What the heck?! Life is supposed to always be easy!

[Shammy]

I'm taking my first 3000-level classes this semester, and I feel like I made a horrible mistake in deciding to go to college. The length of the papers I have to write and the level at which I must write them is daunting! Still, I'm excited to be studying these things I love, and I hope they aid me well in my future.

[Silver Adept]

Ah, yes, welcome to upper division. Don't worry, you'll get used to the shock. It'll just be the same things, longer and more in-depth.

[Shandriz]

Awww. If you didn't want to write so much, you should've been an English major! ^_- We hardly ever have to write papers that are longer than like 5 pages. xD

I rather like the higher level classes best, because you don't have to worry about stupid freshman acting like they're still in High School.

[SirGunslinger]

I'll trade ya projects. =D

For my Advanced Embedded System Design + Testing class I'm working in a group of 3 to design the code, build a microcontroller for a car, and test it.

Actually, I'm having a blast on the project. I've never used the 8052 chipset so it is really exciting to get my hands dirty on it. If I can make a good design then I can always get in the aftermarket car chip industry. ^^

Anyways good luck in English. Just remember... the more you pull out of your ass, the better your grade will be.

[FawkesFyre]

I never minded the longwinded papers so much...once I got moving on a topic, it just kinda flowed out. Although, one easy way to stretch out a paper is to use extra sources than the number required.

If you have to use 3, go for 4 to push you up and over the line for the page requirement. In most cases, finding a source is pretty easy. Pull the required sources from wherever you're supposed to...then throw in that last source off the internet...it makes it look like you went to a lot more effort than you really did...and might score you a higher grade too.

[Tobias]

the only thing about internet sources in college is that most teacher don't view internet sources as actual legit sources. Internet databases are always useful, though, since you put in a search and you get exactly the stuff you need.

As far as paper length goes...you'd be surprised how much you can write.
Anyway, now for Tobs' paper-writing guide! (2008)

1. For the love of God, make an Outline. I found making a detailed outline for a paper gives you a great springboard for topics and allows you to pick out only the necessary shtuffs. What is also great is that your outline will allow you to focus more on putting meat into your paper and les on focusing if it's all legit. If you've done the outline correctly, you shouldn't have a problem of legitimacy.

2. Remember to Double-Space. It's a given, but it's always worth noting

3. A lot of papers require supporting material, and this means finding quotes and examples to support your topics. Remember that if a quote goes longer than 4 lines, you can drop it into it's own, 1" margined (both sides) section that is minimized in font. THis can eat up space, but remember: shorter quotes tend to have more to them sometimes, and doesn't look like you're just trying to fill space. Also, something learned from journalism and creative writing: Quotes should start as the beginning of a paragraph, and shouldn't really be mid-paragraph. always a good thing

4. this one is a BIGGY for me if a teacher requests a Page-limit rather than a word limit: if they say page limit, they will want a conventional font. Highlight everything, go into your fonts, and you'll find a font type called "courier new." Hit that and watch 7-8 pages turn into 8-10 pages. It's a dirty trick, but for Godsake, they ask enough of us as it is.

5. Comparing/Contrasting: There are several ways you can do this, but remember this - each new subject in a comparison/contrast should be it's own paragraph, and then you should have a paragraph showing the comparison/contrast. If you know a lot of in-depth material about your subject, this is a great space-eater, and it'll be great is proving your point. (there is a style of compare/contrast that requires you to compare/contrast subjects at the same time as you describe them...it's tough though and isn't as long. Best go one step at a time and clearly label your subjects.

6. Finally, and I don't exactly know why I'm saying it, but I find it helps me when I think of writing: 90% of every paper you write is B.S. to make the other 10% look good. Now, I've had my share of papers that I've written 100% good, solid material, but honestly, a lot of papers I've written have been a bit B.S.

If there's one more thing I should say about papers: Make sure you've actually researched what you're supposed to know. If you do, the paper requirement will NEVER be a problem. All you need to do is regurgitate what you remember, and then apply it to examples and compare/contrast or explain what has happened. If you can do this, paper requirements will not only be knocked away, but chances are you'll be getting a good grade.

Good luck bud.

~tobs

[FawkesFyre]

[Tobias]

ahh...i didn't catch the last part. Gotcha Fawkes.

*explodes into a 1000 word paper on Ethics*