have things like bottled water, enough research materials as well as some snacks.

3. Minimize distractions

The Internet is currently the biggest distraction at least for most people. When faced with a tight deadline, however, it is important to avoid all distractions and focus solely on the task at hand. Students spend a lot of time on social networks, but if on a tight schedule, avoiding them or even temporary deactivation of the accounts might help you focus.

4. Set yourself short-term goals

If left with 24 hours to complete an assignment , time management is indeed essential to finishing it. Setting short-term goals is indeed necessary, and before beginning the writing process, it will be important that you set yourself some achievable objectives. While most of us tend to leave out breaks, they are a necessary inclusion, and it is essential to include them.

5. Selecting the right topic or question and approach to the assignment

If asked to select an essay topic or question from a number of topics or questions, pick the one you are familiar with. This will help you avoid researching a new topic or question later. Take time to decide on your approach. The approach chosen will help you tackle the essay fast. The next step involves preparing an outline and including the key points you wish to have in your paper.

6. Writing the introduction

Writing the introduction is the most challenging bit of essay writing, at least to most people. However, when under pressure and with less than 24 hours to go, the focus should not be on writing a perfect introduction but on including the necessities within it. You should, therefore, introduce your argument first and then include a relevant thesis statement.

7. Research

Research should be focused and only be tailored towards a specific point. When going through the different topics within the selected reference materials, it is prudent to only skip to the chapters that are relevant to the topic under review. Be sure to paraphrase all of your arguments to avoid plagiarism issues which could render your work and effort useless. Use of resources such as Google Books is also advisable because it will help to increase your essay’s credibility.

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How To Write A Short Essay Read More »

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How Many Words is a Perfect Essay? Read More »

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How to write three-page essays Quickly (Plus titles/topics and tips)

There are many ways to kill a rat (as an adage goes), and so are many ways to write an essay fast. There is no single bullet when it comes to writing essays with different paragraphs and pages. It is not every time that we write essays without a challenge. Instead, we can overcome these challenges by understanding the essay writing process.

Are you assigned to write a three-page paper and need to do it fast but do not know where to begin? Well, you are not alone. Even though at face value, a 3-page essay might appear as though it is the longest task you will ever complete, sometimes in short deadlines, it necessarily does not have to be a struggle writing it.

We come bearing the good news because, in this article, we take you through how to write a three-page essay task faster, especially when you are strapped for time, the deadline is fast approaching, or when it is last-minute writing. We know that most students work better under the pressure of strict deadlines, and if that sounds like you, do not panic.

You can write your essay or research paper with three pages and beat the deadline to score the best mark. The only thing you need to do is to read this article and find out how to produce an excellent paper. And if you need help with writing urgent 3-page essays , you can hire a fast writer on our website. 

How long is a three-page essay or research paper?

Before we understand the practical ways to write a quick three-page paper in the least time possible, say an hour or two, we begin by looking at the bells and whistles.

A three-page essay is sometimes called a 750-word essay because it contains between 750 and 900 words. The rationale is that a typed page can be 250., 275, or 300 words. It is a formal essay for middle school and is also common in high school. We consider a 3-page double-spaced essay as having between 750 and 825 words given that most papers written in APA or MLA are double-spaced.

If you are to write a 3-page essay and the instructions direct that you come up with 3 full pages, ensure that each page with content is filled. It should take you around 300 words per page, meaning 3 full pages would be 900 words long.

In terms of length, three-page essays can have a minimum of three paragraphs. However, the maximum number of paragraphs depends on your ideas, the structure of your essay, and the word count specified in the instructions. However, since a paragraph is between 125 words and 160 words (words to paragraph conversion for essays), the body of a 3-page should have at least 4 or 5 paragraphs long.

When writing a 3-pages essay, your introduction and conclusion should have approximately 10-15% of the word count. This means that they should at least be between 100 and 125 words long. The body should carry 75-80% of the word count, which translates to between 620 and 660 words for a 3-page body paragraph.

The paragraph is longer because it is where you develop the thesis statement by supporting it. The body paragraphs comprise topic sentences , supporting sentences, and concluding sentences.

If you are wondering what a 3-page essay or research paper looks like, it contains at least five paragraphs . As long as it is 750-825 words, written in font size 12, Times New Roman or Arial, and has a 1-inch margin all around, it is a three-page paper.

The time it takes to write a three-page essay or paper

With the understanding of how long a three-page essay is, let us now look at how long it takes to write one. Assuming you have little time and want to complete a 3-page essay or research paper, submit it, and attend to other assignments or personal stuff, knowing the time it will take to complete your essay matters.

The accurate amount of time it takes depends on a hoard of factors such as:

• The complexity or straightforwardness of your topic.
• The required length of your essay.
• Whether you are writing the first or polished draft.
• The availability of sources to get evidence to use in your essay .
• Your typing speeds
• Your organizational and writing skills
• How fast do you unpack the essay prompt or question?
• Your experience in writing research papers.

Mostly, your experience and writing skills matter the most when it comes to writing any paper or essay fast. If you have top-notch planning, organization, typing, and writing skills, you rest assured to take the least time to complete your research paper or essay. As you will realize later, writing a 3-page essay is 50% planning and 50% organizing.

An experienced writer should complete a three-page essay in an hour or less if it is not complex and in 2 hours or less if it is on a complex topic. However, a student with entry-level writing skills will take more hours, say 5-6 hours, write the same paper and score a good grade. So, unless you are pressured by the deadline, it is always good to take your time. But that does not mean taking a whole week to write a 3-page essay.

How do you write a 3 Page Essay faster and more accurately? The 6 Steps

If you are assigned a three-page essay or research paper and are supposed to submit it between 2 hours and 12 hours (or before midnight or overnight) tops, follow the steps outlined below. We tested these steps, recommended them to busy students, and got feedback that they worked for successful students in college and university.

Because you already know the number of words and the length of your essay, it should not be a bother. Instead, writing it well should be your top priority. Note that the organizational structure of a 3-page essay is for a shorter essay. When you are used to longer essays, condensing points becomes a challenge. However, follow these steps to write it with ease and faster.

1. Plan out your essay or paper

Planning your time well helps you develop your focus and concentrate on the things that matter. Jumping right into writing could be detrimental, especially if you do not know the scope, direction, or points to lay out. You may end up abandoning the essay halfway and getting frustrated.

The essence of creating a schedule for your paper is to focus on writing, even when you are pressed for time. Besides, it helps you to beat procrastination and writer�s block. You are also guaranteed to get distraction-free environments and times to complete your essay.

If you have 6 hours to complete a three-page essay, spend 3 hours in the preparation stage, an hour on writing, and an hour on editing and polishing (post-writing rituals). If you have two hours, schedule 30 minutes for preparing or the prewriting stage, 45 minutes for writing, and the rest for editing and proofreading. And if you have two days to complete the same, spend 5 hours preparing the essay, an entire day on writing, and another 5 hours polishing, proofreading, and editing.

2. Brainstorm

After you have planned your time, begin by reading the essay prompt or the research paper question. You then need to unpack the question, understand what is required of you, and brainstorm some ideas, topics, and insights to include in your paper. This is also a chance to draw out the main points, anticipate challenges, and come up with solutions.

In most cases, you can use mind maps or concept maps to record your thoughts or take notes as you brainstorm. Develop a perspective, potential solutions, the significance of the topic, or likely research sources/evidence to use. Also, think of the best titles and thesis statements for your essay.

3. Draft an outline

There is no doubt that sketching an outline saves time taken to write. It helps you focus on your writing. For your 3-page essay, develop a point-to-point, topical, or complete sentence outline. You can always change the outline as you write.

Write the best title for your essay and construct a declarative and reasonable thesis statement. You should also map out the topic sentences and rope in some of the evidence to use in your essay.

4. Research

Research either makes or breaks your essay. The more and deeper you research, the more your instructor, professor, or teaching assistant can tell that your essay is loaded with facts, evidence, and a good flow.

To research well, check the insights you developed as you brainstormed. Next, browse through the internet and rove through the related websites, books, journal articles, and periodicals to get sources from where you can extract evidence to support facts and arguments in your essay. Preferably, look at scholarly databases such as EBSCOhost, JSTOR, Science Direct, Web of Science, or ProQuest for scholarly articles.

As you identify the potential sources, organize your bibliography and download and organize the sources. And as you research, stick to your outline. You can tweak the outline if the new information or approach supports the thesis statement better. You can use the librarians to get research materials if you have an extended deadline and little time.

Good research provides fodder for the next step, writing the first draft.

5. Write the First Draft

When writing, focus on writing first and editing later approach. You can easily bring your analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and creativity skills.

Begin by polishing the essay title from the list you developed when brainstorming. The topic should be concise, loaded with information, and related to the thesis and subject of the three-page essay.

Write the introduction beginning with the hook or attention grabber , which can be a fun or shocking fact, statistics, or valuable information. You should then write the background statement that covers the topic, related information, and significance of the paper. Finally, finalize the introduction by stating your focused thesis statement and transitioning to the body paragraphs.

Next, work on the body paragraphs because your essay must have several supporting or developing paragraphs. As mentioned, a three-page paper should have 4-5 body paragraphs. Each should have a topic sentence, supporting sentences (evidence, examples, and commentaries), and closing sentences. The paragraphs should have a balanced number of words, be cited, and be connected to the thesis statement. Again, use transition or linking words and phrases to create a good flow of ideas.

Finalize the essay writing process by concluding your essay. The conclusion should restate the thesis, summarize the body section, and give closure to the essay. You can have a call-to-action for the audience to ensure they remain challenged after being informed.

6. Improve and Polish the First Draft

After completing the first draft, you can take a small break from writing. The essence is developing an objective mind that can see through your writing mistakes.

This post-writing stage begins with editing and revising for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and other writing errors, such as typos. Next, proceed to proofread your essay so you can further correct any mistakes, such as the wrong flow of ideas, misplaced ideas, uncited paragraphs, and missing subtitles if any are required. Finally, format your essay in APA, MLA, Harvard, ASA, AMA, or Chicago format.

Read our guide on writing a 3-to-4-page essay or research paper  in case you are confused about what to include when there is the mention of upper and lower limits to the word count.

Best Titles, Topics, and Ideas for a 3-Page Research Paper or Essay

Assuming you have been assigned to write a 3-page essay and do not know what topics to write your essay on, you can pick one from the list below. The list also has prime ideas for your essay titles and topics.

• How social media prompts anorexia
• Should people attend college?
• Should gun ownership by American citizens be banned?
• Can someone develop skills on their own without college?
• Has urbanization led to increased pollution?
• Domestic violence and alcoholism
• Why can corruption not end in the public sector?
• People should develop empathy.
• The plastic ban helps conserve the environment
• Why drunk driving is dangerous
• Should children bring their phones and tablets to school?
• Are self-taught programmers the best at their job?
• YouTube is a great and accessible university
• Are there solutions to microplastics in oceans?
• Should rich countries pay more for pollution?
• Older people should be allowed to keep pets
• Benefits of continuing education for nurses
• Strategies to solve the nursing shortage
• Electroconvulsive therapy in treating mental health disorders
• Effectiveness of group therapy in treating mental health disorders
• How stigma affects the families of those with mental health issues
• Use of complementary and alternative medicine in mental health disorders
• Use of telepsychiatry in managing mental health patients remotely
• How pressure from work causes mental health problems
• Reasons for increased domestic violence during Covid-19
• Access to mental health facilities by the Indigenous people
• Impacts of community policing on prostitution
• Benefits of GMO plants and animals in food security
• Impacts of groupware on organizations
• The uneven criminal justice system in America
• Impacts of COVID-19 on the tourism industry
• How to solve conflicts in the workplace
• Consequences of incivility in the workplace
• The use of social media to promote physical activity
• Impacts of Stress on Physical and Mental wellbeing
• The use of the military in disaster management
• Impacts of PTSD on Veterans
• Taking care of autistic children
• The rich should pay more taxes
• How to address homelessness and poverty in America
• Causes and solutions to world hunger
• Impacts of student burnout
• Women should not procure abortions
• Gay couples should not (be allowed) to adopt kids
• America is not the ultimate superpower
• The insurrection of gangs and militia in America
• Impacts of gun violence
• Benefits of no-kill shelters
• The ethics of killing stray dogs and cats
• Euthanasia is a no-kill shelter
• Causes of teenage pregnancies
• Why teen suicide on live social media is on the rise
• Understanding domestic poverty
• Children should not be jailed
• Burnout among college athletes
• Does Going to the Beach Help Relieve Symptoms of Seasonal Depression?
• Impacts of divorce on children
• Challenges that single mothers face
• Benefits of counseling for school children
• Effects of e-cigarettes
• Which sport best prepares young people (under 15 years of age) for success in life as an adult and why?
• The impact of domestic violence on the academic performance of children

Related Reading:

• How to write an analytical essay.
• How to use AI to write essays.
• Steps for a better essay on gun control.
• How to write a perfect reflective essay.
• How to organize a movie review essay or paper.

Unbelievably it is just as simple as that. Writing three pages of an essay or research paper can be quick if you plan well. No single formula can work best; all you must do is be prompt and thorough with every step in the writing process.

When assigned an essay that requires three pages of content, breath in, relax, unpack everything, plan, and smash it using the tips we have discussed. The more you practice these steps, the more you learn to write essays fast.

If you have an urgent 3-page essay and need professional writing help , we have writers who can help. Do not struggle to fail when we can write for you a three-page model essay or paper that is 100% original, non-plagiarized, and well-organized/formatted.

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Envelopes must be rectangular and made of paper to qualify for letter prices. Your envelope can be a maximum of 11-1/2" long x 6-1/8" high. (A standard No. 10 envelope is 9-1/2" long x 4-1/8" high.) You can fold what you put in your envelope, but it needs to stay flat—no more than 1/4" thick.

If you want to send letter-sized papers without folding them, you can use a large envelope (called a "flat"); the postage for flats starts at $1.39 . If your large envelope is nonrectangular, rigid (can't bend), or lumpy (not uniformly thick), you'll have to pay the package price.

TIP: If your envelope can't fit through USPS mail processing machines, or is rigid, lumpy or has clasps, string, or buttons, it's "nonmachinable" and you'll have to pay $0.40 more to send it. ( See additional postage in Step 3 .) You'll also have to pay more if your envelopes are square or vertical (taller than they are wide).

Postcards are for short messages that you don't need to put in an envelope. Save money using a $0.53 postcard stamp to send a standard-sized postcard anywhere in the U.S. Standard postcards are usually made of paper, are between 5" to 6" long and 3-1/2" to 4-1/4" high, and are between 0.007" and 0.016" thick.

Step 2: Address Your Mail

Envelopes: Write your address (the "return" or "sender" address) in the top left corner. Write the delivery address (the "recipient" address) in the bottom center.

Postcards: Postcards come in different formats, so write the delivery address in the space it gives you (on the same side you write your message and put the stamp).

Print your return address and the delivery address clearly, in the correct spots, to make sure your mail is delivered on time.

Address Format Tips

• Use a pen or permanent marker.
• Do not use commas or periods.
• Include the ZIP+4 ® Code whenever possible.

Write Sender Address

Write your address (the "return address") in the top-left corner. Include the following on separate lines:

• Your full name or company name
• Apartment or suite number
• Full street address
• City, State, and ZIP+4 Code

Write Delivery Address

Write the delivery address (the "recipient" address) in the bottom center of the envelope. Include the following on separate lines:

• Recipient's full name or company name

If the apartment or suite number cannot fit on the delivery address line above the city, state, and ZIP+4 Code, place it on a separate line immediately above the delivery address line.

Write the sender's address in the top-left corner. Include the following on separate lines:

• Full street address and apartment or suite number, if applicable

Special U.S. Addresses

Puerto rico.

Some Puerto Rico addresses include an urbanization or community code for a specific area or development. Addresses with an urbanization code, abbreviated URB, should be written on 4 lines:

MS MARIA SUAREZ URB LAS GLADIOLAS 150 CALLE A SAN JUAN PR 00926-3232

More Puerto Rico Address Examples

U.S. Virgin Islands

Virgin Islands addresses have the same format as standard addresses. The right abbreviation for this territory is "VI," not "US VI" or "USA VI":

MS JOAN SMITH RR 1 BOX 6601 KINGSHILL VI 00850-9802

Military and Diplomatic Mail (APO/FPO/DPO)

Mail to military and diplomatic addresses is treated differently:

• Do not include the city or country name when you send something to an APO/FDO/DPO address in another country. This keeps your mail out of foreign mail networks.
• Do include unit and box numbers if they're assigned:

SEAMAN JOSEPH SMITH UNIT 100100 BOX 4120 FPO AP 96691

More Details on Military Addresses

When you're done addressing your envelope, put what you're sending inside the envelope, then close and seal it (using the envelope's glue or tape).

Step 3: Calculate Postage (& Add Insurance or Extra Services)

A First-Class Mail ® Forever stamp costs $0.68 and goes in the upper right corner of the envelope. (You can also use any combination of stamps that adds up to $0.68.)

If your letter is heavier or bigger, or if you want to add insurance or extra services like Certified Mail ® service, you'll pay more.

A standard postcard stamp costs $0.53 . (Large or square postcards will cost more.) Put the postcard stamp in the space provided near the delivery address.

Postage for letters mostly depends on weight and size/shape. You can weigh your letter with a kitchen scale, postal scale , at a self-service kiosk, or at the Post Office ™ counter.

TIP: As a rule of thumb, you can send 1 oz (4 sheets of printer paper and a business-sized envelope) for 1 First-Class Mail ® Forever ® stamp (currently $0.68).

The postage for a large envelope (or flat) starts at $1.39 for 1 oz.

Where Can I Buy Postage?

• The Postal Store ® Shop online for all stamps and add-on postage for oversized or heavier envelopes.
• Post Office Locations Buy stamps at Post Office locations , self-service kiosks , or at Approved Postal Providers ® such as grocery and drug stores.

TIP: If you're sending larger envelopes (flats) using Priority Mail ® or Priority Mail Express ® service, you can use Click-N-Ship ® service to pay for and print your own postage online.

Additional Postage

If your envelope weighs over 1 oz, you can buy additional postage in the amount you need:

• Each additional 1 oz is $0.24, for letters up to 3.5 oz and large envelopes up to 13 oz.
• Nonmachinable items, including envelopes that are lumpy or rigid, or have clasps, string, or buttons will cost $0.44 more to send. You'll also have to pay more if your envelopes are square or vertical (taller than they are wide).
• You can also buy 1¢, 2¢, 3¢, 4¢, 5¢, and 10¢ stamps at The Postal Store .

TIP: Put the stamp on last; that way, if you make a mistake at any other point, you won't waste a stamp.

Calculate a Price

Add-On Services

If you want insurance, proof of delivery, signature services, or other optional services, you'll have to pay extra.

Our Insurance & Extra Services page has more details; some of the more common add-on services for letters include:

• Certified Mail ® : Get proof that you mailed your item and that the recipient signed for it.
• Registered Mail ® : USPS's most secure mail service–mail is processed manually, handled separately and securely, and signed for along every step of its journey. The recipient must sign for the mail to confirm delivery (or attempted delivery).
• Return Receipt: You'll get a printed or emailed delivery record showing the recipient's signature. You can combine Return Receipt with other services, including Certified Mail, Registered Mail, Priority Mail Express ® service, and more.
• Adult Signature Required: Only an adult (age 21+) can sign for the mail after showing a valid government ID .

Postage Options

There are several ways to get postage for your envelope.

• The Postal Store ® --> ® and Priority Mail Express ® envelopes.
• Post Office ™ Locations --> ® such as grocery and drug stores.

Step 4: Send Your Mail

Once your envelope or postcard has the correct addresses and postage, you can send it several ways, including putting it in your mailbox or dropping it in a blue collection box or at a Post Office ™ location.

• Put your letter inside your mailbox and raise the flag (if you have one).
• If you have a cluster mailbox, drop it in the outgoing mail slot.
• Drop it off in a blue collection box.
• Take it to a Post Office lobby drop.

Important Note: If your envelope has postage stamps and weighs more than 10 oz or is thicker than 1/2", you can't put it in a collection box; you have to give it to an employee at a Post Office location. See more details on What Can and Cannot be Deposited in a Collection Box?

Bonus: Sending Mail Pro Tips

The Postal Service uses high-speed sorting machines to help process and deliver 425.3 million mail pieces each day. Here are some extra tips to improve your mail sending experience:

• Stay flexible : Don't send rigid (hard) objects in paper envelopes.
• Sending embellished invitations (for weddings, graduations, etc.)? Get them hand-canceled or put them inside another envelope.
• Need tracking? Learn about your options.

Stay Flexible

Postcards, letter envelopes, and large envelopes (flats) all need to bend to fit through USPS ® high-speed sorting machines.

• OK: Flexible, flat things like stickers, photos, trading cards, etc. should be okay—as long as your envelope stays flat, not lumpy, and less than 1/4" thick.
• Not OK: Don't put rigid objects (like flash drives, coins, keys, hard plastic card cases, etc.) loose in unpadded paper envelopes: They could get torn out of the envelope, jam the sorting machines, cause a delay, or even get lost.

Instead, for rigid and odd-shaped objects (or things you don't want to get bent), we recommend using a padded envelope or small box and sending it as a package .

Sending Embellished Invitations (for Weddings, Graduations, etc.)

If you want to send a specially decorated envelope (like some wedding invitations):

• You can pay the extra fee for nonmachinable First-Class Mail ® items, bring your mail to the Post Office™ counter, and ask the retail associate to hand-cancel your embellished invitations.
• For externally decorated invitations: If you use wax seals, strings, ribbons, etc. on your envelopes, don't try to send them exposed. Instead, to make sure your envelopes arrive looking the way your designer intended, put them inside another envelope .

Need Tracking?

Tracking is not available for First-Class Mail items. If you'd like to get tracking information for your letter:

• You can pay extra to send your letter using Priority Mail Express ® or Priority Mail ® service.
• You can get delivery confirmation by adding Certified Mail ® or Registered Mail ® service. (You can even combine it with Return Receipt if you want the recipient's signature.)

Journaling For Mental Health: How To Do It Effectively To Improve Mood And Well-Being

Here's what the science says.

“Journaling can be a powerful way to organize your thoughts, feelings, and ideas, leading to increased self-awareness, self-discovery, and growth,” says Jaci Witmer Lopez, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist based in New York City. “In my practice, I've seen firsthand how regular journaling can transform lives.”

Maybe you've kept a fitness journal in the past to help you stay on track toward your wellness goals, or you currently have a gratitude journal to stay grounded. There are travel journals to help you document your adventures, and if you’re less artistically inclined, there are even journaling apps to help you stay mindful on the go. Below, experts share the benefits of journaling for mental health, how to start one yourself, and specific writing prompts for inspiration.

Meet the experts: Jaci Witmer Lopez, PsyD , is a clinical psychologist based in New York City. Marc Campbell, LMHC , is a licensed therapist based in Orlando, Florida, and the author of I Love My Queer Kid .

Common Benefits Of Journaling

Apart from having a dedicated place for juicy diary entries, there are several general benefits of journaling. The practice has been shown to help people process stressful events, according to a study published in Annals of Behavioral Medicine . In another study about college students, researchers found that journaling may improve self-efficacy —in other words, it can help you believe in yourself. Writing has even been studied as a behavioral intervention for children—so if you have kiddos at home, encouraging them to write may not be such a bad idea.

Common benefits of journaling include:

• Finding inspiration
• Creative expression
• Tracking your goals
• Fun freewriting
• General reflection
• Brainstorming ideas

5 Mental Health Benefits Of Journaling

Apart from its general benefits, here's how journaling can impact your mental health, specifically, according to experts.

1. It can help you process (and learn from) your emotions.

“Remembering the events from your day—both the ups and the downs—can help your brain practice processing and regulating your emotions,” says Marc Campbell, LMHC, a licensed therapist based in Orlando, Florida. For instance, if you’re feeling rejected from a recent breakup or you're burned out at work, writing about how you feel and reading it back to yourself can help you process the difficult emotions. Journaling can also help you recognize certain patterns, practice more acceptance, and have more empathy for yourself, Campbell says.

2. It can help you heal from traumatic events.

Journaling can significantly impact your ability to process and heal from trauma, Lopez says. “ Research has shown that writing can reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),” she says. “When you write things down as opposed to just thinking about them, you hold yourself accountable to reframing or changing your narrative.” Although the mental health effects of trauma won’t disappear by simply writing down how you feel, journaling can be a helpful practice in addition to seeking therapy and trauma treatment .

3. It may help you manage anxiety and depression.

Anxiety and depression are among the most commonly cited mental health struggles in America, per the American Psychological Association (APA). And although having a writing practice won't cure these conditions overnight, journaling may have the potential to decrease depression and anxiety and improve resilience over time, according to a recent study . Plus, if you’re struggling to find meaning in everyday life or you feel generally disengaged—both of which are common experiences when facing mental health challenges— some studies suggest that journaling may help.

4. It can help you track your therapy progress.

If you're seeing a therapist right now, journaling can help you check in with yourself daily or weekly about how it’s going—or even help you hold yourself accountable for certain behaviors you’d like to change, Campbell says. “Through the process of journaling, you can reflect on past entries and potentially learn about any patterns you have,” he says.

You can also use a journal to reflect on what, exactly you speak about during your therapy sessions and begin to process how you’re feeling about it, Lopez adds. An added benefit? One day, you can look back at your journal and celebrate how far you've come.

5. It can help you practice self-compassion.

Whether you're dealing with a specific mental health issue or you're simply feeling overwhelmed, negative self-talk, shame, and embarrassment are common. It can be difficult to be kind to yourself, however, practicing self-compassion can go a long way, experts say. A recent study in the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology found that daily journaling as a mindfulness practice led to increased levels of self-compassion, and another study on registered nurses found that journaling can boost compassion and help manage burnout.

How To Start Journaling For Mental Health

If you aren't someone who spilled your heart out in a childhood diary, don't worry—journaling can be as simple as jotting things down on your phone, in a notebook, or responding to a specific prompt to get inspiration (more on that soon).

There’s no “right” or “wrong” way to journal, but it should be a personal process, Campbell says. “I recommend starting journaling in the way that feels most authentic to you. If you prefer pen and paper, start with that. If you prefer typing things out in your notes app, that works, too. If you aren’t sure, try both and more—a laptop or even typewriter if you’re feeling adventurous,” he says. Also, writing for mental health is personal, but you shouldn't feel pressured to document your whole life story all at once (unless you want to).

Whether you incorporate journaling into your morning routine or you attempt five minutes before bedtime to free-write, experts recommend starting slow. “If you're new to journaling, my advice is to start small and be patient with yourself. Set aside just a few minutes a day to begin with, and gradually increase the time as you build the habit. It’s important to find a method that you'll stick with consistently," Lopez says. Try to pace yourself and make the practice as manageable as possible so that it becomes a habit formed over time, she adds.

10 Journal Prompts For Mental Health

• What was the highlight of my day?
• What was a lot moment of my day?
• What's a challenge I'm facing right now?
• What people, places, or things am I grateful for and why?
• Who is someone that's inspired me lately and why?
• What are three things I'm proud of myself for, and why?
• What is a small act of kindness I can do for myself this week?
• What is one limiting belief I have about myself? (And is there a way I can begin to reframe it)?
• Describe something you are struggling with. Then, read it from the perspective of someone you care about. What would they have to say about it?
• If I could change an aspect of my mental health and well-being right now, what would it be and why?

When it comes to journaling for mental health, consistency is key. Whatever method, prompt, or format you choose, your mental health will thank you.

Best Journals For Mental Health

The Five Minute Journal

Looking for a simple, sleek journal that will help you practice more mindfulness and gratitude? This popular option might be a good fit for you. It encourages you to cultivate a sense of calm for just five minutes a day, but there are plenty of helpful tools packed into the journal itself—like prompts, daily highlights, weekly challenges, affirmations, and more. If you're brand new to journaling for mental health, this one provides clear cues and outlines to help you self-reflect and feel more confident. Plus, it's aesthetically pleasing. What could be better?

The Big Feelings Survival Guide

This colorful, activity-filled workbook by licensed art therapist Alyse Ruriani, LPC, is a great option if you're ready to dive into mental health in a fun, accessible, yet meaningful way. The workbook includes practical and creative activities that are all rooted in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), which, ICYMI, is a revolutionary treatment that helps people move through emotions. Not only will you gain major insight about your mental health journey, but the workbook itself is super bright and engaging—the helpful illustrations and eye-opening exercises are sure to help you reflect and gain inspiration.

Self-Love Workbook for Women

This self-love workbook by therapist Megan Logan, LCSW, is uniquely designed to help you release self-doubt and have more self-compassion. The journal includes quizzes, writing prompts, and fun activities to help you cultivate more self-love, like writing a message to your younger self and making a "happy playlist." You'll also find empowering affirmations for those days when your mental health isn't so good—plus, the journal provides helpful resources for goal-tracking, identifying emotions, and embracing who you are.

90-Day Mental Health Journal

This easy-to-follow journal encourages you to care for your mental health in a holistic way. If you're dealing with stress, anxiety, or uncertainty about the future, the journal claims to help you self-reflect and gain self-awareness while focusing on the power of the present moment. This journal is ideal for anyone who wants to breathe, reconnect with themselves, and cultivate more mindfulness. It comes with grounding activities and daily check-ins to help you keep track of your emotions—and understand their roots.

Lexi Inks (she/her) is a lifestyle journalist based in Jacksonville, Florida. She has reported on countless topics, including sexual wellness, astrology, relationship issues, non-monogamy, mental health, pop culture, and more. In addition to Women’s Health, her work has been published on Bustle, Cosmopolitan, Well + Good, Byrdie, Popsugar, and others. As a queer and plus-size woman with living with mental illness, Lexi strives for intersectionality and representation in all of her writing. She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Jacksonville University, which she has chosen to make everyone’s problem.

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Microsoft 365 Life Hacks > Writing > Four tips for writing a memoir

Four tips for writing a memoir

Everyone possesses a life story that’s worth sharing. Life’s experiences, from joys to sorrows, loves, and loves lost, collectively shape us, and connect us through shared human experiences. Because of this connection, memoirs can palpably resonate with readers. The key differentiator between your memoir being a best-seller or relegated to the bargain bin, aside from personal fame and popularity, lies in the quality of your writing. Tell your story in a way that truly resonates with your audience by applying these four invaluable tips for writing a memoir.

What is a memoir?

A memoir is a narrative that highlights a specific moment in an author’s life. Often mistaken for an autobiography, memoirs tend to offer a more intimate perspective. Authors unpack a vulnerable and impactful moment that profoundly influenced them in a way that forges a connection with their readers. These authentic, real-life experiences are shaped by the author’s emotional response to an event, emphasizing personal interpretation and how it affected them rather than serving as a historical account.

Tips for writing a memoir

If you’ve decided to write a memoir, it’s important to remember that you’re not giving an account of your entire life. Instead, narrow your lens and focus on a few specific moments that influenced you, as opposed to an entire autobiography. Now that you understand the essence of a memoir, let’s explore some essential tips to enhance your writing:

Select a snapshot of your life

1. tell the truth.

Above all, your audience must trust you. While a memoir allows you to infuse your feelings and interpretations into events, it must remain grounded in fact, not fiction. Present the events as they occurred truthfully. The essence of a memoir lies in delving deeply into how an event transformed you, so maintain honesty with both yourself and your readers as you write.

2. Make your memoir a narrative with rich characters

Breathing life into well-developed and relatable characters is what truly brings a story to life, whether it’s a poem , short story, or memoir. When referencing people in your life, delve into their character by considering their motivations, their connection to you, and other pertinent factors as you recount your story. This approach allows readers to establish a personal connection with these individuals, making your narrative more engaging and emotionally resonant.

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3. Consider joining a memoir writing group

Give thought to becoming a part of a memoir writing group or workshop. Fellow writers can serve as excellent editors, offering valuable feedback and support. Additionally, such a group can provide you with accountability, enabling you to track your progress while gaining fresh perspectives on your writing.

4. Avoid cliches and stereotypes

To connect with your audience, it’s important to keep your story feeling fresh by steering clear of clichéd phrases and stereotypes in your memoir. Find your unique voice and embrace its originality using colloquialisms , tone , and delivery, allowing your writing to stand out without relying on tropes.

Memoirs possess the inherent power to weave compelling narratives. Effective memoirs, devoid of clichés and stereotypes, can immerse audience members in genuine experiences. Use these tips to dig deep into your personal experiences and deliver truthful, impactful narratives to your audience. For more techniques to captivate readers with accounts of your personal experiences, learn more writing tips .

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House Republican budget calls for raising the retirement age for Social Security

WASHINGTON — A new budget by a large and influential group of House Republicans calls for raising the Social Security retirement age for future retirees and restructuring Medicare.

The proposals, which are unlikely to become law this year, reflect how many Republicans will seek to govern if they win the 2024 elections. And they play into a fight President Joe Biden is seeking to have with former President Donald Trump and the Republican Party as he runs for re-election.

The budget was released Wednesday by the Republican Study Committee , a group of more than 170 House GOP lawmakers, including many allies of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Apart from fiscal policy, the budget endorses a series of bills “designed to advance the cause of life,” including the Life at Conception Act, which would aggressively restrict abortion and potentially threaten in vitro fertilization , or IVF, by establishing legal protections for human beings at “the moment of fertilization.” It has recently caused consternation within the GOP following backlash to an Alabama Supreme Court ruling that threatened IVF.

The RSC, which is chaired by Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., counts among its members Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and his top three deputies in leadership. Johnson chaired the RSC from 2019 to 2021; his office did not immediately respond when asked about the new budget.

For Social Security, the budget endorses "modest adjustments to the retirement age for future retirees to account for increases in life expectancy." It calls for lowering benefits for the highest-earning beneficiaries. And it emphasizes that those ideas are not designed to take effect immediately: "The RSC Budget does not cut or delay retirement benefits for any senior in or near retirement."

The new budget also calls for converting Medicare to a "premium support model," echoing a proposal that Republican former Speaker Paul Ryan had rallied support for. Under the new RSC plan, traditional Medicare would compete with private plans and beneficiaries would be given subsidies to shop for the policies of their choice. The size of the subsidies could be pegged to the "average premium" or "second lowest price" in a particular market, the budget says.

The plan became a flashpoint in the 2012 election, when Ryan was GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney's running mate, and President Barack Obama charged that it would "end Medicare as we know it." Ryan defended it as a way to put Medicare on better financial footing, and most of his party stood by him.

Medicare is projected to become insolvent in 2028, and Social Security will follow in 2033. After that, benefits will be forcibly cut unless more revenues are added.

Biden has blasted Republican proposals for the retirement programs, promising that he will not cut benefits and instead proposing in his recent White House budget to cover the future shortfall by raising taxes on upper earners.

The RSC budget also presents a conundrum for Trump, who has offered shifting rhetoric on Social Security and Medicare without proposing a clear vision for the future of the programs.

Notably, the RSC budget presents three possible options to address the projected insolvency of the retirement programs: raise taxes, transfer money from the general fund or reduce spending to cover the shortfall.

It rejects the first two options.

"Raising taxes on people will further punish them and burden the broader economy–something that the spend and print regime has proven to be disastrous and regressive," the budget says, adding that the committee also opposes "a multi-trillion-dollar general fund transfer that worsens our fiscal situation."

That leaves spending cuts.

The RSC budget launches blistering criticism at "Obamacare," or the Affordable Care Act, and calls for rolling back its subsidies and regulations that were aimed at extending insurance coverage.

Sahil Kapur is a senior national political reporter for NBC News.

Writers' Workshop

How to apply - summer, summer application deadline:  march 3, 2024, to apply, please submit a manuscript of:.

10-12 poems for poetry 2 or 3 short stories or chapters of a novel for fiction

Applications for summer 2024 are now closed

Join Our Mailing List

Tuition for summer 2024 : undergraduate students: $1,128.00 per class; all other applicants: $1,878.00 per class *

* cost per class is based on University tuition rates; because we are a graduate program, you must be enrolled for credit to attend the class **  for international students, additional fees may apply in certain circumstances, for example if taking more than one class

For Admitted Students

Once you are admitted to the summer workshop, you will need to apply for admission to the University of Iowa as a Nondegree student. This application does not require a writing sample, but does require an official transcript. We will send an email with instructions to every admitted student.

Please be aware that acceptance to the summer program does not alter your chances of being admitted to the Writers' Workshop full-time graduate program.

Questions can be directed to:  [email protected] .

The University has some level of available housing for undergraduate students. Most summer workshop students live in sublets and temporary housing (hotels, bed and breakfasts, Airbnbs). We will do our best to help.

Class Schedules

Typically, the 3-week poetry workshop meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Typically, the 3-week fiction workshops meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

In addition to classes, the summer program hosts readings and events during the week and occasionally over the weekend. Attendance at the events is not required, but they are a nice benefit of being in Iowa City.

International Students

International students should contact Andrew Wade in International Admissions for the complete requirements, by phone, at (319) 335-1534, or by email, at  [email protected] .

Join the Summer Program Mailing List

To subscribe, click Yes, subscribe me to this list in the confirmation email we'll send.