What is a Term Paper?

Mention the words "term paper" to a student and a sense of dread usually sets in. However, writing a term paper needn't be drudgery if you have a passion for your topic and carefully follow the rules and guidelines given by your teacher. Before you can begin your paper take time to choose a good subject, avoiding one that's too general. The more specific you can make your subject and title, the more appeal it will have to your readers.

Identification

A term paper, also known as a research paper, is a written record of facts, ideas and principles learned in a course. It includes various sources on a particular subject and is typically written by high school or college students at the end of a school term or semester and constitutes a major portion of a student's grade for a course.

Types

Term papers can be grouped into the two broad categories of argumentative papers and analytical papers. Argumentative papers include arguments supported by solid facts. The writer has to state an opinion, making a stand for his beliefs. On the other hand, an analytical paper deals with facts and not opinions, so the writer must stay neutral, not taking sides. The researcher should include both sides of an issue, using his analytical skills to evaluate researched information.

Formats

Term papers follow four different formats. The APA style (American Psychological Association) places citations of information within a text rather than in footnotes. The MLA style (Modern Language Association of America) gives guidelines on how to cite sources throughout the paper, giving many rules and guidelines. The Chicago style, devised more than a century ago, is a leading reference for both writers and publishers, world-wide, and uses simple direct language. The Turabian format has become the standard style for term papers, using simple language that's direct.

Procedure

After choosing a topic, research for information and material, gathering notes. Next devise an outline for the paper and write a first draft. Next edit your paper to make sure it's written as correctly as possible, checking for spelling and grammatical errors. Finally, run the text through a reliable plagiarism checker to ensure it's free of plagiarism.

Considerations

Readers and word count are two important considerations. Will your readers expect more technical detail or will it be read by more creative people? If there's a limit on the number of words, don't get side-tracked and discover you're writing a book rather than a paper.

Tips

Wait a day or two to edit your paper. Then read it the way you would assume your professor would read it, looking for any portions that should not be included.
Take out as much clutter as possible, only including what's necessary.

Warnings

Don't procrastinate starting your paper. The sooner you start, the better your paper will be as you'll have plenty of time to rewrite and edit it without panicking because you're running out of time.
Don't use dated sources more than 20 years old, unless your paper is intended to examine older writings, using a historical viewpoint.

Resources

• Procedure for Writing a Research Paper
• Types of Research Papers
• Formats of Term Papers