Attempt; paper (5)
I believe the answer is:
essay
This clue is a double definition.
'attempt' is the first definition.
(I know that attempt can be written as essay)
'paper' is the second definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
(Other definitions for essay that I've seen before include "Endeavour" , "Short treatise" , "Try; dissertation" , "Analytic or interpretive literary composition (5_" , "Written academic work" .)