Sometimes class assignments require writing a paper and making a presentation. Many people start with the paper because they think they need all of the information up front, but redditor marrowwealth suggests you ought to do the opposite.
The first step is finding references, but once you've done your reading and collected your information, the next step is structuring your paper logically. If you have trouble following outlines, doing the presentation first can help.
When you create a presentation, you prepare it in the most logical and easy-to-follow format because you'll be delivering information to a group of people. You can then use your presentation to structure your paper and guarantee you don't miss anything. For example, people rarely remember to define terms in the context of their paper; in a presentation, it's common to include a glossary slide. When you're writing your paper, you'll remember to either include a short statement about the terms' definitions when the vocabulary is used or a short paragraph defining the words being used throughout.
You should do what works best for you, of course, as writing advice is as subjective as any other kind. If you struggle with outlines and structure, however, this might help you solve the problem and save some time in the process.
Photo by Caitlin Regan.