Hi Panpan. Your instructors want to know what you have learned in the course. They are looking for an academic article written by you. You need to show them you have learned something from them, from the texts, from your article readings, and from your practical experiences.

Develop a simple and understandable thesis. What is the overall impression you want them to have of what you have learned from their program after they have finished reading your paper? The best way of doing this is to print the assignment and stick it to the wall over your computor for easy reference. You will want to address each and every item on that assignment specifically. You'll want to include things your instructors have said in lectures, what you've read, and tried in classrooms. Organize your paper in the same way they have organized the assignment. Do this by making an outline of the course, which is probably the same as how the assignment is given.

There is no reason to try to be clever, and there is no reason to try to reinvent the academic paper. Just address the assignment in their way, and address each item they have listed using the sources they have given you. One important thing to remember is that it is an academic paper, and therefore does not need to be interesting. The paper will most likely never be read again. You are not telling a story, but just telling them what you have learned. Its not an article for publication. Write the paper to them as the audience, not to the general public.

Critically important is proper citation. Find a format (MLA, APA, Chicago) and stick with it. Use specific terminolgy you have learned to show you have learned it, but be sure to cite the source you got it from. If you don't cite something, it is plagiarism, and not only is that dishonest, it will follow you for the rest of your career.

Of course, perfect grammar, spelling and punctuation is a must. Failure in this will be failure in your course. You are not writing the paper on the internet, but academically. It is something you may want to include in your academic paper portfolio.

All academic papers are the same, they just have different subjects: offer a thesis; develop your idea using your own research, things you've learned from others, and things you've tried; give a conclusion. Does your thesis hold water?

Its as simple as that.