How to Ace Any Term Paper

So, you've got your term paper topic selected, but now you need to write it. (If you haven't selected your topic yet, read these tips.) No matter what your topic, the following tips will improve your grade considerably.

Substantive content (what you write) is most important in determining your grade, but presentation (how you write) matters too. After all, you're not being graded on what you learned while researching the paper, but on what your grader learns while reading it. Graders move very quickly when grading. Do the math: 100 term papers times 10-15 pages per paper adds up to 1000-1500 pages to grade. (Ugh!) Most graders skim quickly over poorly written passages. If you want to get credit for your ideas, you must present them clearly.

With that in mind, the tips below relate to presentation more than substance. By following these tips, you make it easier for your grader to understand your argument, which will raise your grade—I promise.

Use a Clear Structure

You learned in fifth grade how to write a five paragraph essay. It had an introductory paragraph that ended with a clear statement of your point (your thesis statement) and the three sub-points that lead to it. Then, it had one paragraph for each of the three sub-points; each began with a topic sentence reminding us of the sub-point and connecting it back to the thesis statement. Finally, you ended with a conclusion.

For a term paper, follow an analogous structure. You may have more than three sub-points, of course, and each section will be longer than a single paragraph. But just as in fifth grade, have an introductory section, then a series of sub-sections, followed by a conclusion that wraps everything up. Here come some specific tips:

  • Have a point that you want to make, and state it at the end of your first paragraph and again in your conclusion. Tie everything else you say back to this point. Typically, this "point" will be your response to whatever question your professor has asked you to address. Rarely do professors ask you merely to review previous knowledge; they usually want you to take a side and present a persuasive argument. Condense your argument into a single sentence—that's your point.
  • Use sections. Your point should have a handful of subpoints that lead to it. These are your sections. Start each one with a subheading. Begin and end each section with a smooth transition that ties what you are doing back to the main point.
  • Use coherent paragraphing. In fifth grade, each section was one paragraph long; in college, each section will have several paragraphs. It is impossible to follow what you are trying to say when each paragraph is over a page long. Keep paragraphs less than two-thirds of a page or so, max. Similarly, keep your sentence length under control. Present your argument in bite-sized chunks.

Use Persuasive Evidence

  • Use examples, facts, and anecdotes. Lots of them. Double check them for accuracy; there's lots of garbage on the Internet. Be sure to cite all sources appropriately using a recognized method. URLs are not complete citations. And use authoritative sources (reputable newspapers, pollsters, researchers, etc.), not Wikipedia. If you present a fact without giving its source, I ignore the "fact."
  • Use diverse sources. If most of your evidence comes from one or two sources, your argument will lack persuasive power.
  • Use interesting sources. If appropriate for your topic, talk to significant people to get quotations and examples. You won't be able to talk to a governor, president, or member of Congress. But you might be able to talk to a city council member, an official at a small non-profit or advocacy group, a state legislator, and so on. (But act professional—call as a concerned, informed citizen, not as a student writing a term paper.) You can also talk to normal people affected by the political issue you are writing about. This sort of anecdotal evidence makes your paper more fun to read. (But you will still need "hard" evidence, not just anecdotal stories.)
  • Use figures and tables to summarize data. Make them look clean and professional. (Graders love this.)

Write Clearly

  • Write correctly. A suprising number of college students write with horrendous grammar without even realizing it. Don't be one of them. Read through Strunk and White's short book, The Elements of Style, for a refresher on writing. Doing so will raise your paper grades in every class you take. (An old version of this book is available for free online .)
  • Write actively. Eliminate half (or two-thirds) of your "be" verbs (is, are, am, be). These weak verbs kill flow and impede comprehension. Find active verbs instead of relying exclusively on "be" verbs.
  • Proofread multiple times, especially if English is your second language.
  • Swap papers with a friend in class and give one another feedback.

What Not to Do

The quickest way to lower your grade is to turn in something riddled with spelling and grammar errors. It also looks silly if you use a stretched-out font (e.g. Courier) and expanded margins to make it look like you wrote more. This sort of paper sends an immediate signal to your grader that you don't care about the class. Unless your professor tells you otherwise, use Times New Roman, 12 pt, double spaced, with 1" margins all around.

Additional Tips for the High-Achievers

If your paper answers every question that the professor asked you to write about, and it is written coherently, expect a B or B+. After all, employers don't give people bonuses just for doing what is required, but for standing out. Neglecting part of the assignment or writing poorly will guarantee you a lower grade, but answering everything and writing well does not guarantee you better than a B+.

How do you get an A- or A? No paper will get an A- or A unless it is well written, but good writing is only necessary for a high grade, not sufficient. You also need to have cogent analysis. Some suggestions:

  • Put your topic in perspective by comparing it to a similar topic in a different context, or to a slightly different topic in the same context. (How you do this depends on your topic.) Don't drift too far from the assigned topic, however; keep the main focus on your primary topic, but put it in perspective.
  • Explain, don't just describe. Don't just write about who, what, where, when, and how; tell me why.

And the biggest tip: Come to office hours. Most professors and TAs are quite nice and would love to give everybody a well-deserved A. Professors do not proofread drafts (ask a friend to do that instead), but they do talk about outlines, ideas, and evidence.