Basic Term Paper Writing Format

Do you have a term paper coming up? Term papers can be one of the most dreaded assignments for students, and as such they cause a lot of anxiety for even the most dedicated of pupils. If you are stuck on an idea, or don’t know where to start you term paper, look to your teacher or professor for advice. You could also think things through with your friends to bounce ideas off of, or to brainstorm together about all of your term papers. It really helps to have someone from your same class to plan a term paper with.

So how do you go about writing a term paper, anyways? Here are a few caveats for the format of a term paper:

  • First page: The first thing your teacher will be looking at when he or she marks your term paper will be the title page. Make sure this is center aligned, with your name, course number, your teacher’s name and the date of the writing. Check with your teacher for any specific instructions for alternate title page information.
  • Next is the Abstract: This is usually less than one page long; it is a description of the entire paper, what is the problem or issue being discussed, why it is important, or why the reader should care, and finally, your findings on the matter.
  • Introduction: Start with a clear statement of the issue you are going to be discussing. Next review the literature you have found; what is the current public consensus and approaches to this particular problem? Then state the significance of the problem, and how you plan on dealing with it. What is your solution to this issue?
  • Bring in the Methods: This is where all your research comes in. Write about how you did your search for the information relating to this topic and what is the relevancy of it? Were you impressed or indifferent or disappointed with what you found available?
  • And Results: What, exactly, are your findings and how do they affect your understanding of this issue differently? Make sure that your findings answer the questions that you posed in the introduction and that everything lines up.
  • Finally, Discussion: What does any of this mean? Write a summary of everything you’ve said, and draw a few conclusions from your paper as a whole. Then, discuss how your results can possibly fit into a wider context of influence.
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