about the art of the college paper

as to finishing a paper- that why you outline it, so you know your conclusion before you write the paper, In fact if you want to master this process write your paper like this. write your argument. then rewrite it as your conclusion and then the introduction. Now you have the front and read wall of your paper, the rest is fill or in logical terms proof that your argument is valid. the best way to do this is to look to the greeks. what I mean use greek argument structure. The greeks used 3,5 or 6 (but seldom more than 6) points to prove an argument. this is of course the cornerstone to logic and philosophy and drama as it were. Less than 3 is not enough and will get shot down, more than six is wordy and will get shot down. In a short paper, limit each proof to 1 paragraph with a fact or quote to support it (footnote/cite). In a longer paper use 3 paragraphs tops for proof and 1 to 2 quotes/facts. Remember that almost all college papers are set on this same basic structure (and thus philosophy and logic as well) Statement (argument) proof, restatement. Once you are doen then rewrite your conclusion allowing that you may want to rephrase your conclusions.
does this work? It did for me and I have a Master's degree to prove it. Also if you master it and learn to put notes in the margins of your textbooks, In class essays and paper tests are much easier to accomplish. If you get the main points then you can write about anything. So in short write the conclusion first (since it is in fact the point of writing the paper in the first place