Writing College Papers 

Anne Arundel Community College offers free writing help to students who are enrolled in classes, through The Writing Center and through Smarthinking.com.

Need help citing your sources correctly?  Check the site at the Owl at Purdue or the AACC Citation Guide for help.

These sources will not write your papers for you or proofread your work, but they do offer invaluable assistance.

Follow all of the steps listed on the contents list for this site. 

Advice on creating a paper's main point, including examples

Successful exams begin with effective study habits.

Taking good class notes.

Effective textbook studying.

Effective test preparation.

What to do during the exam.

More tips on what to do during the exam.

Advice on creating a paragraph's main point, including examples. 

Advice on how summary/paraphrase and quotations can help your paragraphs.

Advice on how quotations can help your paragraphs.

If we can further assist you in your search for information, please drop by the reference desk or contact reference staff by phone at 410-777-2456 or by email at refdesk@aacc.edu.

Read or reread your Assignment.

Know exactly what it is asking you to do:

When is the work due?  How is the work to be submitted (on paper, electronically, or by some other means)?

Look especially for key words: Are you being asked to describe, to identify, to compare, to contrast, or to compare and contrast, to define, to analyze or to justify?

Where is your support for your work to come from?  From research?  From reading the textbook?  From course notes?  

Keep the assignment handy as you work on your project.  Refer to it often to remind you of what you are being asked to do.