🎓 EduPathHub

Can I write a 12-page paper in 36 hours with APA citations?

presentations-professional-documents ▲ 1 12 views 2026-09-19

I'm a first-gen college student and I'm really struggling with my psychology research paper. I have to write 12 pages in APA style by tomorrow morning and I'm freaking out because I've only done 2 pages so far. I've never been good with citations and I'm worried I won't make it on time. My prof said we have to have at least 10 sources, which I haven't even started finding yet.

1 Answer

Yes, you can pull together a 12‑page APA paper in 36 hours if you break the work into focused chunks and keep the process moving steadily—it’s tight, but doable with a clear plan. I know how overwhelming it feels to stare at a blank screen when you’ve only got two pages down and a mountain of sources left to find, especially when you’re juggling the pressure of being first‑gen and wanting to do well. Think of it like trying to finish a long jog: you don’t sprint the whole way; you set a pace, take short breaths, and keep your eyes on the next mile marker. Start by sketching a quick outline—just the main sections and the points you want to hit in each paragraph. Then, spend a focused hour gathering sources; use your library’s search tools to pull abstracts that look relevant, grab the DOI or URL, and drop them into a simple reference list as you go. Write one section at a time, aiming for roughly two pages per session, and slip in APA in‑text citations right away so you don’t have to backtrack later. After each writing block, stand up, stretch, or grab a glass of water—those brief resets keep your mind sharp and prevent burnout. You’ve already shown the determination to get this far, and with a steady rhythm you’ll cross the finish line with a paper that meets the requirements and reflects your hard work. You’ve got this.

Reviewed by the EduPath Hub editorial team under our editorial policy. See our methodology.
Explore this subject: Citations & Sources topic hub →

Have a similar question?

Ask the community →
Share this question: Share Reddit