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1. Home
2. Manual
3. Types of Papers
Term Paper: Step-by-Step Guide
for Getting an A+

Written by

Dr. Emily Norton

 3 August 2024
 6562 words
 30 min read

Students in higher learning institutions must submit their term papers at the
end of each semester. Fundamentally, these projects play a crucial role in
evaluating the learner’s knowledge of a specific subject. In this case,
scholars should engage in adequate preparation before writing a complete
document. Then, some of the essential steps include defining a topic, finding
credible sources, creating and revising a document’s outline, and drafting a
term work. Moreover, an outline of such work differs from that of other
essays since it must include subsections. Further on, writers must ensure all
the subtopics relate to a central thesis statement. Besides, each body
paragraph must contain a topic sentence, supportive proof, appropriate
descriptions, and a concluding and transitioning statement. In turn, its
conclusion must include a concise summary of the main points discussed in
its body. As a result, this guide is designed to help students to learn how to
write a correct term paper and achieve their academic goals successfully.

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What Is a Term Paper and Its Purpose

According to its definition, a term paper is a comprehensive research
assignment that students typically complete at the end of an academic year
to demonstrate their understanding and knowledge of a specific subject,
taking a significant portion of their grade. The main purpose of writing a term
paper is to assess and evaluate students’ skills to conduct independent
research, analyze primary and secondary data, organize their thoughts
coherently, support their arguments with evidence, and present their
findings in a structured format (Phillips, 2018). To achieve this objective,
learners must prepare such documents for them to succeed in their studies.
Moreover, such an assignment refers to serious study work that they need to
submit to their instructors at the end of a semester to pass their courses. On
the other hand, professors use these types of papers to track and evaluate
their students’ knowledge about their areas of expertise. Further on, the
process of organizing a term paper involves comprehensive research and
methodological writing skills and follows specific analytical and organized
structures (Coreil, 2013). Besides, good term papers have well-researched
evidence that supports significant claims. As such, learners in higher
educational institutions prepare such works when reflecting on their
knowledge in a specific study area. In turn, the length of a term paper can
vary significantly in terms of words and pages, depending on the course,
instructor, and academic level:
High School

 Words: 1,500 to 2,500 words

 Pages: 5 to 8 full pages
College (Undergraduate)

 Words: 3,000 to 5,000 words

 Pages: 10 to 15 full pages
University (Upper-Level Undergraduate)

 Words: 4,000 to 6,000 words

 Pages: 13 to 20 full pages
Master’s

 Words: 5,000 to 7,500 words

 Pages: 17 to 25 full pages
Ph.D.

 Words: 7,500 to 10,000 words

 Pages: 25 to 35 full pages
 Term Paper Format
Section Description

Title Page · Title of a written document

· Student’s name
· Course name and number
· Instructor’s name
· Date

Abstract · A brief paper’s summary (usually 150-250 words)

· Highlights the main objectives, methods, results, and conclusions

Table of Contents (optional) · List of headings and subheadings with corresponding page numbers

Introduction · Introduces the topic

· Provides background information
· States the research question or thesis
· Outlines its structure

Literature Review · Reviews existing knowledge and literature related to the topic
· Identifies gaps in the current knowledge

Methodology · Describes the research methods used

 Section Description

· Explains data collection and analysis procedures

Results · Presents the findings of the study

· Uses tables, graphs, and charts to illustrate data

Discussion · Interprets the results

· Discusses the implications of the findings
· Relates the results to the research question or thesis
· Addresses limitations of the study

Conclusion · Summarizes the main points

· Restates the thesis in light of the findings
· Suggests areas for limitations or future research

References · Lists all primary and secondary sources cited in a written document
· Follows a specific citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, Harvard, and other

Appendices (if necessary) · Includes additional materials, such as raw data, questionnaires, or detailed calculation

General formatting guidelines:

 Font: Times New Roman, 12-point
 Spacing: Double-spaced
 Margins: 1-inch margins on all sides
 Page Numbers: Top right corner, starting from the title page
 Headings and Subheadings: Use consistent formatting for headings and
subheadings

Possible Topics
Students in higher learning institutions may come across different topics for
writing their term projects. In practice, study themes vary from one subject
to another and require students to engage in detailed research (Phillips,
2018). Hence, possible topics that one may come across for writing their
documents are:

1. Influence of colors on mood and behavior .

2. Exploring the impact of telemedicine in patient-centered care .
3. Impacts of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance .
4. Is there a cancer epidemic due to industrial chemicals in the environment?
5. Should federal courts be bound by the “original intent” of the framers?
6. Do foreign investments threaten U.S. economic independence?
7. Should morality and human rights influence foreign trade policy?
8. Do rich nations have a responsibility to help developing countries?
9. Partnership benefits at state and federal institutions.
10.Same-sex adoption and access to reproductive technologies.
11.Partnership benefits at state and federal institutions.
 12.Execution of juveniles.
13.The lengthy appealing process for death row inmates.
14.The Constitutional question of “cruel and unusual punishment.”

Different topics have a broad scope. Basically, themes given above show
that students must carry out extensive research to provide a comprehensive
response. On the other hand, they can decide on the content they include in
their papers and give a comprehensive analysis of their subjects.

Step-by-Step Guide for Writing a Term Paper

Any student must prepare a final project to achieve desired grades and
complete a study course. In this case, a good term paper typically ranges
from 1,500 to 5,000 words of writing, depending on academic levels and
specific course requirements. Besides, adequate preparation allows scholars
to gather relevant evidence and draft their works effectively. To start a term
paper, students begin with a clear and engaging introduction that provides
background information on study topics assigned by their instructors, states
their research questions or thesis statements, and outlines corresponding
structures (Phillips, 2018). As a result, the necessary steps in writing a high-
quality report that one should take into consideration when organizing an
academic piece are:

Step 1: Preparation
Defining a Topic

Defining a specific subject for a project is the first and most crucial activity
that any writer must consider. Fundamentally, describing a specific issue
allows students to understand their course prompts and understand key
ideas required to complete final projects. For example, a term paper in
English literature is a comprehensive research assignment that involves
analyzing, interpreting, and discussing a specific literary work, author, or
theme, allowing instructions to evaluate students’ understanding and critical
evaluation of the subject at the end of a semester (Coreil, 2013). To write an
English term paper, students begin by selecting a relevant literary topic,
conduct thorough research and analysis, create an outline, state a clear
thesis statement, develop their arguments in structured sections, provide
textual evidence and citations, conclude with a summary of their findings,
and ensure to proofread and adhere to the required formatting guidelines. In
this case, one must understand the meaning of essential terms with their
context. Moreover, students should use resources, like a dictionary and
thesaurus, to obtain the necessary definitions. In turn, they may opt to seek
help from peers and lecturers when defining a topic for a research
assignment.
Preparing Ideas

Preparing ideas for any project leads to outstanding work. For example,
students can identify all the relevant ideas and points that need to be
covered before engaging in the actual writing process (Goodson, 2024).
Unfortunately, many learners fail to consider preparing thoughts as an
essential step when writing a term paper. As a result, they prepare low-
quality essays and achieve low grades. In turn, students need to redo their
projects to pass their classes. Hence, they should prepare initial ideas before
organizing a term report by using acceptable methods.

Brainstorming

Scholars should consider brainstorming as an acceptable method to prepare

ideas for a term paper. For example, brainstorming helps learners to come
up with fresh and new facts for their writing. In this case, students think of
the ideas that relate to their topics (Goodson, 2024). Moreover, the process
generates unique ideas that can make one’s work to stand out. Hence, some
ideas for brainstorming that one may use when preparing concepts and
thoughts are:

 Come up with bad ideas first – Learners should think about research
concepts related to their topics. In this case, successful students do not
consider raising positive thoughts during brainstorming. Instead, they need to
present both good and bad ideas concerning their subjects. On the other
hand, writers should not feel ‘stupid’ for raising bad ideas since the strategy
helps identify weaker and more robust ideas. Then, one should allow ideas to
flow during the brainstorming strategy. Besides, scholars should focus on
raising positive opinions after exhausting throwaway thoughts. Hence,
authors need to increase both bad and good ideas that relate to their topics
under analysis.
 Breaking and building ideas – One of the most effective strategies for
turning a few ideas into many is to break them down. Principally, learners
need to identify general writing themes that relate to a project and break
them into smaller details. In this case, the process helps authors to see if
some narrower ideas branch from their main themes. Alternatively, one may
combine different ideas to create a broader subtopic for a document. Hence,
writers need to break down more general concepts while combining narrow
ones.
 Play word games – Outstanding term projects contain original and unique
ideas. For example, word games are instrumental tools that prevent learners
from producing generic and unoriginal ideas. In this case, word games
motivate some out-of-box thinking. Moreover, “word storm” is an excellent
method for a student to generate related ideas. In turn, this method allows
authors to create thoughts naturally without overthinking.
 Creating a mood board – Learners should rely on writing methods that
motivate them to generate fresh and unique ideas related to a research
topic. For instance, combining imagery, color, and visual-spatial elements
 evokes emotions and feelings. and they spark fresh and new thoughts. In this
case, students manage to recall some concepts acquired during learning by
improving the overall paper’s quality.
 Doodling – Successful students spur creativity insights and increase
attention when generating essential ideas for a term report. Essentially,
doodling allows a learner to engage with visuals that spark new thoughts.
Furthermore, practical doodling approaches help authors to break out of the
traditional brainstorming approaches, and they rely on reading and talking. In
this case, learners should break visual objects into small objects or combine
unrelated items. Hence, these approaches motivate the brain to generate
unique ideas for supporting a central theme.
 Changing a physical environment – Ordinary motivation plays a crucial
role in the generation of new writing ideas. In this case, students should
change their physical environment to avoid boredom. Basically, enriched and
attractive environments affect how the human brain works and speed up how
one generates new ideas and thoughts. Therefore, a successful learner can
select the location for brainstorming effectively.

Reading

Reading is an appropriate method that students may consider when

generating ideas for term papers. For instance, reading is a traditional
method, and writers use it to raise arguments related to a specific topic
(Goodson, 2024). In this case, scholars must identify credible sources that
relate to a study topic and read them to understand an assigned subject
better before writing. This strategy plays a crucial in raising viable and
accurate ideas about the project’s topic. However, scholars can take the
necessary precautions since extensive reading is a tedious and monotonous
process.

Considering an Academic Audience

Different scholars read term papers for specific reasons. Basically, students
must consider the target audience as academic readers to ensure articles
meet their needs (Phillips, 2018). In most cases, scholars use the official
language when writing and expressing thoughts. Moreover, formal language
suits academic documents because it reveals professionalism and academic
excellence.

Step 2: Setting Up the Stage

Researching for Sources

Terms papers must contain credible evidence obtained from academic

sources. Essentially, scholars gather adequate evidence from different
reliable sources, like books, journal articles, financial and laboratory reports,
credible websites, and magazines (Hoogenboom & Manske, 2012). As a
ground writing rule, all sources must provide adequate and irrefutable
evidence to support the main arguments. In particular, one can find scholarly
sources published in the last ten years because they contain the latest
evidence and facts on issues under investigation. Hence, writers need to look
for credible sources to support their main arguments.

Making Notes

Taking notes is a crucial step when writing term papers. Principally, scholars
must read all the sources critically. In this case, the strategy allows one to
understand the major concepts and ideas that relate to a research topic.
Moreover, students should consider writing short notes to avoid unnecessary
misunderstanding of the main messages made by authors of credible
sources (Ecarnot et al., 2015). Then, successful scholars take notes and
revise them to ensure they obtain the most substantial evidence that
supports their research work. In turn, improving paper notes involves
breaking broader ideas into smaller ones and combining others to make
them stronger and more sensible. Therefore, students can take the
necessary points to support their central ideas.

Developing a Study Outline

Organizing thoughts plays a crucial role in preparing a quality document.

Essentially, one should combine research notes obtained from scholarly
sources and those gathered during brainstorming and put them into
developing a term paper’s outline (Phillips, 2018). In this case, a well-
organized outline helps writers to connect ideas. Moreover, this outline
should contain a study topic with the main thoughts and concepts needed to
be covered. Further on, clear outlines have smaller ideas that relate to the
main ones. In turn, the strategy allows one to see direct connections
between the main ideas and leads to an organized scholarly article. As a
result, students should follow the basic writing steps below to create a clear
outline:

1. Organize notes and relevant evidence into groups of related ideas.

2. Review a thesis statement to determine if it communicates the intended
message.
3. Define the main points to support a working thesis statement or research
hypothesis.
4. Include ideas and thoughts to strengthen the main points.
5. Match supportive ideas with relevant sources obtained through research.
6. Organize all the ideas to achieve a unique flow of information logically.
7. Identify if some of the points presented need additional research and where
thoughts require more development.
8. Revise points and ideas to enhance the overall quality of a paper.
Writing an Annotated Bibliography

Successful scholars prepare annotated bibliographies that contain relevant

and irrefutable research. Basically, each entry in an annotated bibliography
for a document must include citation information with writing a short
description and analysis (Coreil, 2013). In this case, scholars need to follow
accepted citation styles, depending on instructions given by professors.
Besides, an annotated bibliography must focus on a central topic of a term
report. Students must ensure all sources remain relevant to their study
topics. However, one should remember that typical annotated bibliography
requirements may vary depending on the topic and term paper’s
requirements. In turn, a useful annotated bibliography should help learners
to keep track of research readings and gain a sense of a literature review.
Hence, one needs to prepare a written annotated bibliography for a project
when conducting research.

Step 3: Starting a Term Paper

Organizing a First Draft

First drafts of term papers help one to organize ideas in a good flow.
Essentially, students should use their outlines and annotated bibliographies
to write the first draft of a document (Coreil, 2013). In this case, scholars
need to focus on presenting all the ideas in this draft. Further on, an
appropriate draft enables one to test an outline and elaborate theories to
support the central argument. As a result, good drafts resemble complete
term reports. Finally, good drafts must contain a title page, abstract or
executive summary, introduction, body, and conclusion with a reference
page.

Putting Everything Together

A scholar should put all the ideas together into a complete term paper. For
example, learners need to ensure a written document contains a logical flow
of ideas (Goodson, 2024). In this case, the strategy enables students to
identify some gaps in the presented concepts. Besides, putting everything
together helps authors to identify some points that require more
investigation.

Finding New Sources or Deleting Old Ones

Term papers must contain compelling ideas and arguments. For example,
learners need to review their drafts to determine if all sources provide
relevant and credible evidence (Hoogenboom & Manske, 2012). In practice,
scholars change some sources that offer weak arguments. Besides, writers
must remove previous scholarly sources with weak points of view or
irrelevant information to a study since a research hypothesis may be
changed during writing the first draft. Hence, one can change credible
sources where necessary.

Altering an Outline

Learners should change their outlines of term papers to make such pieces
more substantial and compelling. For instance, people must use their first
drafts and new scholarly sources to make relevant changes in a term
document’s outline (Coreil, 2013). Besides, the primary goal of this writing
strategy is to strengthen study arguments and improve their clarity.

Creating a Working Thesis

Compelling term papers must contain well-organized thesis statements by

considering research hypotheses and rationales. Fundamentally, scholars
develop a working thesis statement, which includes the claim and significant
points that scholars try to make (Gray, 2018). In this case, writers need to
create a sentence that explains their positions taken on topics in question
based on their hypotheses and rationales. Furthermore, lecturers evaluate all
the body paragraphs and how they relate to the thesis and research
question. In this case, one should use a revised outline, a written draft, and a
completed annotated bibliography to create the working hypothesis and
ensure it meets the necessary quality.

Step 4: Wrapping It Up
Revisions

Outstanding term papers contain minimal or no flaws. Essentially, learners

must revise their drafts to remove all the mistakes. For example, some
factors that one must consider are spelling and grammatical errors, various
writing technicalities, and idea flow (Goodson, 2024). In this case, revisions
play a significant role in improving the paper’s overall quality and ensuring
readers develop the motivation to evaluate all its sections. Hence, students
need to revise the first term project’s draft to remove unnecessary mistakes.

Editing

Editing is an important task, and it helps authors to make term papers

compelling. In particular, students focus on enhancing the readability and
relevance levels of research (Coreil, 2013). Hence, when writing a term
paper, one must consider:
  Scholars can change the order of words during the editing process. In this
case, the primary purpose of enhancing the term report’s euphony is to
improve the rhythm and other dynamics. As a result, students can replace
weak expressions to remove clichés and conversational writing style.
 Effective editing helps authors to enhance the brevity of statements and
claims made throughout a document. In turn, short and concise words sound
better than long or wordy statements.
 An effective editing process improves the honesty of claims made and
evidence presented throughout a study work. In this case, term projects must
include proven facts written in each paragraph. Moreover, one can specify
scholarly sources of any data used in supporting topic sentences.
 Good students edit their documents to improve the quality of their literacy
levels. On the other hand, one must proofread the work to remove
punctuation, spelling and syntax mistakes, and typos. Finally, this process
requires reading a whole term document several times to identify all writing
errors and correct them accordingly.

Topic Sentences

Every paragraph in the body of a term paper must begin with a topic
sentence. For example, learners ensure each section dwells on a single point
related to a central thesis statement (Goodson, 2024). Moreover, one needs
to reread a written work to ensure all paragraphs have the necessary
opening statements.

Concluding Sentences

Every paragraph of a term report must end with a concluding sentence. In

this case, students need to summarize all ideas covered in a paper’s body
section (Hoogenboom & Manske, 2012). Besides, last sentences of
paragraphs should include writing a summative claim, which brings all the
concepts and thoughts into a unique closure.

Transitions

All ideas presented in a term document must have a unique transitioning of

ideas. For example, writers should use the necessary phrases to transition
sentences and paragraphs (Goodson, 2024). In particular, the approach
improves the overall readability and flow of ideas in any paper. As a rule,
each paragraph’s last sentence must act as a transition to the next section.
Hence, readers need to find connections between all the paragraphs in a
written report.

Formatting

Any learning institution requires students to follow specific formatting rules.

In this case, learners must follow such guidelines when writing their term
papers (Coreil, 2013). As a result, marking rubrics are useful tools that each
learner needs to use to format their work.

Peer Reviewing

Peer review is an essential step in enhancing the term project’s quality.

Mainly, one should identify scholars who are familiar with a study subject to
read a written document. To achieve this objective, qualified scholars help
students to identify some mistakes that may undermine the paper’s
readability (Ecarnot et al., 2015). Besides, peers provide positive criticism,
and this process allows students to make the necessary changes to their
work.

Step 5: Writing a Final Draft

A term paper’s final draft must include all the changes made during
revisions, editing, formatting, and peer review. In this case, scholars focus on
submitting flawless documents that do not contain any forms of plagiarism
(Hoogenboom & Manske, 2012). Besides, the written final draft must capture
all the aspects covered during a research study with results, discussion,
recommendations, limitations, and information for further analysis or
investigation.

Basic Outline Template for a Term Paper

Cover Page with a Title

Abstract (150 words)

Table of Contents (if needed)

I. Introduction

A. Relevance of research

B. The purpose of a term paper or a discussed problem

C. Personal reaction to a study subject

D. Hypothesis and rationale

E. Short descriptions of methodology and key findings

F. Principal conclusions and thesis statement

II. Body
A. Literature Review (if needed)

 Topic sentence
 Evidence
 Explanation
 Concluding sentence and transition

B. Methodology

 Topic sentence
 Evidence
 Explanation
 Concluding sentence and transition

C. Results

 Topic sentence
 Evidence
 Explanation
 Concluding sentence and transition

D. Discussion

 Topic sentence
 Evidence
 Explanation
 Concluding sentence and transition

E. Recommendations and Limitations (if needed)

 Topic sentence
 Evidence
 Explanation
 Concluding sentence and transition

III. Conclusion

A. Summary of the main points

B. A strong response to a central thesis statement

C. A summative statement

Note: The presented structure for writing a term paper appears different
since it contains some sections of a research paper, which are useful for any
study, and includes various subheadings that relate to the main topic. Each
subheading may have several body paragraphs. However, each paragraph
must contain a topic sentence, a supporting example, and a relevant
explanation.
 Explanations for Key Aspects
Introduction

The introduction must state the primary purpose of a term project. Mainly,
scholars ensure the first part of the work acquaints readers with a problem
under discussion (Gray, 2018). Besides, one must include a compelling and
robust thesis statement in this section. As a rule, introduction paragraphs
should not take up a large part of an entire document. Hence, the
introduction section must provide an overview of the whole work in a
straightforward and precise writing manner. In turn, some examples of
sentence starters for beginning a term paper are:

 In recent years, the phenomenon of [topic] has gained notable attention due
to its impact on [field or society].
 This project explores the critical issue of [topic], aiming to understand its
implications for [specific group or area].
 The purpose of this examination is to investigate the underlying causes of
[issue] and propose potential solutions, such as [solutions].
 Understanding [topic] is crucial for [field] because it directly affects [specific
outcome or process].
 This research aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of [topic], focusing
on [specific aspect].
 This paper explores the historical context of [topic] and its relevance to
modern-day issues.
 Through a comprehensive review of [literature/field], this report seeks to
examine the complex relationship between [concept A] and [concept B].
 By exploring [topic], this analysis contributes to a deeper understanding of
[field or discipline].
 The evolution of [topic] over the past decade highlights the need for a
thorough investigation of [specific aspect].
 The purpose of this term project is to challenge the traditional understanding
of [topic] by presenting new insights and perspectives, such as [points].

Body

The term document’s body must have different headings and subheadings
that connect to the topic. In this case, scholars ensure the process of dividing
a document into different sections enhances the clarity of the message
(Ecarnot et al., 2015). Moreover, a suitable number of citations for a term
paper generally ranges from 10 to 20, depending on the length and depth of
the entire work, the topic’s complexity, and the specific requirements of the
course and instructor. Finally, the writing strategy should not distract readers
from appreciating the intended message.

Conclusion
The closing paragraph must restate the thesis statement included in the
introduction. Essentially, students sum up the ideas presented in all the body
paragraphs (Gray, 2018). Then, the most effective writing strategy that one
may use is to restate all the topic sentences. Finally, authors provide a
concluding statement, and it brings an entire study paper into a unique
closure.

How to Write a Proposal for a Term Paper

A term paper proposal outlines the structure of the future work that scholars
must complete. Principally, practical writing recommendations provide
crucial elements that support the research process included in an actual
paper. In this case, term proposals aim to constrict a wide area of interest
into a complicated or specific topic (Coreil, 2013). Moreover, writers define
the intention to discover a study issue and base their decision on the need to
make changes, improve the condition of the matter, or advance scholarly
knowledge in the specific area of interest. In turn, one needs to select
essential parts of writing a term project and put them together in a unified
format. Besides, one should briefly describe each section and tie key details
to a chosen topic. Hence, a good term paper proposal must include the
following parts:

 Title – Any documentmust have a concise and brief title, and it should
resemble that of an actual term paper.
 Objectives – All proposals state a key goal of a future project and include its
intended purpose on what it expects to achieve.
 Research question – An outstanding proposal must state study questions,
and scholars intend to answer them through adequate research.
 Thesis statement – Propositions include a clear thesis statement that
responds to the research question directly. In this case, a suitable thesis
should be factual, clear, and subjective. Besides, one must ensure a central
claim is a verifiable statement.
 Methodology – Proposal documents state actual methods used to gather
and evaluate the relevant data, including appropriate and proven methods to
conduct a research study.

Possible Writing Formats

Different educational institutions require learners to use writing formats
when preparing term papers. For example, the most common formatting
styles that one may come across include MLA 9, APA 7, Harvard, and
Chicago/Turabian. In turn, each of these formats has specific guidelines, and
they are.

APA 7
Term papers formatted in APA 7 must contain a title page, which includes
the relevant heading and identifies the student, date, and relevant
institution. In this case, each page must contain a header, which consists of a
shortened title of a term report and the specific page. However, the first
page should have the phrase “Running Head” preceding the shortened title.
In turn, in-text citations contain the author’s last name and publication date.

MLA 9

Projects formatted in MLA 9 do not require a cover page unless specified. In

particular, writers include a header, which contains surnames and page
numbers. Moreover, one must flush these writing details to the right margin
of the page. In turn, all in-text citations must have the author’s last name
and the exact page containing the evidence used.

Chicago/Turabian

Documents formatted in Chicago/Turabian must contain a title page, which

has the title and identifies the author. Basically, one must capitalize all the
letters in the heading. Moreover, page numbers begin on the second page
and appear on the top right side. In turn, in-text citations appear as
footnotes, which contain full bibliographic details of sources.

Harvard

Reports formatted in Harvard style must contain a title page, which includes
the title and other details identifying the student, professor or tutor, and the
relevant institution. In particular, one must write the title in capital letters.
Then, the paper’s header contains the title and page number. However, one
must flush these details to the right margin. As a result, in-text citations
include the author’s surname, publication date, and the page containing the
relevant evidence.

Term Paper Example

Research Topic: Is the “war on terror” a global civil war?
Abstract

Scholars develop different conceptions of the term “war on terror.” Basically,

some scholars argue that the United States uses the war on terror to control
the weaker nations. In this case, the current research examined whether the
war on terror is a civil war. Then, a review of relevant literature was an
effective method of gathering the necessary data. In turn, study results show
that the United States uses the war on terror to protect citizens’ rights, which
proves the alternative hypothesis to be a valid statement.
Keywords: War on terror, hypothesis, and review of literature
I. Introduction Sample

The term war on terror became standard after the extremist attacks of
September 11, 2001. Basically, President George W. Bush’s government
confirmed a global campaign that involved open and secret military actions,
new security lawmaking, and determinations to block extremism’s
sponsoring, among other factors. In this case, the movement rallied for
support from other countries, which willingly joined in the fight against
terrorism. Although most scholars argue that the war on terror is an
American strategy to control other countries, civil war theories prove
otherwise.

Hypotheses:
H0 – The United States uses the war on terror to control other countries.
H1 – The United States uses the war on terror to protect the rights of its
citizens.
II. Example of Body Paragraphs
A. Literature Review

Different theories of civil wars prove that persistent rebel groups that engage
in criminal activities. For example, some of the civil war philosophies include
motivation and feasibility, ideas of rebellion, organization of the uprising, and
evidence of the causes, among other factors (Kimbrough & Sheremeta,
2019). In turn, these theories prove that civil war results from the emergence
and persistence of a rebel army. Moreover, motivation and feasibility
theories argue that rebels with excessive power engage in terrorism. Hence,
persistent rebel groups engage in terrorism as a way of addressing their
interests.

B. Methodology

A review of relevant literature is a suitable method for gathering the

necessary data for the essay. According to Reale et al. (2017), a literature
review is an effective method for gathering information for research papers
in history and other social sciences. Therefore, reviewing scholarly sources
related to civil war and terrorism will contribute to gathering the necessary
data.

C. Results

Standard game theory shows that economic grievances lead to terrorism.

According to traditional game theory, economic dissimilarities in the
community motivate some people to engage in crime (Kimbrough &
Sheremeta, 2019). In this case, the less productive but healthy groups tend
to participate in violence against industrious but weak groups. Besides, such
conflict levels undermine fairness, equity, or coercion, depending on the
 analyst’s political standpoint. Hence, economic grievances motivate some
groups to engage in terrorism.

D. Discussion

Study findings show that the United States targets specific terror groups
since their predatory behavior in a country or region leads to adverse
economic and social outcomes. In this case, militant groups lead to
redistribution through violence when productive and weak agents engage in
defensive actions. Moreover, militant groups engage in activities that cause
other people to reiterate. In turn, research results from such activities
include reciprocated hatred that inflicts harm to innocent citizens. Hence, the
United States participates in peacekeeping missions that can lower the
negative impacts of such conflicts.

III. Conclusion Sample

Most scholars argue that the war on terror is an American strategy to control
other countries. In this case, different theories on civil wars prove that
terrorism results from grievances and economic interests of some specific
groups. Moreover, such activities destabilize the economic and social welfare
of ordinary citizens. Thus, citizens focus on such terror groups intending to
protect citizens of the affected countries.

List of References
Kimbrough, E. O., & Sheremeta, R. M. (2019). Theories of conflict and war. Journal
of Economic Behavior & Organization, 159, 384–387.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2019.02.007
Reale, E., Avramov, D., Canhial, K., Donovan, C., Flecha, R., Holm, P., Larkin, C.,
Lepori, B., Mosoni-Fried, J., Oliver, E., Primeri, E., Puigvert, L., Scharnhorst, A.,
Schubert, A., Soler, M., Soòs, S., Sordé, T., Travis, C., & Van Horik, R. (2017).
A literature review on evaluating the scientific, social, and political impact of
social sciences and humanities research. Research Evaluation, 27(4), 298–
308. https://doi.org/10.1093/reseval/rvx025
Term Paper Example & TemplateDownload PDF Doc

Comparison Table: Term Paper vs. Research

Paper vs. Essay
Aspect Term Paper Research Paper

Length Typically 1,500 to 5,000 words Varies between 500 to 10,000 words Generall

Purpose Demonstrates understanding and Explores and answers a specific research question or Presents
knowledge gained over a specific course hypothesis specific a
 Aspect Term Paper Research Paper

Research Requires extensive secondary research Requires primary and secondary research May req
research

Structure Title page, abstract, introduction, Title page, abstract, outline, introduction, literature Introduc
methodology, results, discussion, review, materials and methods, results, discussion, conclusio
conclusion, references recommendations, limitations, conclusion, references

Complexity Involves comprehensive analysis and Includes detailed analysis and covers original research Less com
synthesis of information developi

Duration Completed over the end of a semester Can last from several months to years Complet
frame, a
single wr

Depth of In-depth analysis and critical thinking Highly detailed analysis, may include original findings Focuses
Analysis or persp

Format Formal, follows academic writing, Formal, strict adherence to academic writing, Less form
formatting, and citation rules (e.g., APA, formatting, and citation rules academi
MLA, Chicago/Turabian, Harvard, and structure
others)

Scope Covers multiple aspects of a topic Can be broad or very specific Narrow f
topic or

References Extensive bibliography or reference list Extensive bibliography, includes both primary and Limited n
required secondary sources dependin
requirem

Audience Academic audience, mainly covering Academic audience, including scholars and Academi
instructors and peers researchers dependin

Key Remarks. The main differences between a term paper and an essay
are that the former involves in-depth research and analysis on an assigned
topic over a specific course, being longer and more detailed, while the latter
presents a focused argument or viewpoint on a particular subject, resulting
in a shorter and less comprehensive writing piece. Moreover, the main
differences between a term paper and a research paper are that the former
demonstrates a better understanding and knowledge gained after
completing a course, often summarizing existing research, while the latter
explores and answers a specific study question or hypothesis, usually
involving original research and detailed analysis. In turn, a term paper and a
thesis paper are not the same because the former is a comprehensive
writing assignment completed over a course to demonstrate a deep
understanding of a specific subject, while the latter is a lengthy, original
research project required for a graduate degree, solving an existing
knowledge gap and presenting new findings or insights through writing.

Common Mistakes
 Lack of an Accurate Thesis Statement: Failing to establish a clear,
concise thesis statement shows your lack of focus and direction in your term
paper.
 Poor Organization: A disorganized structure can make your arguments
hard to follow because you need to ensure your document has a logical flow
of ideas with clear headings and subheadings.
 Insufficient Research: Relying on too few sources or not incorporating
different perspectives can weaken your writing project since comprehensive
research is crucial.
 Ignoring Guidelines: Not following the assignment writing guidelines or the
specified format (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, Harvard, and others) can
result in losing marks.
 Weak Introduction and Conclusion: An ineffective introduction may fail to
engage readers, and a weak conclusion can leave your report feeling
incomplete.
 Plagiarism: Failing to properly cite sources or presenting others’ works as
your own can have serious academic consequences, and you must always
cite your sources correctly.
 Inconsistent Argumentation: Presenting contradictory arguments or
failing to support your claims with evidence can undermine your project’s
credibility.
 Grammatical and Spelling Errors: Poor grammar and spelling mistakes
can distract your readers and detract them from the quality of your work,
suggesting you need to proofread your writing carefully.
 Overuse of Quotations: Relying too heavily on direct quotes can make
your paper seem like you lack original analysis, and you need to paraphrase
sentences where possible and use quotes sparingly.
 Not Revising and Editing: Submitting your first draft without revising can
result in a document full of writing errors and weak arguments, and you must
always take some time to revise and improve your work.

Summing Up
Term projects refer to research assignments completed by learners toward
the end of educational semesters. The fastest way to write a term paper is to
start with a clear outline, conduct focused research, develop a strong thesis
statement, draft the work section by section without worrying about
perfection, and then revise and proofread for clarity and accuracy. In this
case, students must ensure their documents meet the necessary quality
since they track and evaluate one’s knowledge. Hence, when writing a term
paper, one should remember:
  Rely on comprehensive research and methodological writing skills.
 Include analytical and organized structures.
 Present well-researched evidence and support significant claims.
 Consider various paper formatting strategies as required by learning
institutions.

References
Coreil, C. (2013). Term papers and academic writing: Setting new parameters, for
undergraduates, graduate students; Self-study and use with a teacher.
Infinity Publishing.
Ecarnot, F., Seronde, M.-F., Chopard, R., Schiele, F., & Meneveau, N. (2015). Writing
a scientific article: A step-by-step guide for beginners. European Geriatric
Medicine, 6(6), 573–579. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurger.2015.08.005
Goodson, P. (2024). Becoming an academic writer: 50 exercises for paced,
productive, and powerful writing. Sage.
Gray, J. A. (2018). Introduction sections: Where are we going and why should I
care? AME Medical Journal, 3, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.21037/amj.2018.12.03
Hoogenboom, B. J., & Manske, R. C. (2012). How to write a scientific article. The
International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 7(6), 512–517.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3474301/
Phillips, R. (2018). Term papers: An informal guide. Independently Published.
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