Term Papers

There are some basic guidelines which need to be kept in mind while writing term papers. when searching for information on a topic, by planning a research strategy you can save time as well as avoid frustration.

1. Streamline your topic. Don’t make it too broad as this will lead to time constraints. On the other hand, if it is too narrow or obscure, it might be difficult to find relevant material. Try to identify the main concepts and keywords. Then build on this.

2. Consider the kind of information you will require. Keep a close check on the details and note what kind of material you are most likely to be in need of. If your paper revolves around historical, geographical, literary or technical data and statistics, get the data sources in place before you begin writing your paper.

3. Follow a step-by-step research strategy. This will keep you focused and help you develop your point of view.

        a. Create a general outline. Take the help of encyclopedias,              dictionaries or textbooks. This will provide you with a              background and the basic definitions and keywords.

        b. Find relevant books to help in your research. Books are easily              available and are comprehensive sources of information.              Look for books in the library catalogue or search by subject or              keywords.

        c. Look up journals. Journal articles have sharply focused              information on recent events, discoveries or research. If your              termpaper requires factual information, journals are the best              place to find them.

        d. Find a bibliography to the works you are using as your source              material. This will give you valuable information about other              books on the same or related topics.

        e. Search the internet. Use search engines and subject directories              to find relevant material. This saves a lot of time and you also              have an exhaustive library of information to choose from.

4. Evaluate your sources. Analyze your content thoroughly and check for loop holes. Corroborate and facts or dates you may be presenting in the paper. Keep in mind your target audience and the scope of your content.

5. Keep a detailed list of all your sources. It will be mandatory for you to provide this information in the footnotes and bibliography.

6. Finally, it is very important that you keep in mind the issue of plagiarism. Plagiarism is a kind of academic misconduct in which an individual submits as his/ her work something that originally belongs to another person. It is an offence punishable by law and be very careful not to copy the works of someone else. If you are using excerpts from any book, remember to acknowledge the author in your footnotes or bibliography.