You are in the right place if you have been asked to write a term paper for your college or university course. This helpful guide will focus on all the important aspects of how to start writing, what structure to follow, what to consider, and how to outline things. You shall also discover term paper writing tips and helpful examples.
What is the purpose of a term paper?
A term paper is a piece of academic writing where students must provide an interpretation of data that has been collected through part of the course or a certain time period. The main purpose is to show how the subject has been understood and what lessons have been learned. This is precisely where a term paper helps achieve all of that. Regarding the concept’s definition, term papers can focus on a particular event, a scientific concept, or a point that must be argued. It will depend on the prompt that you are given by an academic advisor that must be followed. Writing a term paper, the length can be up to five or seven pages in length. The final term paper document is usually submitted at the end of a college or university semester, thus constituting an important assignment for you to write!
As you might already see, writing a term paper can be quite challenging and time-consuming, even if the topic is already available. If you wish to succeed with this type of academic writing, you have to plan ahead before you write and show good composition skills with proper analysis, structure, and editing.
How to start a term paper correctly?
Preparation is one of the most important points to consider because you should already have materials to work with, even before you start with an introduction for a term paper. The trick is providing custom term paper writing by analyzing your learning and using an author’s voice. Since the proposal subject chosen can be basically anything, this guide will focus on the general points that will help!
Summing things up in terms of how to start, an average term paper format must ensure that these seven steps have been followed:
- Choose your topic by focusing on what inspires you unless you are already given a topic.
- Take time to research and analyze your subject.
- Start with a term paper outline (see our templates in the next sections).
- Come up with a strong thesis statement before writing anything for body paragraphs.
- Provide topic sentences and practical examples.
- Provide a strong lesson in the conclusion if it suits the subject you write about.
- Edit and proofread available information for trustworthiness.
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Term paper structure and outline
Since there may be different college courses and types of academic writing work, a custom term paper may differ from case to case! Still, it will have an introduction paragraph with a thesis statement, three to five body paragraphs with your arguments and analytical writing, and a strong conclusion. A bibliography is always necessary, even if you have only been using course materials to write down some objectives or cited parts of the textbooks you have been consulting through your work. Since a term paper is important for the final grade in a relevant course, everything must be done according to the highest writing and editing standards.
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Now, let’s proceed with the typical term paper outline to help you determine how to work with the writing process and reach the final parts. Remember that the most important thing is to keep everything organized! While most students refuse to work with an outline and write an introduction right away, it is only for your good and will help you to narrow things down and always stay on track. Moreover, your professor may ask you to submit a term paper outline as you start, so it is good to already have one for convenience and time-saving purposes.
Here is what a basic term paper outline will look like:
- Introduction. This is where you talk about the subject and a problem you are researching. It helps to introduce your thesis statement and explain the objectives that have been set.
- Body Paragraphs. As a rule, in writing college term papers, one must write down several subheadings and headings to divide ideas and arguments into several (at least four) paragraphs. As done below, each body paragraph should contain one idea and a strong topic sentence.
- Heading 1: History of the argument and background.
- Heading 2: Extent of the problem that you write about.
- Heading 3: Effects of the problem and possible causes.
- Heading 4: Possible solutions and outcomes.
- Conclusion. The final part should represent a strong summary and a response to your thesis statement.
Helpful tip: In certain cases, your term paper for college may represent a type of reporting, so learning how to write a research report may be necessary and quite helpful!
Step-by-step writing guide
Here are the basic college term paper writing steps that you have to take to compose an excellent term paper regardless of your course and learning objectives:
Step 1: Data collection
Collect information about your topic and use notes from your learning course as you write.
Step 2: Explaining research relevance
Explain why your research topic matters and develop a strong thesis statement.
Step 3: Introducing your subject
Provide relevant introductory information. The main purpose is to introduce your thesis statement and the main argument.
Step 4: Literature review preparation
Offer a literature review with statistics and citations. It may include both course and external sources approved by your academic advisor.
Step 5: Offering results and conclusions
To start a term paper correctly, always focus on your results and offer strong arguments.
Step 6: Structural term paper evaluation
Check the structure and logic of your term paper as you write. It is recommended to check with your grading rubric to ensure that everything has been completed correctly!
Step 7: Check your citations and references
Double-check your references and writing style format. The same is true for editing and proofreading upon completion!
Standard term paper format
Now that we have learned all the basics, reviewing and analyzing the term paper format is high time. As has already been mentioned, what you write will largely depend on your course and the specifics of your university. If you need help starting with a research term paper, check your course notes to determine the learning objectives. If you are dealing with Economics or Business Management, your term paper may relate to a case study.
Likewise, a paper related to social studies or education will focus on statistical data or works that address the subject. As a way to provide you with a helpful term paper layout example, this term paper writing guide focuses on the general points worth checking. It will be suitable for university-level term paper writing. You can safely use this example before you write down your own.
I. Title or cover page.
Start with creating a complete title page by including the title of your paper (centered), your full name, the name of the college or university course, the name of your instructor or an academic assistant, and the due submission date.
II. Acknowledgements page
a) Stating your topic and describing the subject.
b) Determining rationale and explaining why a particular topic has been chosen for research purposes.
c) Additional information about anything necessary for an introduction and gratitude aspects if you have to write these.
III. Table of Contents
IV. Introduction for an essay term paper must conclude with a purpose statement where you present the questions that your term paper will address with a brief overview of the subject.
IV. Literature review
This is where you must explain the methods and procedures used to collect and process information. Speak about details and offer practical examples as you write.
V. Results
In a certain sense, it is your conclusion of a term paper where you must describe your outcomes and show whether your assumptions have been true or false.
VI. Recommendations
While it’s not an obligatory section like a term paper introduction, you may offer a moral lesson at the end with suggestions for additional research.
VII. References
You must list all the references that have been used for in-text citations. Format them according to the writing style and double-check the required citation format.
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Helpful term paper examples
Undoubtedly, one of the best methods to get help writing a term paper is to see helpful examples of something already done and checked by an expert. Keeping this fact in mind, our team has taken the time and found several examples of a term paper for you that will make it easier to check the structure and formatting:
- Term paper examples that earned an A grade from the University of Delaware
- Sample term paper offered by the Justus-Liebig Universitat Giessen
- Purdue Owl Lab Citation Formats Database
- Simon Fraser University Sample Term Paper
Following these successful academic examples and checking with the structure and basic rules outlined in this guide, you should be able to deliver an excellent term paper that will impress all your friends and university professors! Just take your time to check the formatting and how each point has been researched.
Term paper writing tips
Instead of a typical conclusion, let’s focus on the writing tips and recommendations that will help you achieve success with your term paper and avoid the most common mistakes.
- Choose a topic that inspires you if you have an opportunity. If you have been given an already existing prompt to write, research your subject online and ask about the use of course materials. It will help you to narrow things down and already have source materials for referencing purposes.
- If you can choose a subject to write a final paper for your course, think about something you can support with statistical data and some practical evidence.
- Most importantly, keep your term paper relevant to the main objectives of your study course.
- Keep your tone reflective and natural as you write.
- Double-check your grading rubric regarding limitations and obligatory requirements that must be met.
- Always proofread your term paper aloud!
- If you have an opportunity, consider editing your term paper with the help of a friend or a fellow college student.
Always ask questions if something is unclear and makes you feel confused. After all, you are here to learn, so asking is a natural process that should not be ignored. As always, we are here to help you, too!
