How to Write an 8 Page Paper: Time Needed for Fast Research

An 8-page paper is a short type of essay, written on a topic or an issue. The paper explores the issue or subject matter analytically organizing it in one significant movement. It moves forward intending to substantiate the main point with facts, opinions, ideas, and logical explanations.

The paper intends to prove that the point of view held by the author is valid regardless of the counterarguments by opposing views.

Before starting your 8-page paper, consider using these tips to build a paper that is concise and well-written.

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How to Write an 8-page Paper

1. Choose an Interesting Topic

Choose a topic that interests and challenges you. Your attitude towards the topic may well determine the amount of effort and enthusiasm you put into your research. Focus on a limited aspect, e.g. narrow it down from “Religion” to “World Religion” to “Buddhism.”

Obtain teacher approval for your topic before embarking on full-scale research. If you are uncertain as to what it entails to complete the assignment or project, re-read your assignment sheet carefully or ask your teacher.

Select a subject you can manage. Avoid subjects that are too technical, learned, or specialized. Avoid topics that have only a very narrow range of source materials.

2. Write your Thesis

Your thesis statement is also where you state your position on the topic of your essay. Write your thesis statement in a separate sentence. It should be clear and specific. If it is not clear and specific, you will have difficulty writing your paper and supporting your argument.

Because this is a research paper, there should not be any remarks that you make that cannot require the support of facts from your research. To correct this, you need to limit your thesis statement.

3. Do Research

Before you can write your paper, you have to have something to write about. Start with a general idea, then start researching it. It is much easier to write a paper if you already have a topic picked out.  So, pick one that catches your attention and has good sources available.

Doing research means doing experiments and analyzing data that you collect during these experiments or by literature review and analysis of previous works made by other authors on the same topic.

Go online, head to the library, search an academic database, or read newspapers. You can also ask a reference librarian. Know which sources are acceptable to your teacher.

Does your teacher want a certain number of primary sources and secondary sources? Has your teacher indicated the age of your references? Is your teacher picky about what’s considered reliable sources?

Can you use Wikipedia? Wikipedia is often a good starting point for learning about a topic, but many teachers will not let you cite it because they want you to find more authoritative sources.

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4. Create your Outline

The purpose of an outline is to help organize your thoughts so that you can present them clearly and coherently. Without an outline, you might find yourself rambling or going off-topic.

Outlines can help you structure information into categories that make it easier to process and recall later on.

The outline does not have many details, and it can change as you do more research.  Better yet, you should have a clear idea of what information will go in each section.

Write short notes in the margins that highlight the main points you want to cover in each section. Don’t worry about perfect grammar or spelling at this point; just get ideas down on paper.

5. Write an Introduction

The introduction should grab the reader’s attention and prepare for an explanation of the topic. The reader should finish the introduction thinking that the essay is interesting or has some sort of relevance to their lives.

A good introduction is engaging; it gets the audience thinking about the topic at hand and wondering how you will be proving your argument.

A good way to convince your reader that your essay is worthwhile is to provide information that the reader might question or disagree with. Once they are thinking about the topic and wondering why you hold your position, they are more likely to get engaged in the rest of the essay.

A good introduction provides the reader with a brief overview of your topic and an explanation of your thesis. A good introduction is fresh, engaging, and interesting.

6. Set up Body Paragraphs

Include your topic sentences and some supporting detail for each body paragraph. You should have at least three body paragraphs; you can add more if you want. Make sure that the flow of the paragraphs is logical, and that the transitions between paragraphs are smooth. A rough outline might look like this:

Body Paragraph 1: [Introduce your first main point here.]

Body Paragraph 2: [Introduce your second main point here.

Body Paragraph 3: [Introduce your third main point here.]

The body of your paper will contain all of the important information. You should have at least three supporting details for each topic sentence that you write. Each of these supporting details should be a separate paragraph.

7. Conclusion

Needless to say, it is quite important to know how to write a conclusion. No matter what type of paper you are working on, the conclusion recaps all of its major points. In other words, all points that you made in your introduction and body paragraphs should be in the conclusion.

Usually, this section is only one paragraph long, but if permitted by your instructor or your topic is complex, you might make it longer.

At this point, you do not need to mention any new arguments to avoid confusing the reader.

If a certain phrase seems unnatural and difficult for you to write down or if you simply cannot find any worthy words for your work, then use some of the conclusion transition words.

They will help keep everything clear and concise for readers.

8. Cite Sources Accordingly

Citing sources properly is essential to avoiding plagiarism in your writing. Not citing sources properly could imply that the ideas, information, and phrasing you are using are your own when they originated with another author.

Citing sources properly can also help readers find the information you used to write your paper and can give credit to the authors of that information.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 8-page paper word count?

The length of an 8-page paper could vary depending on several factors, such as font size, space between lines, and margins. If you need to use Times New Roman 12-point font, it will take approximately 2 pages for 1,000 words and 8 pages for 4000 words.

You will easily calculate how many words you need to write on a specific subject.

Can you write an 8-page paper in 3 hours?

You may write an 8-page paper in 3 hours. Brainstorm for just 10 minutes. Then, organize your thoughts into an outline. Next, write your first draft in 1 hour.

Also, revise and edit your paper in 1 hour. Finally, write your second draft in 30 minutes.

How long does it take to write an 8-page paper double spaced

We believe that anywhere from four to eight hours is pretty good for double-spaced, 12-point type, Times New Roman or Arial font, and 1-inch margins.

If you are using a font other than Arial or Times New Roman, you will notice a difference in the number of pages you write as well.

8-page essay example topics

1. The Growth of Language and Its Impact on Culture in the USA
2. Forbidden Love: A Study of Relationships in Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Persuasion.
3. An Analysis of Consumer Behavior Concerning Marketing Of Mobile Phones and Youngsters