Instructors provide term paper guidelines that dictate many aspects of the term paper, such as topic, argumentation style, documentation style, format, and number of research sources used. Each instructor has term paper preferences that are somewhat unique, so the student should carefully read the syllabus and any other instructional handout to find out what those preferences are.
Sometimes instructors will provide a specific term paper guideline set regarding topic choice. The student may have to choose a topic from a list or to ask the instructor for approval on an original topic. This limitation of topic choice often helps the student choose a workable, interesting term paper topic, because it provides the student with outside ideas that he or she may not otherwise have developed.
Term paper guidelines for argumentation style go hand in hand with those for topic choice. The instructor will define whether the student should produce an expository or research term paper, a thesis-driven persuasive paper, or a creative essay.
The department provides guidelines for documentation style through its selection of style manual. The style manual will inform the student whether to use parenthetical citations, footnotes, or endnotes, and how to organize properly the identifying information of each source.
Instructors will also inform students of their format preferences through a term paper guideline set. Often instructors prefer a specific font, margin width, and cover page style. If the instructor does not require a specific font, the student should make sure to choose a font that is legible.
Finally, term paper guidelines dictate the number of research sources the student must cite. The student should strive to read more research sources than necessary, because then he or she will be able to choose not to use substandard sources.
Instructors provide all these term paper guidelines within the syllabus or another instructional handout. The conscientious student strives to write a term paper consistent with the instructor's directions.
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