The Basics of Writing a Term Paper

Term paper writing can be a difficult task for some people. It usually takes a lot of time and effort to complete a term paper. Although, if the person writing it knows the basics of term paper writing, it can actually be an enjoyable and easy task. Term paper is basically a research paper. It has been part of the different academic curriculums since the start of the 19th century. A term paper aims to describe a topic in detail. It is considered as a backbone to many academic courses. In order to have good term paper, it is important that the topic is feasible. Also, the writer should be specific with his/her objectives in writing the paper. The writer should not also hesitate to ask for assistance from the experts and advisers whenever needed. The term paper is often described as the final product of a research process. The first step in term paper writing is choosing a topic. It is best that the writer will choose a topic which interests him/her. After the topic has been chosen, it is now time to create a thesis statement. A thesis statement is important because it will serve as a guide on writing the term paper. Once a good thesis statement has been chosen, the research part should be done. After all the needed sources are collected, the writer can now start the writing process. Before passing the term paper, the writer needs to proofread and revise the paper. A good term paper should be free of errors. In order to write and good term paper, it is vital to know its basic parts. In general, a term paper is composed of the following: 1. Cover Page. The cover page should contain the title of the paper or research. It should also contain the name of the writer, the class where the writer belongs and the name of the professor or instructor. 2. Introduction. This part of the term paper is also called abstract. It shows readers what you wrote about. In general, it should contain the purpose of the paper or the reason why the study or research was conducted. In this section, pose a question or a problem and discuss how you will be reach a conclusion to this question or problem. The length of the introduction or abstract is around one to two paragraphs. 3. Body. The most basic part of the term paper is called the body. It contains facts, charts and findings of the study. It is basically the bulk of the paper. You discuss the problem. Give arguments for and against each side of the issue and show how you came to your conclusion. The body of a term paper may be around three to forty pages. 4. Conclusion. The most important part of the term paper is the conclusion. The findings of the term paper are tackled on this part. The writer should be able to explain the findings in a straightforward and understandable way. Show in the conclusion section what you have come to know or believe after your careful research and discussion. Reiterate your topic, this time with a sense of closure.

5. Citations. In term paper writing, the writer will need to use different references and citations all throughout the paper. The writer should give credits to all the sources he/she used. Each course has a different set of term paper requirements. It is best to follow all the instructions given. Term paper writing may be a daunting task, but it can become more fun if the paper is about something which the writer can relate to. That is the reason why picking a topic for the term paper is very important. It can basically make or break the outcome of the paper. Some people may think that writing a term paper can be a very tedious job, and that is very true. Writing a paper will require a lot of time, effort and sacrifice. A good term paper cannot be produced overnight. The writer will need to devote a lot of time for the paper.

PAPER GUIDELINES
These guidelines were developed for term papers, but with appropriate qualifications, they apply to all written work in this course. 1. INTRODUCTION. Begin by stating the issue that you will discuss and explain why the issue is important. The issue should be one that arises out of the course readings and will require you to discuss and criticize the views of at least one of the authors in the course readings. 2. CRITICAL SUMMARY. Summarize the relevant views and the arguments in the course readings or in other readings that you believe are of importance. Usually in a critical discussion of a philosophical view it is not sufficient to merely summarize the view. Your attention should be focused on the author's development of the view--that is, on his/her arguments, in the broadest sense of the word. In most cases, an author will begin from statements that s/he expects the audience to agree with, and will use them to support conclusions that s/he expects to be more controversial. The argument need not be a purely deductive one, though it may be. In critically evaluating the author's view, you must reconstruct how the author reaches the conclusions s/he does and must evaluate whether the considerations that s/he takes to support her conclusions do in fact support them. 3. CARE IN CITATIONS. Make sure you accurately state the position of any author you discuss and always include page references for each quotation or attribution. 5. USE CARE IN INTERPRETING AN AUTHOR, PARTICULARLY SOMEONE YOU DISAGREE WITH. If on your interpretation of an author, the author either is inconsistent or has made an obvious error of reasoning, begin by assuming that you have misinterpreted the author. Reread the relevant passages carefully to see if you can put together a consistent position that is not obviously erroneous. If you cannot do so, make an appointment to talk to me so that I can make some suggestions. 6. CRITICAL EVALUATION. A purely expository paper is not acceptable in this course. Your exposition--even a critical exposition--of an author's views should NEVER take up more than half of your paper. At least half of your paper must be devoted to a critical evaluation of the views of the

authors you are discussing. A satisfactory critical evaluation will require you to raise objections to the views of the authors you are discussing and to critically discuss them. 7. WHENEVER YOU CRITICIZE AN AUTHOR'S ARGUMENT OR POSITION, BEGIN WITH INTERNAL CRITICISMS (IF YOU HAVE ANY) AND THEN PROCEED TO EXTERNAL CRITICISMS. An internal criticism is a criticism that uses only premises and evidence that the author accepts or is committed to accepting. An external criticism is a criticism that employs premises or evidence that the author is not committed to. External criticisms of an author are not complete unless you provide arguments for all premises or evidence that go beyond the premises or evidence that the the author you are criticizing accepts or is committed to accepting. 8. CONSIDER POSSIBLE RESPONSES TO YOUR OBJECTIONS. Whenever you offer an objection to an author's position, explicitly consider whether the author has said anything that might indicate how s/he would respond to the objection. If so, develop and evaluate the author's response. If not, you should take the author's side and formulate the best response that you can to the objection. If you cannot think of any good responses to the objection, make an appointment to talk to me so that I can make some suggestions. Your grade will be based not only on the quality of the objections you raise but also on the quality of the responses that you make to your objections. 9. REPLY TO THE RELEVANT RESPONSES. After you have formulated the best response(s) that you can to your objection(s) (8 above), reply to the response. 10. CONCLUSION. Conclude by summarizing the results of your argument and their significance for the relevant issues. 11. ALL PAPERS SHOULD BE TYPED OR PRINTED DOUBLE-SPACED. Although papers are evaluated chiefly on their philosophical merits, grammar, spelling, and diction will also be evaluated. You are expected to express your thoughts in clear, grammatical, English sentences. 12. AVOID PLAGIARISM. Whenever you turn in any assignment in this course, the understanding is that what you are turning in is your own original work, except to the extent that you explicitly credit others for their contributions. You have an obligation to avoid even the appearance of impropriety, by always attributing any argument or idea that you have borrowed, even if you have modified it, to its source. The source may be written or oral. For example, if an argument was suggested by a fellow student, include that information in a footnote.