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A
term paper is generally a
written record of extensive reading of several sources on a specific
subject. The task of writing a term paper is not as difficult as it
seems if it is thought out well in advance as a definite procedure
with systematic approach. The procedure for writing a term paper
normally consists of the following steps:
-
Choosing a subject for writing
-
Finding sources of materials
-
Gathering and organizing the
notes
-
Outlining the term paper
-
Writing the draft
First Page of a Term Paper:

Choosing a Subject
All good term papers are normally built
around a question or a set of questions. One can find subjects for
term papers in any textbook or published articles. You can simply
take some part of the textbook that interests you most and examine
it carefully and thoroughly. Your term paper actually will be an
attempt to write a well-organized answer to whatever question or
questions you decide upon, supported by facts and references for the
purpose of proving your arguments.
Finding Sources of Materials for your
Term Paper
You can find material for your term
paper from various sources. Don't limit yourself just to one or two
sources. A good term paper utilizes different types of material to
show that author has done a reasonable research. You should use
following sources of materials:
1) Books
2) Magazines
3) Journals
4) White Papers
5) Peer Reviews
6) Online Sources
Gathering the Notes
Following tips will help you in
gathering and organizing notes for your term paper.
1) Examine the books and articles and
other sources thoroughly.
2) Skim through your all sources,
looking for the useful material, then make good notes of it. At this
point you should note down the complete detail about the source, as
you will have to provide references for your cited material. This
includes: title, author name, year in which it was published, page
number and country in which it was published.
3) You should be extra careful in
note-taking - be honest and accurate. Don't alter or modify author's
meaning.
Outlining the Term Paper
1) You should not hurry into writing
your term paper. Re-think about your subject and questions and how
do you want to answer it. You should have clear picture about what
you want to achieve out of your paper.
2) Before writing your paper, review
notes to find main headings or sections of your subject. Use these
headings for main divisions in your outline
Writing the Draft
You are now ready to write your term
paper. Make sure you write the paper around the outline you have
already made. Make sure you indicate the purpose of your paper in
first paragraph. Some tips for writing the draft are:
1) Tell your reader exactly what you
are going to say.
2. Say it (this would be main body of your term paper).
3. Tell the reader what you've said (this would be summary and
conclusion for your term paper).
4) Make sure you have organized your paper into heading and
sub-headings.
5) Last, but not least, try to avoid short sentences and long
never-ending sentences with more than one main ideas. |