Sure-fire tips to get the ideas flowing.

There’s nothing more intimidating than a 10-page paper—unless it’s a 20-page paper. But how intimidated can you get when all you have to do is fill in one piece of paper?

1. Start with one page of brainstorming. Write down all the ideas that come to your mind, without censoring yourself. Soon you’ll be on your way.

2. Still intimidated? Instead of a full page, try an index card. The small size of the card will force you to come up with concise phrases.

3. Ask a friend to sit down with you. As clearly as you can, describe what you want to say in your paper and how you want to say it.

4. Go back to your syllabus or the assignment paper. Rereading your professor’s instructions may give you some ideas.