How to Write a Term Paper: Your Guide from A to Z

Your whole semester has been leading up to this: writing and submitting a term paper. This single assignment can take dozens upon dozens of hours to complete, and it’s probably the most complex piece of work you’ve ever done.

As anxiety-provoking and intimidating as it may be, writing a term paper is hardly rocket science once you know what to expect from it, of course. To help you manage your expectations and ace the assignment, we prepared this guide that covers everything from selecting the topic and outlining to formatting.

How to Write a Term Paper: Your Roadmap

Once you get your instructions, you’ll need to get prepared for writing the term paper. Keep in mind: when it comes to term papers, the writing process is a marathon, not a sprint. It involves:

• Doing a lot of research
• Selecting the topic (if required)
• Creating the outline
• Writing the first draft, from the abstract and introduction to the conclusion
• Revising and polishing it off
• Applying the required term paper format

We’ll break down every part of the term paper writing process below, so keep reading!

But First, What Is a Term Paper?

A term paper is a paper that instructors assign to college and university students closer to the end of the semester. It’s meant to demonstrate that you have a firm grasp of the core concepts you’ve explored in a specific class over the course of the semester. It also usually involves a lot of research on your part and spans 10 to 20 pages.

For instance, if you take a Sociology 101 class that covers foundational theories and concepts, the instructor may assign a term paper on structuralism or structure and agency. That said, some instructors may leave it up to students to select the topic for their paper.

As it’s lengthy and research-based, writing a term paper takes more time and effort than your typical essay, lab report, or case study. Beyond that, your final paper shouldn’t just list a bunch of sources on the topic. You need to show you can synthesize and analyze the source material, think critically about the topic, and provide solid argumentation for your point of view.

Ready to get started with your term paper? Keep reading to find out how to start your term paper, select the right topic, prepare the outline, and write the draft piece by piece.

How to Start a Term Paper

So, you received your assignment. Before you can get to term paper writing, however, you’ll need to do several things.

First, read the term paper’s guidelines multiple times. That includes the assignment you got from your instructor, as well as institution-wide standards you can usually find on your college’s or university’s website. These guidelines are crucial: they’ll define which term paper format you’ll use, how you’ll structure it, how many sources you’ll use, how long your paper will be, and more.

Once you’re clear on the requirements, you’ll need to:

• Settle on the topic. If you’re allowed free rein in choosing the topic, you’ll first need to find the one that piques your interest. We’ll break down how to do it below.
• Research and brainstorm. Dive deeper into the topic and do some high-level research to zero in on the point of view you’ll be defending in your term paper. Note relevant sources and ideas in a mindmap or a simple document.
• Identify your thesis. Term papers are all about defending a specific point of view. So, sum up your whole term paper in a sentence or two; that’ll be your thesis.
• Create an outline. To plan out your term paper, organize your thoughts, ideas, and sources in an outline; it’ll be your blueprint for the paper.
• Be prepared for the style requirements. Usually, you can leave most of the formatting for after you finish your draft. That said, you should still keep the style requirements in mind from the beginning. For example, if you don’t save the information you need for citations as you write, finding it will be tedious once you finish the draft.
• Start writing. As intimidating as it may be, don’t put off drafting a term paper. If you’re procrastinating because you’re scared it won’t be great right away, banish the perfectionist mindset. Your first draft won’t be perfect, and it shouldn’t be!

Need a hand with your term paper? MyPaperHelp has you covered. Our platform will connect you with term paper experts who’ll dive into your topic, settle on a compelling thesis, and defend it with an argument backed by reliable sources.

Choosing the Right Term Paper Topic

Having free rein in choosing a term paper topic can be both a blessing and a curse. Yes, it’s a great opportunity to dive deeper into the topic that already interests you. But you might end up paralyzed by the indecision.

So, before we break down how to write a term paper, let us give you several pointers on how to find the right topic:

• Consider the length requirement. Your topic should be specific enough to warrant a ten- to twenty-page paper. At the same time, it shouldn’t be too complicated; otherwise, you might be able to merely scratch the surface within the allowed word count.
• Check out available sources. Review your course notes and materials first. Identify the concepts or topics that interest you. Then, check out relevant academic sources in your library, scholarly databases, and online to ensure you’ll have enough source material to go on when writing the term paper.
• Make sure it’s manageable. The topic shouldn’t be so complex that you’ll be out of your depth writing a research paper. There’s no shame in leaning into the easier topics for term papers, provided you craft an effective argument for your thesis.
• Steer clear of mundane topics. You might be tempted to write another paper on nihilism in Nietzsche’s works, but it’s not exactly a fresh topic. Strive to find an unusual angle on the central concepts to write a term paper that’s interesting to read.
• Balance your interests and academic requirements. While your instructor probably set the scope for allowed topics, prioritize topics that genuinely interest you. At the same time, try to opt for topics that also speak to your academic goals and show your knowledge and skills in the best light possible.

Creating an Effective Term Paper Outline

So, you have a full grasp of your requirements, and you’ve defined your topic. There’s one more preparation step left: creating an outline.

Think of the outline as a blueprint for your term paper. It can halve the time you need for writing a term paper. Here’s what an effective term paper outline should include:

• Title page and abstract. While these two elements are usually a must in a term paper, you can make do with placeholders for them for now. Those placeholders are essentially a note to yourself that you should add those later.
• Introduction. Briefly describe the thesis statement you’ll be defending and the background information you’re planning to add to the term paper introduction.
• Main body. Based on your preliminary research, list the subsections you’ll include to defend your thesis. For each of them, write down the topic sentence and jot down the evidence you’ve already found or need to find later on.
• Results. Briefly sum up your term paper. It should reflect the key findings of your term paper.
• Discussion. Outline how you’ll interpret the results from the preceding section.
• Conclusion. Jot down how you’ll conclude the paper. Your conclusion will have to reinforce the thesis statement with the arguments and reasoning from the main body.

How to Write a Term Paper: Your Five-Step Guide

In some cases, you may need to submit a term paper proposal to your instructor before you can start working on it in earnest. This proposal provides justification for your choice of the topic and describes how you’ll approach it in your term paper.

Make sure you get the proposal approved before you invest your time and effort into working on the actual term paper. A good proposal is detailed and comprehensive enough to give your instructor a clear overview of your future term paper. If you struggle with it, you can always get our experts’ help, by the way.

1. Abstract

The abstract is a condensed summary of your term paper’s topic, thesis, and key points you’ll explore without references to external sources. It’s best to leave this part of writing a term paper for after you finish the rest of it.

Here’s how to write an abstract for your term paper:

• Stick to the required length. Your guidelines may specify the word count for the abstract, but it typically falls between 150 and 250 words. So, be concise.
• Focus on the highlights. An abstract is an overview of a term paper, so make sure it clearly communicates its thesis and key arguments. Don’t wax poetic or cite any sources in the abstract.
• Hook the reader. Before anyone reads your whole term paper, they’ll check out the abstract. So, its job is also to encourage the reader to check it out. Start the abstract with an interesting question or a surprising fact to achieve that result.
• Be clear. Just like in term paper writing, a good abstract communicates your term paper’s key points effectively and concisely.

2. Introduction

The introduction sets the expectations for the rest of your term paper and should be both concise and compelling. It’s best to start writing with the introduction, but chances are high that you’ll need to revise and tweak it after you finish the draft.

Here’s how to write a great introduction for your term paper:

• Capture the attention. Although a term paper remains a piece of academic writing, in most disciplines, you’re allowed to open it with a hook. The hook can be in the form of a rhetorical question, anecdote, or a surprising fact or statistic.
• Provide background information. Describe the context for the topic and define central concepts if necessary. Sum up existing research and explain why your topic is worth looking into.
• State your thesis. Describe the problem or question you’ll be focusing on in the term paper and the stance you’re taking on the matter. Make sure your thesis statement is unambiguous and concise.
• Offer a preview. Outline how you’ll approach the topic at hand and defend your thesis in one or two sentences. This will give your readers a clear idea of what they’ll find in the main body.

3. Main Body

With the introduction out of the way, you can now focus on the bulk of your term paper: its main body. It can consist of multiple subsections, each addressing a specific aspect of your topic or every argument one by one. Here are our professional writers’ tips on crafting a strong main body:

• Present your ideas in a logical order. You can group them chronologically or thematically. You can also dedicate one section to each aspect or argument of your thesis.
• Back up every claim. Your term paper can’t contain any unfounded claims or generalizations. So, find enough evidence for your arguments and ensure this evidence comes from reputable and reliable sources.
• Explore different angles. A term paper worth the top grade doesn’t stop at providing evidence to support the argument. It also addresses other points of view, refutes potential counterarguments, and acknowledges the limitations of the provided argumentation or evidence.
• Use examples where appropriate. Real-life examples from case studies or news articles can go a long way in demonstrating you have a good grasp of the term paper’s central concepts. They also help reinforce your argument.
• Don’t hesitate to ask questions. Questions in the text can make guiding the reader through your thinking and reasoning more engaging. So, use them as your topic sentences where appropriate. That said, turn to them sparingly to avoid overloading the text.

4. Conclusion

Any term paper example has to end with a powerful conclusion that wraps up your paper in a satisfying manner. Here’s what it should include:

• Restated thesis. Start your conclusion by restating the thesis, but don’t copy-paste it verbatim. Instead, rewrite it and reinforce it with the arguments you’ve laid out in the main body.
• Brief summary. Provide a short recap of the key points of your term paper. But be careful: you can’t introduce new findings, arguments, or sources in the conclusion!
• Significance. Highlight why your paper’s key finding matters for the discipline at large and how it may find its application outside of academia.
• Reflection (optional). If applicable and allowed, share how your understanding of the topic evolved as you were working on the term paper. This will further demonstrate your critical thinking and analytical skills.
• Closing statement. Finish your term paper with ideas for further research on the topic or describe how your paper’s findings will impact or predict real-world processes or events. You can also end your term paper with a call to action if your goal is to persuade the reader of your point of view.

5. Proofreading & Editing

As we mentioned before, your first draft won’t ever be impeccable. That’s why you should strive for perfection only when you revise your draft. Here’s how to do it like a pro:

• Leave it alone for a while. Don’t revise your draft immediately after you finish writing it. Instead, let it sit at least overnight and return to it with a fresh pair of eyes the next day.
• Check the structure and consistency. Make sure you’ve included all the required elements in its structure. Verify that your arguments and evidence are presented in a logical order. Watch out for inconsistencies, too.
• Edit for conciseness and clarity. Re-read your draft and delete unnecessary phrases, sentences, and paragraphs. Fix ambiguous or generalized phrasing.
• Proofread. You can run a term paper through proofreading tools like Grammarly, but that’s not a silver bullet. Weed out all grammar and punctuation mistakes and typos by re-reading the draft from start to finish.
• Check the references. Ensure all your claims are backed up by evidence and all citations are in place.
• Ask for a second opinion. Show your draft to fellow students or your instructor to get unbiased feedback on how you can improve it.
• Read your draft out loud. This time-tested trick will help you catch clunky phrases and sentences or inconsistencies in your reasoning.

How to Ace the Term Paper Format

There’s one simple rule to acing the formatting of your term paper: follow your instructor’s or institution’s guidelines to the letter. They’ll tell you whether to use the APA or MLA style, how to cite sources, and how to structure your paper.

If you’re in doubt, reach out to your instructor and ask them which style guide you should use for the term paper. You can also check out your college’s or university’s writing center page or visit it in person.

In general, however, you can expect to be required to use the APA style for social sciences and the MLA style for liberal arts and humanities. Certain fields have their own styles (e.g., IEEE for computer sciences, Bluebook for law).

At the end of the day, choosing the right term paper format isn’t just about getting a good grade. Good formatting makes the paper easier to read and navigate, which helps your readers focus on its contents.

Final Thoughts

Writing term papers is no breeze, but it’s not the end of the world, either. All you need to do is set aside enough time to work on it and create an effective outline. And if you run into a roadblock, remember that you can always get professional help in a matter of minutes!