How does an eight-page essay or paper look, and can one write it within a day? If you are searching for a comprehensive answer to this question, you have come to the right place! Typically, most college and high school assignments are eight pages long.
You can only perform better on such papers if you know exactly what you are dealing with.
In most cases, such papers entail an in-depth analytical exploration of an issue or topic using facts, opinions, ideas, and transitions to maintain a good flow of ideas. It is a critical paper where you share your perspective, stance, or opinion about a topic regardless of any outstanding counterclaims.
If you are yet to begin working on your 2000–2200-word essay or paper, otherwise known as an 8-page paper, here are some things to consider. Otherwise, our essay writing service can be handy if you want to hire someone to help you write it. Place your order in simple steps and get it done soon.
If you find yourself intimidated by writing an 8-page essay, you can break down the task into smaller chunks. Let’s understand the anatomy of an 8-page paper so that you can break it down easily.
An 8-page essay or paper has a word count between 2000 and 2200 words (12 pt., double-spaced). It is considered a short essay/paper written on a specific issue or topic. The ideal length of academic paragraphs in such an essay is 100-150 words, which means that such a paper is 13-20 paragraphs long.
Note that a single-spaced 8-page essay or paper will be between 4000 and 4400 words, given that a single-spaced page is between 500 and 550 words per page.
Let’s break down the 8-page essay so you can understand what to expect and how to break it down into chunks.
The introduction of your paper should pose the research question or display the topic. It should tell a brief story, explain why the topic is worth exploring and interpreting, and why readers should look up to the conclusions. The introduction should be 10% of the word count.
The introduction should open with a short attention-getter or hook sentence to sweep the readers off their feet and set the pace for the entire paper. Let the reader know that the essay is worth their time. Make the introduction engaging so that the reader thinks about the topic from your point of view, even if they have objections.
You can use facts, statistics, rhetorical questions, anecdotes, or quotes to convince the readers. The next sentence or two should give a brief overview of the topic, flowing into the last one or two sentences that form your thesis. A great introduction screams attention to your readers. It should be engaging, fresh, interesting, and powerful.
It is advisable to break down the body of an essay or research paper into paragraphs. The body accounts for 80% of the word count. In this case, the 8-page paper has 11 – 18 paragraphs, each 100-150 words long.
Ensure that each body paragraph begins with a topic sentence that supports the main point of the section and the thesis of the paper. Assuming you work based on an outline, having a series of topic sentences and a summary of the main ideas will help you write coherent, compelling, and concise paragraphs.
You will notice the need to tweak or drop some topic sentences as you write the paper. Each body paragraph should flow into another. For this, ensure that you use transition words for a better flow of ideas. Each body paragraph should have a specific idea related to the thesis. To support the main ideas in a body paragraph, include at least three supporting details, including explanations, facts, statistics, examples, and illustrations.
It is very critical to understand how to end a paper. Writing a good conclusion is ideal. The conclusion should make up 10% of your paper’s word count. It should be a long paragraph, but you can make it longer, especially when dealing with a complex topic.
The concluding paragraph winds up your paper. It should reiterate your thesis, explaining why it is the best means of understanding the evidence you have presented in the body paragraphs. As you wind down the paper, explain why the argument matters and how your interpretation helps the readers understand the topic.
As a matter of principle, you should not introduce new ideas or arguments in this section. Ensure that you use conclusion transition words to keep everything well-knit.
A standard one-page essay should have at least 2-3 sources. This means that you can use between 8 and 20 references. Ensure that you have at least 12 sources in the reference list to be on the safe side (careful not to under-cite or over-cite). Any material that you refer to when writing a paper should be cited.
Organize the references in alphabetic order if you write in APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago, or Turabian. Follow the guidelines when writing your paper in Oxford, Chicago, Turabian, or Vancouver style with footnotes and sometimes end notes.
Writing an 8-page essay, especially on a tight deadline, can be challenging. Undergraduate and graduate students always frown upon coming to terms with the fact that they must complete an essay in 8 pages. Although considered short, you can easily miss the bull’s eye and fight writer’s block for a long time. However, if you plan, organize, and schedule your time well, you can manage the research and writing process. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you write, format, and polish your essay with high success. These six steps are all you need.
Before anything else, read and re-read the essay prompt or assignment instructions. Without it, you are naturally bound to derail and fail eventually. Understanding what your professor or instructor expects sets you ahead of the game. The prompt is your manual. When reading it, understand the formatting style, upper- and lower-word count limits, length and number of paragraphs expected, line spacing, deadline, method of submission, and deadline. Doing this takes at most 15 minutes.
Selecting a good essay topic or a perfect research paper topic could be a hassle, but it is an important step you need not skip or take lightly. It makes or breaks your grades. Each topic you might encounter has its scope, technicalities, and parameters. When picking a topic, if you have the authority to choose either on your own or from a predefined list:
Avoid the temptation of choosing a vague topic. Instead, focus on a specific aspect and narrow down the topic. If you are writing about eating disorders, narrow it down to a specific disorder, such as anorexia or Bulimia, and then a specific population or impact.
After selecting the topic, do preliminary research first to identify the direction scholars are taking. As you research, you will develop a thesis statement representing your stance or position on the topic. You can refine the thesis statement as you research further to make it specific, clear, and relevant.
When researching, start with the general ideas and go narrower to make the best case for your thesis. Gather relevant sources from databases such as your university’s online library, Google Scholar, Find Your Answer, JSTOR, ResearchGate, PubMed, and other databases with Journal articles. You can extend your research to credible websites, research publications, books, and articles. You can make notes as you research to filter the most authentic information for your paper. Use online citation management tools such as Zotero to track your best references.
Now that you have your sources and some notes, consider making an outline for your 8-page paper. It doesn’t have to be perfect unless you are submitting it for grading. However, the outline should sketch your paper's main parts and ideas. Most successful writers create the outline as they research, but you can do it too, especially when you are short on time. Your outline should be your essay’s blueprint.
With the outline done, you can take a break if time permits. Immediately after the break, go through the outline and refine it further. Once you are satisfied with the outline, write the first draft, which means filling the outline with flesh.
Write in chunks instead of doing stretches of writing streaks. As you write, incorporate proper in-text citations to avoid plagiarism.
After finishing the first draft, you should take a small break. Upon returning to your workspace or wherever you’re doing the homework, read it aloud and listen keenly to the flow. If there are sections that need to be changed, change them immediately. Eliminate any jargon or vocabulary that makes no sense in your paper. Refine your essay or paper's flow, structure, formatting, and citation. Check on the indentation and whether or not you have used the lists correctly in your essay. You must also fix all grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors. If possible, have a fresh pair of eyes to review your work and advise you on any sections you should change.
These are the sure-bet 6 steps to help you compose an impactful paper or essay in just eight pages. If you are running low on time, lack the morale to write, are battling writer’s block, are clueless, or want to delegate the writing task, we can help. Our polished research paper writers can come through for you. Get original and plagiarism-free tailor-made papers based on your preferred topic.
Writing such a paper in a day or less is possible if you follow the steps outlined above. Technically speaking, writing an 8-page paper should take 4 to 8 hours to complete. The time frame depends on your typing speed, pre-writing and post-writing preparations, and the complexity of the topic. If you are organized and ready to hit the road, here are some tips to help you manage it without panic:
You can write an 8-page essay in 3 hours with the above tips. Brainstorm in a few minutes, plan in 15 minutes, and research as you write. Bingo, you got it!
Writing an 8-page assignment is manageable when you have the right strategies in your corner. Understand the assignment, narrow the topic, create an outline, research extensively, eliminate distractions, write in chunks, polish, and submit on time.
With these steps in mind, you’re well-prepared to conquer the battle ahead! However, writing is not for everyone, and we understand.
Here are some other blog posts from our professional writers that can help you ace the assignment:
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