How To: Write an 'A' Paper

Tapping fingers, gnawing on a pen, sipping coffee: students may encounter some or all of these symptoms while working on a college paper.

At times, it seems nothing is more daunting than a 12-page paper with a firm deadline attached.

Here, two English professors reveal how to get a paper back with a nice, red "A" at the top.

First and foremost, the paper has to be high quality. "The 'A' paper should exceed expectations rather than meet them," said Craig Bertolet, an English professor at Auburn. "It should indicate a real interest on the part of the writer to use the assignment to learn something about the topic rather than mechanically fulfill an assignment."

One way to do that is to keep asking "so what?" after each point made.

"It's not enough to have a thesis or argument about a text," said Marc Silverstein, an English professor. "The paper has to demonstrate why the argument advanced is significant and worth being defended."

Both professors agree on clarity, logic and specificity as key qualities of an "A" paper. The paper should have no grammatical, spelling or organizational errors, so wait a day or two after writing the paper, then carefully read it over again for mistakes.

"Edit, edit, edit and know what you are talking about," said Kate Boston, a junior in English.

Despite rumors, professors do not want to hear their lectures in a paper.

"Demonstrate independent thought rather than merely parroting back what was discussed in class," Bertolet said.

While it may be the easy route out, college papers are not book reports and professors are weary of too much summary.

"Never descend into plot summary," Silverstein said. "Assume the reader is familiar with the text, and your job is to analyze the text in such a way that you offer your reader understanding of the themes, style, cultural context, historical significance, etc."

While it may be tempting to abuse the thesaurus and put in lots of complicated, obscure words, professors won't be impressed.

"It must be in a language that is sophisticated, but not pretentious," Bertolet said.

Utilize dictionaries and Web Sites such as merriam-webster.com and oed.com to expand vocabulary.

Even though it has an added advantage of using space, professors do want to see class texts in the essay.

Provided a quotation is backed by an equal amount of analysis, it can be a helpful way to guide the paper and support arguments.

"Evidence must be thoroughly analyzed and interpreted," Bertolet said.

Silverstein adds that simply stringing quotes together is not the way to go, and it is OK to agree or disagree with them.

Still baffled?

"It always helps to bring a rough draft in to the professor," Boston said. "It shows you care and they can edit your paper without grading it."

Now stop procrastinating, sit back and write that paper!