Writing a Term Paper Outline

Without proper planning and organization, writing a term paper can be difficult and frustrating. A term paper outline is essential for organizing information and showing which steps to follow while writing.

College term papers are a necessary part of any student's life, and can't be avoided. There are a multitude of websites that offer custom term papers that students can purchase and pass off as their own. Although easy, ordering a term paper can land a student in heaps of trouble, especially since the essays are often plagiarized and can contain many mistakes. The same essays are usually reused, making it easy for teachers to check for plagiarizing. This error in judgment can result in a student being severely punished or even expelled from school.

It is possible to use other term papers online as sources, but they must always be cited. However, this should be avoided unless it's a well-known paper on the topic or contains information you can't find anywhere else. Otherwise you should use other published sources in books, periodicals or newspapers as sources.

By planning each step of your term paper, you can be sure to have an effective and interesting essay on any topic.

1. Choose a subject. Make sure it's relevant to the topic, and interesting to you and the reader.
2. Choose a thesis. The thesis is the core of your paper, and is at the end of the introduction. The thesis sentence is the main idea followed by the point you're trying to make. All of your information must support the thesis.
3. Research. Find material on your topic and take notes. Use a variety of sources and evidence to back up your paper. Always write down the source and footnote any quotes or specific case examples.
4. Make an outline. Organizing your information is extremely important before you start writing. You can draw a diagram or make a list of key points. Separate the information into different parts: the introduction, the body paragraphs, and the conclusion. Have one main idea for each body paragraph, followed by a few supporting points.
5. Write a rough draft. Using your outline, write a rough draft. When you've finished, read it once or twice for clarity and to make sure it flows smoothly from one idea to another. Rearrange any paragraphs you want to change. Make sure the paper states the thesis and that the supporting points in each paragraph are clear. Correct any spelling and grammatical errors, and double check that each source is cited.
6. Write or type the good copy.

Sources: www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/termpapr.html