HELP! How do I write a term paper?

Characteristics of Good

Writing – Content Several FACTS or REASONS are discussed rather than only one being REPEATED.

FACTS and REASONS are fully explained using DETAILS and EXAMPLES.

Enough information is provided to COMPLETELY answer the question/main topic.

Characteristics of Good Writing –

FOCUS Information and details relate DIRECTLY to the TOPIC.

The question(s) brought up in the paper are EXPLAINED thoroughly.

Ideas are CLEARLY stated and EXPLAINED.

Characteristics of Good Writing –

ORGANIZATION Information is presented in a LOGICAL order

Each PARAGRAPH deals with ONE subject

INTRODUCTION and CONCLUSION are obvious

Characteristics of Good

Writing –STYLE Words are CAREFULLY chosen and not OVERUSED

Difference sentence STRUCTURES and LENGTHS are used

Language is PRECISE and DESCRIPTIVE

Characteristics of Good Writing –

CONVENTIONSSpelling, CAPITALIZATION, and punctuation are correct

Sentences are COMPLETE; no FRAGMENTS or RUN-ONS

Parts of speech as used correctly such as PRONOUN phrases, subject-VERB agreement, and consistent verb TENSE

Guidelines for Writing Your Term Paper

REMEMBER: Your paper must be written using APA format.

Please follow these guidelines closely in order to have a correctly formatted paper.

LengthYour paper must be at least 3-4 pages in length when spaced correctly.

Sources Your reference page must include at least 4 sources.

Remember: you MUST have a mix of sources like books, journals, magazines, databases, websites, etc.

Oh yeah..NO WIKIPEDIA!!

FontYour paper must be typed entirely in 12 point TIMES NEW ROMAN

Page Numbers Your paper must include page numbers on EVERY page starting with the TITLE page.

Title Page And your title page must include

the following 5 items:1. Manuscript page header2. Running head3. Title of your paper4. Your full name5. The full name of the school &

city it is in

Here’s a sample title page

Body of the Paper The first page of the

BODY must begin with the TITLE of your paper CENTERED on the first line of the page.

Every PAGE of the body of your paper MUST include a MANUSCRIPT PAGE HEADER (with page #)

Spacing Your pages must have ONE INCH margins on all sides.

Your entire paper must be DOUBLE SPACED, including the TITLE page and REFERENCE page

Your pages must be justified on the LEFT hand side unless something is specifically supposed to be centered. This means that on most of your pages the RIGHT hand side of the text will have a RAGGED edge.

Reference Page Your term paper must have a reference

page or it will not be accepted!

A reference page lists the sources you have used in your paper in ALPHABETICAL order.

On the first line of your reference page you must type REFERENCES and center it

Take a look at your sample page.

Characteristics of a Good Term Paper

1. Contains a clear, concrete thesis statement that argues the point you want to make

HINT: Try not to be VAGUE about your PURPOSE. Use SPECIFIC words to explain the INTENT of your paper.

Take a look at some examples.

Characteristics of a Good Term Paper

2. Has a strong topic sentence to begin each paragraph

HINT: When you write your thesis, think of the POINTS you want to make that will help PROVE your THESIS STATEMENT. Make these points the TOPIC SENTENCES of your MAIN paragraphs.

More COMPLICATED points should be broken down into MULTIPLE paragraphs.

Good topic sentences help you see if you’ve PROVEN your point.

They also help the reader FOLLOW your ARGUMENT.

Characteristics of a Good Term Paper

3. Uses textual evidence to back up all points.

HINT: Each point should have at least ONE piece of EVIDENCE and/or research to SUPPORT it.

Pretend you are trying to CONVINCE someone who DISAGREES with you.

Evidence can take the form of QUOTED or PARAPHRASED information, as well as EXAMPLES you thought up.

REMEMBER: When using direct quotes, don’t just put a quote in your paper all by itself!

NO QUOTE BOMBS!!! Instead, tie the quote directly to the point you are making…see examples.

Characteristics of a Good Term Paper

4. End each paragraph by tying evidence concretely to the topic sentence.

In other words, make sure that the END of the paragraph CONNECTS each point you are PROVING with the evidence that SUPPORTS it.

Helpful Hints A good PARAGRAPH is at least 3 or 5 sentences in length.

You may also want to use a GRAPHIC ORGANIZER such as a WEB to get you started when ORGANIZING your ideas and information. See me for ideas.

When you end a PARAGRAPH you must only hit enter ONE time. Then INDENT the next line to being your next paragraph.

(If you hit enter TWICE and you are already double-spacing, you will end up “double double-spacing,” and this is INCORRECT. It will make your paper look longer than it is, and you will LOSE points for length.)

Do not refer to HISTORICAL figures, musicians, authors, actors/actresses, etc. by their FIRST name alone. You are not their close and personal friend!

Do not use ABBREVIATIONS unless you are referring to something that can be represented by commonly known initials such as U.S.A. instead of UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

When using NUMBERS you should SPELL OUT any numbers below TEN and any numbers that are the FIRST word in a SENTENCE.

Do not use ITALICS, underlining, or QUOTES just to make something stand out. Only use these things when they are APPROPRIATE.

Your term paper must be written in THIRD PERSON. This means that you are talking about people you are not involved with. You are NOT talking about YOURSELF or the READER of your paper.

Also, DO NOT USE CONTRACTIONS! You need to make sure you spell out all words in your paragraphs unless the contraction is in a direct quote.

APA FormatYour Guide for the English 9 Term Paper

Parenthetical Notes

Your term paper will be made up primarily of information that you get from your PRINT or ELECTRONIC sources.

You must give CREDIT to those sources that gave you the information.

When you find a FACT in one of your sources that you want to use in your paper, you have THREE possible ways to include it:

1.General Knowledge 2.Quotes3.Paraphrasing/

Summarizing

Remember… Your paper must include at least 5 parenthetical notes. Your parenthetical notes should NOT all be from the SAME source or this will greatly LOWER your grade for “integration of sources.”