How to Write a Term Paper With Index Cards
Writing terms papers can be a stressful and harrowing experience. This is especially true if you have failed to keep adequate notes. Trying to leaf through hundreds of pages of books to find an exact quote or a reference for what you are thinking about can be almost impossible, especially when a deadline looms. However, index cards are a great way to keep notes. They contain enough space to write down information, and are much easier to arrange and rearrange than notes kept on notebook paper.
Instructions
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Select your topic. Pick a topic that is specific enough to allow you to take an original position, but broad enough to allow you to do lots of research.
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Find sources. Use your school library, the public library, and Internet databases to collect sources. You aren't quite doing research yet. Rather, you are accumulating a list of books, magazines, and academic articles to pore over later. Keep a detailed list of every source you believe will be helpful.
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Begin researching. Start reading through your sources. Pay careful attention to information that confirms or contradicts your thesis. Remember that it's all right to change your thesis in the middle of the game. Read as much as you can, but remember to reflect upon the information as you read.
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Write down meaningful information on your index cards. Your index cards are the place where you will be keeping the most important information that will later go into your term paper. Write down the source information (including title, author's name, publisher's name and location, and copyright date) as well as the quote and a summary of why it matters.
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When you are done doing research, sort your index cards by subject. Group your subjects together with related subjects. Order your index cards from most important topic to least important topic. This will all but write your outline for you when the time comes.
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Outline before you write. Using your index cards, make an outline of what your term paper will be about. Begin with an introduction, then introduce the subjects in the order in which you arranged your index cards, finishing with the conclusions that you drew from your research.
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Using your index cards for reference, write your term paper. Follow your outline, fleshing out your ideas.
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Carefully proofread and edit. Take time with your term paper. Make sure that not only that there are no typos, but that all your sentences make sense, and that the information is presented in logical order.
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