Given an equation of a conic section, how do you graph it (without using desmos). if anyone could just explain the steps to me i'd appreciate it.

By conics I'm assuming you mean ellipses and hyperbolas:

Ellipses:
((X^2)/16)+((y^2)/9)=1
This would give you a center at 0,0 ; and the ellipse would stretch 4 units in each x direction and 3 units in each y direction (4 form the root of 16, and 3 from the root of 9). This would give you an oval shape.

Hyperbolas:
(Practically the same thing, only instead of adding the two fraction, you subtract; which makes sense because in ellipses, the two portions connect to make an oval, while in hyperbolas, the spread away from each other)
((X^2)/16)-((y^2)/9)=1
This would give you a guide point at 0,0 ; and the hyperbola's sides would start 4 units away from the center. The asymptotes for the hyperbola would be y=+-3/4
Graphing (and describing how to graph) hyperbolas is hard to do; but I hope this helps in he slightest.