For those who are not familiar with how to write a term paper, it can be quite tricky. To help students, here is a simple guide that will help you understand how to write a term paper and the requirements. The guide will include proper formatting, creation of an outline, step-by-step guide, language of the paper, common mistakes and a few useful tips that will come in handy while writing your term paper. Read the entire guide to be able to learn how to write a term paper.

So, how to write a term paper and what is it?
According to the definition, a term paper is an academic paper written at the end of a term to compile what the student has learnt. These often take the shape of an academic report or a discussion essay that requires technical writing and research skills to demonstrate the writer’s knowledge. In addition, term papers are often used to pose questions or present an idea and an argument to support the idea.

Term papers vs research papers
Though both these types of papers have tons of similarities and have been used interchangeably, both are different types of academic papers which you will understand after you have learnt how to write a term paper.

• Term papers are generally limited to 3000 to 5000 words only; however, a research paper can be much longer.
• Term papers are used to determine a student’s knowledge on a particular topic that was covered during the term. On the other hand, research papers require a much broader analysis of the subject and the theoretical question.
• Term papers are often required to be submitted after the end of a semester or term; however, students can be given research papers at any time.
• Term papers are used to analyse a thesis, including the opinions and the point of view of the author. On the other hand, a research paper requires a research question or hypothesis that is to be proved.
• Scholarly articles, textbooks and other academic papers are used for data collection. Research papers collect data from public surveys, observations, experiments and interviews.
• Those who already know how to write a term paper will know that term papers are often presented with tighter deadlines than research papers. It is because it can take months or sometimes even years to complete a research paper.
• Structuring is less specific in the case of term papers as compared to research papers.

The format of a term paper:
Before learning how to write a term paper, it is important to know how long it should be. The length of the paper is generally determined by the topic and is usually around 10 to 15 pages long. It is written using a double spaced letter with a font size of 12. The paper should have a 1-inch margin on all sides. Check for the prescribed formatting style like MLA, APA, Harvard, etc., specified by your institution.

A typical structure for your reference to learn how to write a term paper:

• The cover or title page: The page is used to add your name, course title and other relevant details, aligned centrally.
• Abstract: The section summarises the entire paper and includes the purpose and aim of writing the paper. Also, it includes why it is significant. The abstract should contain a few paragraphs but should be less than one page.
• Introduction: Use this section to introduce the topic to the audience. Include a catchy statement or a fact that keeps the audience interested. Then, discuss the topics and how you have solved the problems you will be discussing in the essay. The section is generally more detailed and longer than the abstract, but there are no strict word limits. Roughly, the introduction is around 5 to 10 per cent of the total word count of the essay.
• Body: Give the readers a bit of background on the topic before discussing the idea. Note the main points of the idea or the problem using citations. Mention the impact and effects the idea will have as a whole and provide possible solutions. The reader will be given different perspectives and the analysis of the research in this section. The body section is often the largest and accounts for about 60 to 80 per cent of the entire essay.
• Results: The section will help you to present the answers and solutions to the readers. The author can also write about the solution they were expecting has been achieved or not. The section consists of around 5 to 10 per cent of the entire word count.
• Conclusion: Summarise the entire paper briefly in the section and discuss the results as well. End with a wider question or provide a conclusion in a broader context. The conclusion section consists of around 10 to 15 per cent of the total word count.
• Bibliography: The section lists all the resources and references used while writing the paper in an alphabetical list. It is not included in the word count and ensures to format this section as instructed by your professors or instructors.

Writing a term paper outline:
It is important to properly plan your outline before proceeding on how to write a term paper. The outline will help to structure your paper and help to jot down each point in the paper. It ensures none of the important data or arguments is left out while writing. The outline of the essay will be a great organisational tool that can benefit all students. In some cases, students might be first asked to submit an outline before proceeding with the draft. Here is a brief outline of a term paper that you can follow.

Introduction: State the topic, idea or argument that answers the essay title or research question. For example:

Essay title: Example
‘how is the development in a child affected if the child suffers from attachment disorder.’

Answer (thesis statement): Example:

Children suffering from attachment disorder often face challenges in developing meaningful relationships throughout their life.

Main Body

History of the research question or argument, for example, a description of the disorder is mentioned.

The extent of the problem. For example, children suffering from the disorder are likely to develop insecure relationships and why.

Effects of the problem. For example, how are the children coping up with the disorder, and what difficulties are they facing?

Possible solutions to mitigate the problem, such as treatments, are greatly helpful in treating children suffering from such disorders.

Conclusion: Summarise the main points and results in this section.

Even if you know how to write a term paper, it is good to start with an outline even if colleges or schools don’t ask for it since it provides a proper structure to your term paper.

A step by step guide on how to write a term paper:

1. Selection of the topic: Start by choosing broader issues relevant to what you have learnt during the term and narrow it down to a specific topic. We have listed out 10 topics for term papers as an example for your reference:
• How diversity affects team effectiveness?
• How can developed nations support the developing ones?
• The effect of immigration on the economy
• How can family laws be improved?
• Improvements in the field of dentistry in the last century
• How effective is an all-female workforce?
• How can bullying be reduced in schools?
• The effect of globalisation on politics
• Can solar power be used to replace all power sources?
• Abortion controversy and the reasons for it
2. Literature: Create a bibliography page by locating all the sources and relevant literature that agrees with your thesis statement or proves it.
3. Facts: When conducting research, you will come across several important facts that you need to make a note of, write them in convincing words to convince the readers of your thesis.
4. Plan: Start with a rough template. It can be helpful if you start with the body section of the paper since it is the largest section in the paper that forms the majority of the word count. Move to other sections after completing the body section helps to save a lot of time.
5. Write: Create your first draft by citing relevant facts and arguments that support your thesis.
6. Proofread and edit: Go through the paper several times to eliminate any grammatical or spelling mistakes. It is not a good idea to always rely on online checkers, and it is often advised to be checked manually.
7. Ask someone else to read it: After making any required edits, ask someone from your family or friends to read it. Ask for their feedback and any constructive criticism. It is surprising how helpful a different perspective can be.

The language of the term paper:
After learning how to write a term paper, you will now need to understand the type of language used to write a term paper.

• Formal: Being an academic paper, the term paper must have a formal tone. Avoid colloquial words, idioms and slang or even everyday abbreviations if you don’t want to sound informal. Also, keep away from professional jargon. Though these might seem impressive, if the average reader does not understand it, it is pointless.
• Objective: Term papers must be written objectively. Expression of a standpoint or idea should be based on facts and relevant arguments. Sentences should also never be exaggerated.
• Impersonal: Try to use an impersonal tone while writing a term paper unless otherwise stated. A good way to do this is to avoid using the first person and instead use your sentences in the third person.
• Simple: Academic writings need the language to be definitive and clear. It reduces the risks of miscommunication and errors. Take a look at the pair of sentences below. While both mean the same, the second one is clearer and more direct.
  “With all the vast innovations and new technology opening up new possibilities in today’s engineering industry, 3D printing is perhaps the most promising.”
  “3D printing is perhaps the most promising technology for engineering.”

Useful tips on how to write a term paper:
After learning how to write a term paper, implement the following tips to produce an effective term paper.

While conducting your research, only use reliable sources to gather and verify the information. Academic papers, journals, textbooks are quite reliable sources of information. There are also many academic search engines that you can use, like Google Scholar. Websites that end with “.edu”, “.gov” are also reliable sources of information.

Avoid non-academic sources like blogs, Wikipedia, magazines or websites with a “.com”, “.net”, or similar domains.

It is common for professors and instructors to hand out a sample or example term paper for your reference. Ask for one if they have not.

Ensure you know how to write a term paper and properly format it according to your college’s guidelines. You will also need to follow the guidelines when formatting your bibliography and in-text citations.

Use a clear font when writing your term paper, like Times New Roman or Calibri.

Avoid including useless and fluff words in your term paper.

It is a good idea to read it out loud to spot errors that might have been missed previously.

5 common mistakes to avoid when learning how to write a term paper and writing it:

• Lacking focus: Before you start with your term paper, ensure that you have a precise question that you will be answering. Keep reminding yourself of the question throughout writing the paper. When writing a large assignment like a term paper, it is quite easy to lose focus during production, so regularly glance back to the title to ensure what you have written is relevant.
• Poor structure: A term paper that is well written should be structured appropriately to enhance readability with a seamless transition between sentences and paragraphs. Ensure to introduce a new point in a fresh paragraph.
• Less knowledge: Keep in mind that the readers will only be familiar with the topic on a basic level, so you will need to explain everything in detail and explain why you choose the topic and its importance.
• Grammatical, spelling, punctuation and formatting errors: After learning how to write a term paper and completing it, do not forget to check if there is the uniform spacing between the characters, uniform fonts and a consistent style to your writing. A consistent look will make the term paper much more professional. Remove any spelling or grammatical mistakes thoroughly by proofreading.

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