(Paper concludes with a bibliography)
Sally’s focused revision (right) makes specific reference to a particular source , and uses a quote to introduce a point. Sally still injects her own opinion, but she is offering specific comments on complex issues, not bumper-sticker slogans and sweeping generalizations, such as those given on the left.
Back up your claims by quoting reputable sources . If you write”Recent research shows that…” or “Many scholars believe that…”, you are making a claim. You will have to back it up with authoritative evidence. This means that the body of your paper must include references to the specific page numbers where you got your outside information. (If your document is an online source that does not provide page numbers, ask your instructor what you should do. There might be a section title or paragraph number that you could cite, or you might print out the article and count the pages in your printout.)
Avoid using words like “always” or “never,” since all it takes is a single example to the contrary to disprove your claim. Likewise, be careful with words of causation and proof. For example, consider the claim that television causes violence in kids. The evidence might be that kids who commit crimes typically watch more television than kids who don’t. But… maybe the reason kids watch more television is that they’ve dropped out of school, and are unsupervised at home. An unsupervised kid might watch more television, and also commit more crimes — but that doesn’t mean that the television is the cause of those crimes.
You don’t need to cite common facts or observations, such as “a circle has 360 degrees” or “8-tracks and vinyl records are out of date,” but you would need to cite claims such as “circles have religious and philosophical significance in many cultures” or “the sales of 8-track tapes never approached those of vinyl records.”
If you use words like “in the book My Big Boring Academic Study , by Professor H. Pompous Windbag III, it says” or “the following quote by a government study shows that…” you are wasting words that would be better spent developing your ideas.
In the book Gramophone, Film, Typewriter , by Fredrich A. Kittler, it talks about writing and gender, and says on page 186, “an omnipresent metaphor equated women with the white sheet of nature or virginity onto which a very male stylus could inscribe the glory of its authorship.” As you can see from this quote, all this would change when women started working as professional typists.
The “it talks about” and “As you can see from this quote” are weak attempts to engage with the ideas presented by Kittler. “In the book… it talks” is wordy and nonsensical (books don’t talk).
MLA style encourages you to expend fewer words introducing your sources , and more words developing your own ideas. MLA style involves just the author’s last name, a space ( not a comma), and then the page number. Leave the author’s full name and the the title of the source for the Works Cited list at the end of your paper. Using about the same space as the original, see how MLA style helps an author devote more words to developing the idea more fully:
Before the invention of the typewriter, “an omnipresent metaphor” among professional writers concerned “a very male stylus” writing upon the passive, feminized “white sheet of nature or virginity” (Kittler 186). By contrast, the word “typewriter” referred to the machine as well as the female typist who used it (183).
See “ Quotations: Integrating them in MLA-Style Papers. ”
It’s fairly normal to sit and stare at the computer screen for a while until you come up with a title, then pick your way through your topic, offering an extremely broad introduction (see glittering generalities , below)..
Hooray, you’ve finished your paper! Well, not quite…
See: Sally Slacker Writes a Paper , and Sally’s Professor Responds
Throughout the ages, mankind has found many uses for salt. Ancient tribes used it to preserve meat; around the world it adds flavor to food; the Bible uses it as a symbol of zest for life. Salt became such an important part of people’s diet that a way was needed to allow early nomads to carry salt with them on their perilous travels; such a device ideally also helped ancient gormandizers to distribute portions of the precious flavor enhancer onto their foods. Thus was born the salt shaker. (Some writers appear to believe that the introduction should provide a sort of cosmic overview; however, you are not required to stun and amaze your professors. Just do the assignment.) | |
Broad, sweeping statements (“In our society today” or “It is a growing problem that…”) may make a short paper seem grander and more substantial, but the flashy words won’t fool your instructor. In a similar vein, resist the urge to call the Great Depression the “saddest chapter in American history,” or T.S. Eliot “the most famous modern poet.” If your paper does not actually examine all chapters in American history, or all famous modern poets, such a vague claim adds nothing to your argument. |
Another factor that should be considered is the fact that in most cases, utilizing an excessive amount of words creates multiple negative outcomes. | |
Explanation | |
Wordiness stinks. | |
My phrasing is too informal, but you get the idea. | |
In the 1992 book, Cooking Disasters of the 20th Century, by Fred Smith, page 102 talks about why an important state dinner in England was ruined, resulting in a social calamity that caused the host to lose nearly all of his social status and prestige: “Lord Alfred’s infamous celebration in honor of the Treaty of Ulm was marred when an assistant chef failed to notice that the cheese was was spoiled. As a result, Alfred’s impending marriage to the Duchess of Eberdeen was called off.” This example demonstrates how small, seemingly unimportant details can have large effects. | |
Explanation | |
At Lord Alfred’s infamous Treaty of Ulm Banquet, a junior chef ruined the cheese, creating a scandal that also ruined Lord Alfred (Smith 102). | |
In high school, you may have been praised for If the Duchess of Eberdeen is important to the point you want to make, then by all means keep her in the story. | |
It is clear that… | |
This is a weak attempt at manipulating the reader into seeing structure that isn’t there. Just present the evidence and let the reader decide whether the argument is clear. | |
Some people may say… | |
Who are these people, what are their names, and why are they worth quoting in a college research paper? | |
In other words… | |
If your first try at making a point didn’t work out, cut it. Only keep the version that works. | |
I think… In my opinion… A quote that supports the opposing view would be… | |
This is “showing your work,” which is a good thing to do in math, but a distraction in writing. |
Key: Research Paper Topics
IMAGES
COMMENTS
Short-Term Paper: Financial instruments typically with original maturities of less than nine months. Short-term paper is typically issued at a discount and provides a low-risk investment ...
4. Write your abstract. Because the abstract is a summary of your entire paper, it's usually best to write it after you complete your first draft. Typically, an abstract is only 150-250 words, so focus on highlighting the key elements of your term paper like your thesis, main supporting evidence, and findings.
1 Developing ideas. The first step of writing a term paper is brainstorming to come up with potential topics and then selecting the best one. Sometimes your topics are assigned, but often you'll have to choose one yourself. In addition to picking a topic that you're personally interested in, try to settle on one that has sufficient depth.
Here's how to refine your work efficiently: Take a Break: Step back and return to your paper with a fresh perspective. Structure Check: Ensure your paper flows logically and transitions smoothly from the introduction to the conclusion. Clarity and Conciseness: Trim excess words for clarity and precision.
The easiest way to understand is this. If writing a paper about wind and solar, you would need at least three topic sentences - 1)Wind 2)Solar 3)Benefits of using wind and solar. Naturally, a term paper needs much more than just three, but you get the idea.
Composing the Essay. Download Article. 1. Create an outline for the short essay. Before you begin writing the essay, use an outline to plan out what you want to say in each of your paragraphs. Number your paragraphs 1-3 and jot down a phrase or sentence that sums up the major point you want to make in that paragraph.
The volume determines which approach you take to writing. For example, if your paper is short, you need to state your thoughts concisely and clearly, going straight to the point. If it is long, do not fill the pages with hot air, but try to do thorough research and look at the issue from different angles.
2. Gather Research on Your Topics. The foundation of a good term paper is research. Before you start writing your term paper, you need to do some preliminary research. Take your topics with you to the library or the Internet, and start gathering research on all of the topics you're interested in.
Overview of term paper. To start writing a term paper, you should first choose a topic that you are interested in that is related to the class. Then, do some pre-searching to identify preliminary sources that you could potentially use. Write a thesis statement addressing your topic that is arguable and provable.
Creating an outline for your term paper is an important step in the writing process. An outline will help you organize your thoughts and ensure that you stay on track. Your outline should include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You should also include a list of the sources you plan to use.
The Do's and Don'ts of Term Paper Writing. Do's: Don'ts: Write down every idea you have, even if there's no structure to them. Just record any phrases, tips, quotes or thoughts you come across. This is an outstanding way to collect a lot of material. Follow your outline, but don't be a slave to it.
Steps to compose a cover page: Centrally align the title of your paper in the middle of the page. Add your name, course name, and number below the title. Include your instructor's name and the date of submission at the bottom. You might be required to add more than these common elements if your professor asks you to.
Body Paragraphs. As a rule, in writing college term papers, one must write down several subheadings and headings to divide ideas and arguments into several (at least four) paragraphs. As done below, each body paragraph should contain one idea and a strong topic sentence. Heading 1: History of the argument and background.
Term Paper. Definition: Term paper is a type of academic writing assignment that is typically assigned to students at the end of a semester or term. It is usually a research-based paper that is meant to demonstrate the student's understanding of a particular topic, as well as their ability to analyze and synthesize information from various sources.. Term papers are usually longer than other ...
A term paper is an academic paper that can take the form of a report or research paper. Typically it is assigned at school, college, and university at the end of the term. The term paper has a great value in the final score for the subject. Every course typically has various requirements for writing a term paper.
A short essay is any type of essay condensed to its most important elements. There is no universal answer to what a short essay length is, but teachers generally assign short essays in the 250- to 750-word range, and occasionally up to 1,000 words. Just because the essays are short doesn't mean the subjects must be simple.
Sample Essays. The breadth of Georgetown's core curriculum means that students are required to write for a wide variety of academic disciplines. Below, we provide some student samples that exhibit the key features the most popular genres. When reading through these essays, we recommend paying attention to their . 1.
A term paper proposal outlines the structure of the future work that scholars must complete. Principally, practical writing recommendations provide crucial elements that support the research process included in an actual paper. In this case, term proposals aim to constrict a wide area of interest into a complicated or specific topic (Coreil, 2013).
Colleges with Short Essays. Brown University requires four short answer essays, ranging from 3 words to 100 words.; California Institute of Technology (CalTech) has three optional short essays with word limits between 50-150 words. Given how competitive Caltech is, researching some short answer essay examples is wise!
Key: Research Paper Topics. 1) Environmentalism in America (too general) Women's Contribution to the Modern Environmentalism in America, 1800-1950 (much better) 2) Immigration Trends in Wisconsin's Chippewa Valley. Probably okay for a research topic, since it focuses on a specific region.
The meaning of SHORT-TERM PAPER is a negotiable paper (such as a note or bill) that matures within a three to six months period.
Short-term paper, a dynamic category of fixed-income securities, plays a crucial role in providing quick and low-risk financing solutions for governments, corporations, and financial institutions. With original maturities under nine months, these instruments offer a viable alternative for funding normal operations.
Keep an Eye on the Paper Length - always stick to requirements. Decide whether you need to write a 5- or 10-paperwork. Check the number of words assigned and choose a sample that meets those requirements. Use More Resources - use as many sources to generate necessary information as possible.