Term Paper Structure

 

Through all my life I have faced one question repeatedly which is ‘How to structure term papers?’. This is the question I have experienced from asking to answering. I mean when I was a student I asked it and when I became a teacher, I answered it plenty of times. I know how students get panicky when they have picky teachers to submit their term papers. In such a desperate time, they only want to get a precise answer to their most concerned question of how to structure a term paper which can let them obtain marks and appreciation by the their teachers. So this article is here to help you overcoming the panic of structuring a term paper.

 

 

The term paper commonly consists of 8 to 10 pages or maximum 3500 word. Structure of a term paper becomes too easy as soon as you get precise and clear guidelines on term paper structure. Here you will find all the necessary steps which you need to understand about the structure of a term paper. The structure of your term paper should have the following sequence.

 

Title Page

 

There are different procedures of making a term paper title page just like bibliography such as MLA or APA. Here the description of MLA title page is given. MLA style needs double-spacing and it applies to the title page as well.

 

Write the title beginning each word with capital letter and center-align it. Then write your name, your course, your instructor’s name and then submission date.

 

Table of Contents

 

Here you have to list all the headings/sections and sub-headings/sub-sections with page numbers.

 

Introduction

 

In the introduction of your term paper, you are supposed to state the following points:

 

• A brief explanation of the problem
• Aim of your term paper
• What questions will be answered in the term paper
• A brief outline of current research
• Relevance of the term paper topic
• The research process

 

The introduction aims to make the reader familiar with the term paper topic and create interest in reading your term further. It gives hints to the reader about further content of your term paper.

 

Main Body

 

The main body of your term paper is the longest part of your term paper. It has sections and sub-sections. In every section, you need to state a main point, argument or appropriate information. Now you have to develop the argument logically in an intelligible way.

 

Use in-text citation properly if you have quoted some text from book, journal or any other source.

 

Your term paper’s main body should also have the following points:

• Interpretation of primary literature
• Methodological problems
• Current state of research
• Your viewpoint

 

Conclusion

 

In the conclusion of your term paper, state the problem you posed and explain the results you found from your research. You need to give a summary of the observations and interpretations. You should also explain the strengths and limitations of your research. Besides this, you can make suggestion for future work as well if you have any.

 

References / Bibliography

 

In the bibliography of your term paper, you have to list all the information sources in a required citation style.

 

Appendices

 

Appendices are the list of complete information of the survey forms, maps, graphs, figures, statistics, questioners, charts, etc. you used in your term paper. They are not included in actual word count of your term paper.