How to Do an English Literature Paper in One Night

Nobody sets out to operate on a tight deadline when writing a college English paper. The fact is, though, that life can get in the way. Part of going to college is learning how to balance academics and social life and, sometimes, it will be the academics that suffer. However, with a calm and clear head, it is possible to give that English literature paper your best shot in one night.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Procure caffeine. Your goal is to drink enough coffee to keep you alert but not so much that you are crying into your laptop or running laps around the library. You may be a lightweight and only need a couple sips to get the creative juices flowing. Just remember to save a little bit of caffeine kick for around 2 a.m. when all hope seems lost.

2. Gather your books and notes. You are absolutely not going to read those books tonight. Even if you haven't read them, there is just no way to get it done. You will instead do targeted skimming. But first, you must come up with an interesting but rather easy topic. If you can get a hold of even a couple articles--online or in print--of criticism, use these to help formulate your topic. Then, you have some built in references that originate from outside materials, which is always a winning maneuver when writing an English literature paper.

3. Create a new file and write down your thesis statement. Brainstorm a short paragraph or two on the topic. You will most likely throw out this information, but the process is useful nonetheless, as it helps you refine and reflect upon your thesis. Using these loose guideposts, begin skimming your books and notes for any anchor quotes or points that relate to the topic. These quotes will guide the sections of your English literature paper, saving you the trouble of reading the entire books (if you have not read them). It can be interesting to find conflicting quotes or analytical quotes that point to observations about overall themes and structure. Quotes involving symbolism, comparisons, contrasts, classic themes or inner conflicts are also valuable.

4. Turn to Google. An excellent method for finding targeted information on your topic is to start searching on your theme. Throw in a couple of the book titles and see what comes up. Many academic and public libraries have databases accessing scholarly journals. If you can find a quick quote or two that applies to your English literature paper, you have hit pay dirt. Write some clean and clear copy that connects your quotes to your main idea. You may need to rearrange the order of your sections, so save transitions for last.

5. Write and rewrite your introduction and conclusion. After your quotes, these sections should garner the bulk of your attention. If they are stunning, the rest of a mediocre paper may be able to slide by. Remember to check your spelling and grammar twice. Be sure your citations are correctly formatted. If any of your friends are still awake, you can ask them to read through the paper for you.

Tips & Warnings

• Asking friends for help is great, but having them around while you attempt to do the English paper is bound to be counter-productive.
• Don't plagiarize--it's too risky. Professors love to see properly cited quotes instead.

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