term paper writing assistance

term paper writing assistance

Effective Strategies for Term Paper Writing Assistance

1. Introduction

The introduction is an important part of your term paper. This section is like the opening act of a play. The stage sets, the props, and characters are introduced, and the story begins. In the same way, your introduction helps to set the scene for the document and work within it. This is where you let the reader know the topic of the piece, the purpose of the paper, and the limits of the work. It also lets the reader know what the paper is really about and just how they might go about reading it. From a third-party perspective, the section of the introduction is basically designed to ‘ease the reader into the paper’. By introducing the topic and giving an indication of where the paper will go, the reader is able to come to a better understanding and achieve an appreciation of the work. This is especially important if you are writing for a course. Your instructor uses the introduction as a space for her to critically evaluate the whole of the work. In the introduction, you are trying to inform the reader about the rationale behind the work, justifying why your work is an essential component of research in the field. This is best done by setting up a question, a problem, or a puzzle as the primary point of interest. You might then present the current debates, the main arguments, ideas, or models which are relevant or the existing literature which supports and critiques your work. The introduction is not the place to critically detail the main aims and objectives of the study, nor is it other half in length. Any limitations or problems in that particular field of research should be specified. The introduction is much more comprehensive, detailing the work almost section by section, but it still must engage the reader. Any predictions or inferences made should be highlighted and be of interest to the reader. This will serve to keep the reader in attention, and the predictions being made will hopefully give an insight into the study. The predictions can be presented at the start of the work or towards the end, after the background has been given. Any technical language or findings should be included in relevant scientific terms. This part of the introduction is not a comprehensive literature review. Only the most relevant literature will be included. The literature used should be up-to-date and relevant to the present study. Offering a small comment such as “findings are in line with current development in the field of research” serves to provide a focus for the reader and to make the grand scale of the work appear less intimidating. The reader then has a frame of reference against which the intricacies of the study can be appreciated. The introduction should be factored to envisage watching the work unfold; it is also the place to make a good first impression!

2. Understanding the Assignment

Understanding the assignment is crucial for every student and is a skill that is developed over time through practice and learning from mistakes. The first step is to carefully read and analyze the prompt. Try to understand what exactly is required – the topic, the length of the paper, the purpose of the paper (to inform or to argue), etc. It is a good technique to highlight and underline the important terms in the prompt. Next, discuss the prompt with your instructor. Most of the time, the instructors are more than willing to work through the difficulties with you. Consider rephrasing the assignment. This can help in breaking it down into smaller components and help to make sense of things. Try to utilize graphic organizers. A web, cluster diagrams, outline, chart or matrix would all be useful in this case. These tools will help to arrange the given tasks and to break down the main points. It also aids in seeing the big picture and the relationships between the points which in turn can lead to clear insight and better understanding of the task at hand. After following the above steps, in the end it should be clear what exactly the paper is about, what are the tasks to be carried out and the expected length of the paper. Also there should be a clearly defined vocabulary and a good command over the topic that is to be discussed. It would be evident that the work on the assignment has already started and well advanced when top quality resources and materials are obtained through research. Especially, putting all the information together on the computer not only presents another effective method to review and investigate, but also eases the connection and relation between the points and forms a good progress on assignment. The information and thoughts will be very organized and focused with meticulous internet. Knowing the purpose and the goals of the assignment also helps to understand the final product. One way to understand the objectives is to highlight all the action words such as “compare”, “contrast”, “analyze”, “define”, “describe”, “discuss” etc. Usually, the repetition of similar action words triggers attention and suggests a certain focus. When the expectations are stated and well understood, it is far easier to select an approach that will yield the kind of result as anticipated. It will lead to efficient use of time and better efforts as well. Last but not least, be mindful of the deadlines. It is very important to make a plan and to follow it accordingly. A work schedule should be made and incorporate short term, medium term and long term goals. In that way, productive activities can be arranged and a good deal of pressure, uncertainty and fear of the approaching deadline can be avoided. The fear has been singled out because it is the hesitation to start that is commonly seen, which is well known as procrastination. On top of this, if the deadlines can be met and the progress of work is tangible, the motivation will be more and stress will be less.

3. Research and Gathering Information

After you have read widely on the chosen topic, you will begin to inspect the topic. At this point, many students make a vital mistake: they start writing without conducting the vital research. It is a mistake to begin writing before you have gathered your research. If you write while you are still in the research stage, you will almost certainly end up writing a paper that lacks focus or unity. You may have started to write your research paper and realized that you bought notes or that your arguments are weak. This is a sign that you need to research more. Remember the research is flexible. The research is not set in stone. In order for you to be successful in your writing, your research must be relentless. Many literature teachers like to assign papers on different topics and on different works of literature. It is probable that you are going to have to keep wading through books, magazines, and the internet for the time being. It is also very probable that you will have to continually reexamine your research. This is the primary foot forward in any research and writing assignment.

4. Organizing and Structuring Your Paper

The most crucial part of writing a term paper is organizing. It does not matter how well you know the subject matter; if you do not know how to properly organize your term paper, you are going to end up with a poorly written paper. So you want to start off by having a well thought out and comprehensive outline of your term paper. It should consist of the major points that you will be discussing. These points are often considered as subtopics and the term paper will explain each one in separate paragraphs. This helps to make the term paper more fluid. It is very important that you produce a draft version of your term paper, and be sure to use that verb. Organization is a continuing process, not a one time thing. As you start actually writing, the stuff you have put down on paper will further help to make that paper properly organized. You may need to make some decisions of what should or should not be included in your term paper. Most importantly, don’t forget to properly reference and credit any work or ideas that you take from other sources. This is crucial. A good organization plan is of great importance when writing a term paper. It’s pretty easy to find information on selecting and using a writing style manual that fits your needs. Also a tutor can direct students to the best style manual specifically for ESL writers. The Internet is another great source that can be used by ESL students when looking for the right style manual. Some websites will even provide information on modern style manual updates. Students should focus on the subject and choose a style manual that is going to inform them of their best way of writing for their term paper.

5. Polishing and Finalizing Your Term Paper

When you finish the first draft, take a little break. Then you better start revising. First, check the organization. Take a look at the first draft. Have you followed your outline? Is each part of your paper in the right place? Now, about your draft: How is it written? Are sentences clear and easy to read? How about your diction? Have you used the best words to express your ideas? Next, consider your proofreading. Do you have spelling errors? Punctuation problems? Grammar or typing mistakes? You’re not alone if you find this part very tough. Proofreading and polishing a paper can be frustrating. However, there are strategies that can make it easier. Proofread for only one kind of problem at a time. For instance, look only for sentence structure the first time. Then look for punctuation the second time and so on. Read the paper out loud. What sounds awkward when you’re reading may be hard for others to understand from just reading it. Then, check for the most common errors first. For example, run-on sentences. And use proofreading aids to help you. Learn to identify and use the spell checking and grammar checking features. Besides, it could be very helpful to get a computerized grammar and spell check. When you finish, don’t forget to work on your last page (i.e., the works cited page or the endnotes). Look through for typing errors too. And don’t forget to number your pages. Use your word processor to add in the last name and page number to the top right of each page. Also, reread your last page. Did you write a conclusion? If not, don’t forget to create one. Finally, have someone else read your work. A new reader can give you a fresh perspective and help find mistakes that you’ve overlooked. By this time, you’ve been thinking through your paper for a good while. A second pair of eyes can catch any mistakes and help make that final draft appear polished.