Instructors usually provide submission deadlines
for the term paper. Once you know
the deadline, you should set up a work schedule
so that you can meet it. This should
consist of the following interim
deadlines:
topic selection date
rough draft date
semifinal draft date
final draft date
Obviously, you will need adequate and
appropriate spacing between these four stages.
By getting right to work, you can proceed in a
systematic manner. You will also find your-
self under less pressure. Concentrate on the
quality of your work rather than only pro-
gressing toward its completion. If you delay
working on your term paper, you will eventu-
ally need a crash program to catch up. This
could impair the quality of your end product as
well as your other educational obligations,
which may then have to be neglected to meet
this commitment. The above schedule should
allow about one week between each of the
drafts so that you can have a fresh look at the
material before you move on to the next
stage. These time intervals should be included
in your overall work schedule.
Selecting a Topic
Your instructor will usually provide you with
general guidelines on dealing with the
term paper, including the general topic. The
choice of a specific topic may well be left
to you. The idea is to find a topic that will
be of strong interest. This is especially impor-
tant because it will serve to motivate you to
face up to the challenging task in a forceful
and positive manner.
If the instructor does not assign a specific
topic nor offer a list of topics from which
to choose, your initial approach should be to
look at your text and determine relevant
issues that fall into the general topic
category. The bibliography dealing with the topic
may provide some clues that are worth pursuing.
Some additional research involving
encyclopedias and/or current periodicals may
shed light on possible appropriate topics
that deserve consideration.
In selecting a topic, it is critical that you
avoid choosing one that is too broad and
thus cannot be readily covered, or, on the
other hand, selecting a topic that is too narrow
for you to find adequate source material to
meet the needs of the topic. Even after mak-
ing a topic decision, you need to be prepared
to be flexible in determining its ultimate
scope. As you proceed with organizing and
writing your first draft, you may decide to
enlarge or shorten the original desired
coverage. Your initial clue as to the possible need
to make any adjustment will come from the
review of the library index and periodical
index, which will provide insight as to the
amount of information that is available. You
must bear in mind the approximate length of the
term paper as prescribed by the course
instructor. Excessive length or brevity
relative to the guidelines set should be avoided.
Before you invest extensive effort, but after
you have formulated your term paper
topic, you should check its appropriateness
with your instructor. If you have selected
more than one topic, present them all to your
instructor, but indicate your preference. If
you have difficulty choosing a topic, but have
ideas that merit further discussion, arrange
to do so with your instructor. Your discussions
should be prearranged, by appointment,
so that you can receive the time and attention
you need. Avoid a spur-of-the moment
inquiry. Also avoid any arranged meeting that
you attend without any ideas to discuss.
Offering some ideas of your own will
demonstrate that you have given serious consider-
ation to selecting a topic. This may lead to an
exchange of ideas with your instructor that
can produce possible subjects for further
consideration. If you have no ideas to offer, you
will convey a negative impression that is
obviously not in your best interest.
Researching a Term Paper
Prepare an outline to serve as an
organizational guide. This guide will enhance the pre-
sentation of your thoughts in a clear,
organized, and concise manner.
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