A Term Paper about "What is a Term Paper" For National University

What is a Term Paper?

A term paper is a research paper written by students over an academic term, accounting for a large part of a grade. Term papers are generally intended to describe an event, a concept, or argue a point. A term paper is a written original work discussing a topic in detail, usually several typed pages in length and is often due at the end of a semester.

On the other hand, We can say that a term paper is an academic paper that could be published. Of course, this is not really to be expected, but it defines the format that term papers should emulate.

Academic writing has its objective in the increase of knowledge and the understanding of a particular phenomenon.

Academic writing should strive for objectivity, accuracy, clarity and veracity.

Academic papers have a specific format and the topic has to fit the format – you cannot write about Hamlet as such in a 15 page paper.

One of the most frequent problems of students is that they cannot think of a suitable topic – but finding a suitable topic may well be part of the assignment.

The topic for a term paper can be anything that may serve to increase the knowledge and understanding of a literary phenomenon, like a text, specific elements of a text, a theory, the process of reading, the act of understanding, the empirical reception, the sociology of writing or reading etc. (this list is not complete and the items are not ordered according to their significance).

At the core of the paper there should be an idea, and that idea should be yours.

Most often the idea is, in short, that some aspect you have noticed while reading the text (an important motif, a recurring element, a significant feature etc.) deserves particular attention because it contributes to the overall meaning of the text or favours a particular interpretation. This interpretation should be interesting and go beyond the very surface of the text – i.e. arguing that Lady de Winter in The Three Musketeers is beautiful and seductive and this explains why many men fall in love with her, is not very enlightening. However, explaining what exactly the animal imagery in the description of Alisaun in Chaucer’s “The Miller’s Tale” means in the medieval context and what concept of feminine beauty is revealed by it, does count as a very suitable topic.

The paper then consists of an analysis in which the chosen aspect is shown as being relevant, followed by an interpretation which argues what this relevant aspect contributes to the meaning of the text.

Interpretations are not true but they have to be plausible, i.e. they have to make sense as possible or even probable readings which take account of the text as a whole in relation to the chosen element. Readings which ignore most of the text to argue a detail are usually problematic and most often faulty.

Interpretations are not true, but they can be demonstrably wrong!!

Once you have found a topic you need to discuss it with the instructor or supervisor. This is necessary, because occasionally the topic is ultimately too difficult or for other reasons unsuitable – instructors once in a while have to save the students from eccentric ideas.

In the course of thinking about the topic and then of writing the paper you will have to take into account that other people have already worked on the text and maybe on your topic.

Working on well-known and in particular canonical older texts this can hardly be avoided because they usually have been well-researched, and it is not very likely that a student has a really new idea about Shakespeare or Chaucer. But this is no impediment to the work on your paper, because students may well have their own ideas about texts and then find out that, indeed, so had previous researchers. The secondary literature then serves as support for your theory or, and this is as important, as arguments that you have to discuss and possibly strive to invalidate. So you have to read secondary literature critically with the following questions in mind:

• is it relevant for my argument, 
• does it support me, 
• does it force me to change my mind, 
• does it support a reading that is compatible with mine, 
• does it offer a contradictory interpretation but nevertheless allow me to maintain my own idea and reading, 
• is it faulty or improbable so that I can try to falsify it.

In the sciences we find the claim that there is nothing like a failed experiment. No matter what the outcome, we can always learn something from it – occasionally that our concept was wrong or that the setup does not work as we intended it to.

In literary studies, if the secondary literature convinces you that your idea was not really valid, this is also a suitable result. However, it is usually not treated as a “failed” idea, but the idea is adapted so that it now is supported by the “new evidence”. This is also the reason why one usually writes the introduction last – or rather alters the introduction so that it fits the paper.

In the paper, each paragraph should be treated as a specific argument. It should begin with a kind of proposition and then elaborate on this proposition and/or offer the evidence that supports it.

Make sure that the arguments are coherent, but do not construct logical connections where they do not exist. In most papers, the words “thus”, therefore” “it follows”, “in consequence” “so” etc. are used at least sometimes in situations where there is no logical link – also known as non sequitur.

Avoid redundancy! Unless it is absolutely necessary, do not use the same quotation twice and do not present the same arguments repeatedly. Most papers are at least to some extent redundant and some are excessively so.

For all other information see the “Guidelines For Writing Seminar Papers”, a.k.a. “Style Sheet”.

Origin and clarity of the word

There is much overlap between the terms research paper and term paper. The phrase term paper was originally used to describe a written assignment (usually a research based paper) that was due at the end of the "term" - either a semester or quarter, depending on which unit of measure a school used. However, not all term papers involve academic research, and not all research papers are term papers.

 History

Term papers date back to the beginning of the 19th century when print could be reproduced cheaply and written texts of all types (reports, memoranda, specifications, and scholarly articles) could be easily produced and disseminated. Moulton and Holmes (2003) write that during the years from 1870 to 1900 "American education was transformed as writing became a method of discourse and research the hallmark of learning."

Russell (1991) writes that in the 1910s, "the research paper began to harden into its familiar form" adding that plagiarism and the sale of research papers both became a problem during this time.

Characterict’s  of an ideal term paper:

Having quality writing skills is of essence; actually one of the most celebrated gifts you can ever possess. For you to have presented the best term paper to your lecturer, you ought to develop the right attitude towards comprehension of the ideal grammatical basics.

Once you log onto EssayState.com, you are now in a position to get all the information you need to produce a superb term paper.

Consider the Essence of a Catchy Title

Have you ever considered the bad effects a boring title can have on your term paper? When you are on the computer looking at something like the latest books you should notice that you only click on the ones with an appealing title. For example books like Friends with Benefits, Think like a Man and Act like a lady, Accidentally on Purpose, and The marriage Proposal. All these books have very catchy titles that make you wonder what they are about.

Always ensure that it has a catchy title before you hand it in. The title is significant as it announces the paper’s exact content and characteristically serves as a corridor to the paper’s thesis.

What are the fundamental traits of a high-quality term paper?

1.     High quality grammar. You ought to understand that impeccable grammar is an imperative part of any term paper writing, be it academic or otherwise. As a writer, you should endeavor to make certain that your paper is presented in flawless grammar devoid of syntactic and semantic errors.

2.     Proper structure and format. Whenever you search EssayState.com using phrases like ‘good term paper’, or other related terms is looking for a paper in a particular format. Be it Harvard, APA, Chicago, MLA, among other formatting guidelines specified by your instructor, you should be ready and willing to handle the paper.

3.     Zero plagiarism policy. Without a shadow of doubt, EssayState.com has a severe policy on plagiarism; we actually treat it as a capital offence hence we always give original results when you make an order.

4.     Grammatical tools. Humor and anecdotes are some of the best tools our academic writers at EssayState.com utilize. Such jargons evoke emotions out of the lecturers and wouldn’t notice it when they are clicking the call to action button at the end of the writing or what the summary sections requests them to do.

5.     Lastly, term papers ought to always be typed, double-spaced on 8-1/2 x 11 paper on one side of the page only, and letter-quality print. Additionally, tables and figures ought to possess descriptive captions.

Objectives of Writing a Term Paper

Writing a well-researched and presented paper is a significant academic achievement in itself, but it should also have the objectives of being focused, consistent and original and to provide enough evidence to make your argument or theory convincing.

Originality

·         A research paper should present your own interpretation, evaluation or thinking about a subject. Although secondary sources, including other people's research, are invaluable resources, your main objective is to present that knowledge in an original way. For example, someone putting forward an argument in his thesis will use evidence from books and published research while approaching the subject from a fresh perspective.

Contribution to Learning

·         Post-graduate research papers in particular aim to make a contribution to knowledge and learning. Even if you cannot provide definite proof of your scientific hypothesis or literary theory, it might raise important new questions and provide a basis for future academic research. Someone who, for example, writes a research paper about a minor poet could present a convincing argument for the poems to be taken more seriously, based on a fresh analysis of the writer's work.

Clarity

• Presenting a consistent, readable, well-organized and comprehensive study is one of the main objectives of a research paper. To do this, it should state why you are conducting the research, the reasons you think it is important and the main objectives of your research. It should begin with an abstract overview of your work to enable your reader to immediately establish the rationale behind your work, your research methods, important questions raised and pertinent conclusions. Organize it into clearly divided subheadings that enable potential readers to study it selectively.

Results

• One of the most important objectives of your research paper is to get results, but these should also be presented clearly and logically. The paper should showcase your results and conclusions. Point your reader to results that are particularly relevant and illustrate with graphs and tables if appropriate. Good presentation makes your findings carry more weight and focuses on your most important achievement --- the fact that your research resulted in a significant and thought-provoking hypothesis or scientific breakthrough.

...................................... 01737731085