How to use term paper outline template

If you’re fortunate enough to get hold of a template of an outline for a term paper, you may be wondering how to use it. Templates are not always as self-explanatory as they seem. Knowing the basics on how to navigate an outline template will put you in a better position to use it more efficiently and write an excellent term paper.

The title, purpose and main idea

Your title should be in a larger font than everything else, but try not to be too bombastic; stay as neat as possible.

Below the title you will see that the template displays a purpose for your term paper. This will depend on your term paper content, so decide if the term paper is for the persuasion of the reader to take a certain view, to report something journalistically, to research something and come to a concluded fact or to simply tell a story. Don’t make your purpose what you’re doing, but what you wish to achieve with what you’re doing.

The main idea should encompass your general opinion. It will relate to your purpose, but be more direct in its communication. For example, if your term paper purpose is to convince the reader that 9/11 was an inside job, then your main idea will read: ‘US government officials conspired against the American public by instigating the events of September 11th.’

The introduction and main body

Make your life easier by writing the main body before you write your introduction. This system has helped many students to write better understood introductions that are more coherent with the content. Your body should consist of plus/minus 150-word paragraphs, each one summarizing a point, question or thought. The more points you’re aiming to cover, the more paragraphs you will need to write.

Once this is done, use your content as a reference to write your introduction, which will be a short summary of what the body consists of. The introduction shouldn’t be longer than about 750 words, depending on what you want to encompass. Where relevant, also make sure that you add some stats to your introduction which will give the reader some background into the direction you’re taking with your term paper.

The conclusion and bibliography

The conclusion will state the results of all the facts you’ve stated. Make sure your conclusion affirms the main idea you put on your title page. Have a look at your purpose – have you achieved that purpose as you set out to do? If not, you need to work on your body content a little further. Keep working on your term paper until it’s perfect and until your point is brought across.

Bibliography: Get all the sources you worked from and list them properly at the end of your conclusion. Reference each one with a footmark on where you used the information, making sure you acknowledge every source you utilized.

Don’t look at your term paper outline template dauntingly. It just takes a bit of initiative and your own personal touch to make it a great paper.