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How To Write A Term Paper
How To Write A Term Paper
A term paper is a research paper required at the end of a school semester. It tracks and
evaluates students’ knowledge about the course. Usually a scientific report or a discussion
of an assigned topic, a term paper requires a lot of research and technical writing expertise.
This academic writing assignment must be well-written, analytical, organized, and well-
Instructors usually provide topics related to your course. However, sometimes you are
free to choose your own topic. Try surfing the web, reading articles, news, magazines, and
blogs to get ideas for your term paper. Make sure that the chosen topic will fulfill the
objectives of your course and will interest you. If a certain topic interests you, researching and
writing about it will be easier and more fun.
Length: Consider the length of the required assignment. Considering the length will
help will be able to decide how broad or narrow your subject will be.
Resources: Check out your school or community library for any available resources.
You can also look for any available online resources. Make sure you have hands-on
books and other materials to reference for your paper.
Complexity: Make sure that you will be able to explain your topic—no matter how
complex it may be. If you have questions, don’t be afraid to ask experts.
The outline should be produced before and while researching and writing a term paper
because it will serve as the basis around which you will build your work. There are a lot of
templates to choose from, but most of the time your instructor will require you to follow
a certain essay format. The main parts should include an introduction, a body, and a
conclusion.
The structure should be organized and well-researched. Technical writing skills should be
crucial in organizing your ideas. The following is a general term paper format or layout that
you should follow in presenting your argument or topic:
Cover page: Align the text that contains your name, course number, your teacher’s
name, and the date of the deadline in the center of the page.
Abstract: Usually less than a page long, the abstract describes your work. It lets
readers know where the term paper is headed, the issue at hand, and why the subject
was interesting or important enough that you decided to write about it.
Body: The body of your text should contain the main points from your research.
Provide information about the topic so that the reader can further understand what is
being discussed. Don’t forget certain positions pertaining to the issue and the analysis
of the research you have done.
Results: Explain why your research has led you to believe certain things about your
subject. How has your view changed from when you began the project? Has it stayed
the same, and why? Tie everything you’ve been explaining into what you had stated in
your introduction.
Discussion: End with a summary and a conclusion about the topic in question. Finish
by stating an opening question or by prompting the reader to continue his or her own
research on the subject through a discussion.
Include recent studies or research on your topic. Don’t forget to insert proper referencing.
State the relevance of your topic to your course effectively by submitting a short article with a
clear explanation. Provide your objectives and organize the flow of your ideas.
If your professor didn’t provide a proposal template or sample, you can follow this format:
Title: This is the draft title of what you want to research. Make it clear and
comprehensible.
Relevance and Importance: Include recent news, social events, articles, and blogs
that convey the importance of the topic. Your topic should be up to date and capture
the attention of the reader.
There are many examples of term paper proposals available online, including formats and
templates. You can follow these formats, but make sure that you maintain your proposal’s
organization and do not forget to highlight your main points and objectives.
For the format, first consider the length and the citation style you will use. When you have
researched a certain topic, you are required to use a specific citation style. If you neglect to
reference properly, you might be accused of plagiarism. Also, a term paper is an academic
writing assignment, therefore APA citation styles are commonly used.
Assessment Criteria
All students are expected to participate in group activities and share the group assignment
works. Instructor will ask each group member to evaluate all other group members’
participation. A Peer Evaluation Form will be submitted by each student. Based on the
evaluation information, instructor will assign a group participation grade for each student.
However, peer evaluation should be done on the due date of the project.