if you're hand-writing an essay/short answer and you use the New York Times in it, how do you make it in the essay/ short answer? becasuse i sure as hell can't do italicized words

Underline it
If you're using an article from it - "Article Title" from the New York Times

no, i'm not using an article

for example: "she read the The New York Times"

wait should i still underline it? i thought that was for books?

When you are writing, and not typing, underline the book or newspaper or magazine.

When typing, italicize the book, newspaper or magazine.

For Example: (writing) "she read the The New York Times"
For Example: (typing) "she read the The New York Times"

I don't think you need to cite when you're just stating the existence of The New York Times.