Are you wondering how to write a term paper? Then you are in the right place.
A term paper is a lengthy piece of academic writing usually assigned as part of coursework at the end of a semester. Even though they are part of the course material, writing a term paper is daunting.
You must have good research skills as this paper require that you delve deeper into a topic to gather the relevant literature.
Your Instructor may ask you to write only a few pages of the paper, while others will request 20 pages. Regardless of the instructions, knowing how to write a term paper is the best way to ensure you get a good grade.
With that said, the following guide will show you how to write a term paper. The guide also includes a definition of a term paper and tips for writing a good one.
Your professor will assign a term paper to test whether you have understood the course materials. Usually, these papers are given at the end of the semester. You will be expected to interpret a given data which has been collected as part of the course. Term papers can either be about a particular event or concept that you must argue. They are assigned to:
If you have not been given a specific topic, you must choose one. But most of the time, your professor will assign a particular topic or area to focus on. So, ensure you follow the instruction or prompts given.
Because these papers require thorough research, you must show this in your paper. There is no specific length requirement for term papers. A five-page paper is enough for a term paper but so would a 15 pages paper, as long as you have communicated all the ideas clearly and concisely.
Structuring your term paper is essential because it will help clarify your argument and ideas. Similarly, a structure ensures that readers can understand what you are communicating. If your professor has a specific format for you to follow, ensure you follow it. But in the case where there is no particular format given, use the following:
The following is a sample outline of a term paper that should give you an idea of how to write yours.
Body Paragraphs- each paragraph should describe a different aspect of the topic that proves your thesis statement.
Body paragraph 1
Body paragraph 2
Body paragraph 3
Conclusion
Please note that the body paragraph should contain all the main ideas from your research. You should provide information so readers can further comprehend your topic. Also, include your position on the issue and the analysis of your research.
Now that you understand what goes into a paper, it is time to write. Before doing so, you need to prepare adequately.
Start by reading the given instructions to understand what is expected of you. As you read, take note of the keyword and phrases such as analyze, discuss, explain, etc. Don't just skim through, as you will miss the crucial points. Also, identify the question(s) to be addressed in the paper.
If there is a topic given that is well and good, you can proceed to research. However, if there is no assigned topic, you must choose one for your paper. Topic development is an essential skill that you need to master. You need to select a topic that is interesting to make writing easier. Start by brainstorming some topic ideas of things that have piqued your interest. Avoid going for topics that have been over-researched unless you will use a unique approach.
Creating a solid thesis statement is part of learning how to write a term paper. A thesis statement is vital in your term paper, and without it, your paper is just a fancy book report.
Make sure your thesis statement is clear, focused, and can be backed by relevant research.
Now that you have a clear thesis, please find information to support it. The school library and academic databases, such as JSTOR, are good places to start. Collect relevant literature that will support your thesis statement. You have to do real research here; by this, we mean more than a quick internet search. Go the extra mile, and as you do this, write down at least ten sources to include in your references list.
Your research will tell if your topic is too broad; if that is the case, narrow it down to something manageable. Besides researching at the library, review your lecture notes to refresh your memory of the course material. Go for discussions with your classmates. This is an excellent way to discuss issues that you have missed. Please remember that learning to write a term paper is about showing your understanding of the course material. So, it's important to go back to what you have learned throughout the semester to pick out.
Ensure you incorporate active reading, note-taking, and critical thinking skills when researching the topic. Consider the questions of who, what, when, where, and why as you read through different materials.
Now with a thesis and relevant literature for your paper, create an outline. Even though some people can work on a term paper without one, creating one is important. There are different ways to develop an outline. Whichever you choose, ensure it contains the following elements.
Start by telling the readers what your paper is about in the abstract section. You could do this after writing all the other subsequent sections. This way, you will have all the information right at your fingertips. Make sure to keep it straightforward and informative.
The assignment should be about 120-250 words depending on your instructions. Please ensure you stick to this word count.
Write Your Introduction
Write a strong introduction that grabs readers' attention right away. Followed by an overview of the issue and what you intend to achieve with the paper. Lastly, present your thesis statement.
Please ensure that your introduction only contains general information about the topic. So don't include quotations or any other excess details; leave that for the body part.
Write a Body Paragraph
This is where you provide a discussion of the topic in detail. Explain what you acquired from your research so readers can understand. Only provide the outcome of the research and leave out unnecessary information.
The best way to write the body paragraphs is to begin with a topic sentence and then expand these with supporting information. Make sure you develop your ideas gradually. This means moving from a general idea to something more specific. Also, make sure you provide relevant evidence to support your findings. This includes quotations, examples, anecdotes, research studies, etc.
The number of paragraphs will depend on the specific topics and given instructions.
Restate the thesis statement and briefly summarize the main ideas of your paper. Then explain your findings and their implications. Use the following questions to do that:
Finally, write a concluding sentence. Remember not to include any new information in this section.
When learning how to write a term paper, you shouldn't forget to revise and polish your paper. After you are done writing, take time to review your work to ensure it has no errors. Ensure there are no spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors. Leaving these errors in your paper will draw more attention than your ideas.
Formatting refers to the academic standards that define how a paper should look, from headers to margins and how the sources should be presented.
The primary purpose of formatting in your paper is to make information more accessible to the readers and ensure your work is accountable to the source material.
How to Format a Term Paper in APA Style
The first thing to do when wondering how to write a term paper in APA style is to understand the style. APA formatting is commonly used in social sciences fields like psychology. You will be expected to follow a basic formatting style throughout the paper. Most programs, such as Word and google docs, default settings comply with APA style, so you won't need to make any changes to your document. However, if you need to make any changes, here is the format to follow:
Title Page
Your title page must include the following:
The font of the title page should be the same as that of the rest of the body.
Rules for Abstract
The abstract comes just below the title page, on its own page. Centre the word abstract on top of the page. In the following line, summarize the paper's main ideas, then include your research topic and question.
Make sure the content of this page is not more than 250 words.
MLA is another type of formatting style that is commonly used in the field of arts, humanities etc. Follow these basic guidelines for formatting your term paper in MLA style.
MLA Title Page
An MLA format doesn't have a title page. However, if your Instructor asks you to include one, these are the elements to include:
Chicago formatting style uses two documentation styles: notes and bibliography and author-date. Notes and bibliography are preferred by those taking humanities. In this style, sources are cited in footnotes or numbered endnotes using superscripts. The sources are placed on separate pages. On the other hand, the author-date style is commonly used in sciences and social sciences. The sources are cited in the text using parentheses beginning with the author's name and publication year. Each in-text citation corresponds with an entry made in the references section.
The following are general guidelines for formatting a paper in Chicago style.
Title Page
Harvard formatting uses an author-date style for citing sources in the text. The following are general guidelines when formatting a paper in Harvard Style.
Are you still not sure how to write a term paper? The following tips can help:
A term paper is an important part of your course material, but writing one is tricky. You are expected to write based on the knowledge gained over the semester to prove you weren't just wasting time in school. This task is tedious.
You must research, develop a great outline, and organize your work logically to ensure every detail makes sense. We hope that the above guide will help you figure out how to write a term paper that earns you a good grade.
Related Readings:
If you need help researching, writing, and polishing your term paper, you can hire a term paper writer from the ResearchPaperMate website. We are a leading term paper writing website with over 300 writers who can help you ace your term paper within the shortest turnaround time. No single topic can surpass the experience and prowess of our writers. We offer custom term paper assistance at an affordable rate. We guarantee 100% original, human-researched, written, and plagiarism-free papers.
A term paper consists of the following main parts:
Begin with a general overview of your topic, then narrow it down until you provide the specific aspect of the paper.
A term paper is an academic paper that describes or explains a particular concept or event. It must discuss a topic in detail.
A term paper is 15-20 pages depending on the instructions.
A term paper consists of the following parts:
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