How to begin writing your term paper
It is all too easy to sit in front of a blank piece of paper,
willing some words to materialize on the page. Unfortunately,
writing a term paper is not a process of alchemy, but one of
organization and hard slog. Of course, it helps if you are
interested in the topic you are writing about.
Everybody has
different methods for writing their term papers, and we say
if it works for you then keep on doing it. But for all the
people stuck staring at a blank page, here are a few tips:
- Find a place where you can concentrate – you need to work in a place with no distractions. If you are easily led astray by the people around you, maybe it's best to go to the library where other people are concentrating or move your computer into your grandmother's house.
- Brainstorm – if you already know about the topic, take some time out to write down as many ideas as you can without censoring yourself. If the subject is new to you, get a few books out of the library or search on the Internet, to get a general overview of your topic.
- Make an outline – it's best to know early on what direction you want to head in when beginning to write your essay. It may help to make a visual diagram of the way your paper will unfold, such as a flow chart.
- Organize a time schedule – rather than writing the whole essay in a dazed panic in a single night, it is best to start your paper as soon as your professor assigns it. That way you can plan a couple of hours a day of research and writing. Thinking about your paper over the course of a few days heightens your chances for a truly inspiring idea to blossom.
- Always keep your thesis statement in mind – you should be able to sum up what your essay is about in one sentence. If not, then your topic is too broad. Specific rather than general is best in an academic paper.
- Write a rough draft – a rough draft will incorporate all the ideas that you brainstormed and give you the chance to fine-tune the text and ideas over the next few days.
- Use topic sentences – when writing your paper, keep in mind that the first sentence of every paragraph should be a 'topic sentence' which introduces a new point. Every other sentence in the paragraph should relate to the topic sentence, either clarifying it or adding details.
- Write a clear introduction – your first few sentences should strongly present your thesis or argument. For example, does evidence you've examined support, expand, or refute some existing interpretation or does it present an entirely new one? Highlight the key points that appear in the body of your essay in the order they appear. This will help the reader to understand how your paper is organized and will familiarize them with your key points.
- Use evidence to back up your key points – all the key points you make in your paper should be illustrated by examples. This shows that you understand what you're talking about and proves that you have done extensive research.
- Get somebody to read over your work – sometimes when you've been working on an essay for a while you reach a stage where you lose sight of what works and what doesn't. Use all your charms to convince somebody appropriate to read over what you've written, such as your professor, tutor, or even a classmate. A fresh point of view is always helpful.
- Proofread your paper out loud – once you've revised your work you should read it out loud. Often when you read aloud you will discover where the paper loses its flow.
- Make sure your grammar and spelling is perfect – there's nothing more wasteful than losing marks for bad grammar and spelling. You can lose credibility through a carelessly written essay, even if you have the best ideas in the world. Don't let the little details lower your grade!
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