One of the most difficult parts of college-level writing is understanding formatting and structure. MLA (Modern Language Association) is the most common format for academic papers. Here are six helpful tips on how to write a college level research paper that your professor will love.

1. Understand your Readers.

Many students craft their research paper for their professors to read. Instead, you should imagine a room full of people who have never heard of your topic before. These are the people your teacher expects you to write for. You need to fully educate the reader about the topic. Additionally, if they are keywords that the average person might not know, you must tell your reader what they mean.

1. Investigate.

Research is the cornerstone of any successful college level paper. In high-school, you may have been able to cite the first few articles you found on the internet. If you want to write a successful paper, you’ll have to take your time gathering your evidence. Thoroughly vet each web source to make sure that it is reputable and accurate. Look farther than the web. You should cite other materials including films, documentaries, studies, news articles or books.

1. Prepare your citations.

MLA has strict guidelines on citations. Look online for a few different primers on how citations are formatted and how yours should look. You can also generate yours online unless otherwise stated by your teacher. Make sure to make in-text citations beforehand as well so that when you are writing, you can just copy and paste them in without stopping your train of thought.

1. Write your Thesis.

The thesis tells readers what to expect out of your paper. Use the angle of your evidence and the point you want to prove to craft your thesis. You’ll have to redraft your thesis a few times. It should conclude your introduction and transition into your first body paragraph.

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1. Make sense of your evidence.

You need to format your evidence in a way that makes sense. Lead into big findings with smaller findings and give your readers the background information they need to fully understand your topic. Put your evidence in a logical order. The structure of a research paper is also extremely important. Make sure you have a solid introduction and conclusion to begin and end your paper.

1. Bibliography/Works Cited

Do not forget your bibliography or works cited page at the end of your document. In MLA, it should be on its own page with 12pt font. The page should not be numbered. This page is easy to format and quick to make up if you have previously made up your citations.

One final tip: the more effort you put in, the better your grade. College Level MLA papers can be stressful, but if you follow these tips and manage your time well, you will be able to accomplish them easily and successfully.