A term paper is one of the most important writing assignments given out during a course and has a great impact on final grades. Writing an A+ term paper takes much more than putting in a few research hours and copy-pasting the results; it is important to gain insight into what professors are actually looking for in a noteworthy final submission.
What Is a Term Paper?
A term paper is an academic writing assignment, usually a discussion of an assigned topic or a scientific report, that is required to be submitted at the end of a school semester. Term papers often describe events or concepts or put forth arguments in support of a specific point. The objective of a term paper is to track and evaluate students’ knowledge about a subject or course of study. It is expected to be an original piece of writing involving in-depth research about a topic and requires advanced technical writing skills. Course instructors or professors generally expect a well-written, well-researched, analytical, and organized term paper that is several typed pages in length.
How to Ace a Term Paper
1. Follow Directions
Most course instructors provide detailed requirements or, at the very least, a general outline that must be adhered to while writing a term paper. The directions come in about 1-2 pages, and reading them thoroughly shouldn’t take more than a few minutes. However, it is important to follow them closely to avoid a lower grade.
2. Ask for Help
All successful students know when to ask their instructor for help and that it’s okay to have questions about the assignment; in most cases, the instructor will be glad to clarify queries and provide any relevant information.
When it comes to writing term papers, it is also important to explore other sources of help. It’s easy to get lost in the sea of information available to students these days; librarians, especially department-specific librarians, are usually glad to help floundering students narrow down their research and navigate their term paper topic smoothly. Many colleges also have writing tutors or writing centers to help struggling students write well-structured essays, strong thesis statements, and more.
3. Prep and Research
Most professors can easily distinguish between a well-researched term paper and one thrown together without enough preparation. It is pointless to write a paper before the topic and its background have been thoroughly researched. It is also important to understand current ideas about the topic as well as future research in the area. Students must desist from rehashing available information if they seek to learn from the research and writing process.
The most important thing a student can do before embarking upon a term paper is to identify a specific theory or question that acts as a focal point – a pre-thesis that can be developed into the actual thesis of the paper. Creating an outline is another important aspect of preparing to write a term paper. An outline acts as a blueprint that helps the author stay organized during the process of writing.
4. Include a Variety of Sources
Students unfamiliar with academic writing often make the mistake of using a single source of information that fits their topic perfectly to write the entire paper. This practice is undesirable for two reasons –
I – Instructors usually expect to see a variety of sources in student research.
II – Including a multitude of perspectives on a topic strengthens the argument presented in a term paper.
5. Cite Sources
It is essential to cite and acknowledge the sources that have contributed to a paper – even those that didn’t make it to the final draft. Unintentional plagiarism often occurs when a source is accidentally forgotten or overlooked, and this can do immense damage to a student’s career. If a term paper requires an annotated bibliography using APA or another style guide (check if the instructions mention this or consult the instructor if in doubt). Notes or annotations must be added while citing and while the source information is still fresh in the student’s mind.
Forgetting to cite sources in a term paper is the fastest way to frustrate instructors and make their task more difficult. Citing sources correctly not only helps students steer clear of plagiarism, it also demonstrates their attention to detail, and allows instructors to see how they arrived at conclusions. Some of the most popular citation guides include Modern Language Association (MLA), American Psychological Association (APA), Chicago Manual of Style, and Associated Press (AP.)
6. Proofread
The quickest way to get less-than-stellar grades is to hand in a term paper riddled with spelling and grammatical errors. Online grammar checkers and other paper checking tools make it easy to submit a flawless term paper that will impress the most exacting professor.
Standard Format of a Term Paper
Term papers follow a standard and fairly rigorous format that must be strictly adhered to.
The format of a term paper largely depends on the course under review. For instance, a term paper for a law or social sciences course will be formatted differently from one written for a literature course. The following is a generic overview of a term paper layout or format:
1. Title Page/Cover Page
This is a separate page that includes the title of the paper, the author’s name, the title of the course, the instructor’s name, and the date of submission.
2. Acknowledgment
This contains
- A statement of the topic and a description of the subject
- A rationale or explanation of why the author chose to research this topic
- Any additional information that may be relevant to the topic or area of study
3. Table of Contents
4. Abstract of the Paper
This lays out a brief overview of the paper along with the questions that will be answered in the paper.
5. Literature Review
This provides a detailed explanation of the research methodologies used by the author and the procedures used to implement them.
6. Body
This contains the main points of research, detailed information about the topic, and an in-depth analysis of the research conducted during the study.
7. Results
This part sets forth the paper’s closing statements and/or conclusions that determine the validity of the hypothesis.
8. Recommendations/Discussion
This is where the author puts forth their views and suggestions for future research on the topic or area of study.
9. Reference List
This is a list of all the sources used in the research. Sources must be listed in alphabetical order and comply with the citation format required by the instructor.
The next step in this process is to actually write the paper.
Here’s how to write a term paper in 7 simple steps:
- Select a topic.
- Thoroughly research the chosen topic.
- Prepare an outline/blueprint.
- Write a sample proposal.
- Write the paper.
- Prepare a cover page.
- Edit and proofread the final draft.
Writing a term paper starts with knowing and understanding the basics. These tips are intended to help students master the art of writing a winning term paper and impressing their professors along the way!
