How to organize your science term paper
Term papers are often the largest percentage of a student’s grade, and preparing a successful term paper could mean the difference between passing and failing a class. Many students haven’t been adequately prepared by their prior instruction in how to organize and write such an ambitious paper. Science term papers can be especially intimidating, but they don’t have to be.
Science Term Paper Challenges
One of the things many students find to be overwhelming when it comes to organizing a science term paper is the stringent structure most instructors require for these pieces. However, it’s best to view this as an advantage rather than an obstacle. While you may be unfamiliar with the structure of a science paper, the fact that these term papers have such specific guidelines can actually make organizing them easier. Unlike literary term papers, the structure for a science course paper is typically very well defined and much less pressure is put on the student to create a good flow throughout the paper. Here, we’ll discuss some of the basic sections you’ll be expected to include.
- Title and Course Information
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Literature Review
- Your Research
- Discussion
- Conclusion
Your title page will include the title of your paper as well as information pertaining to your course, the school you attend, and your qualifications. While these cover pages may look complex when you’re inexperienced, most instructors will be extremely straightforward about what needs to be included .If you have problems, consider asking a tutor or fellow student for a template to use.
The abstract should come next, and includes up to two paragraphs explaining the paper’s contents. Abstracts are almost entirely focused on provide concise information, so once you’ve got the basics down, you’re finished with this part.
Your introduction should include your thesis as well as your motivation for choosing it, and what your study adds to the existing literature.
A literature review simply outlines some of the past work already done on your topic.
Present your thesis in detail, and support your arguments using the literature or original research, as required.
The discussion should show how your results influence the field you’ve chosen to study, and touch on the implications of your research.
Highlight your results, restate your thesis, and discuss some future research that might expand upon what you’ve already accomplished. Your conclusion should be brief and include no new evidence for your thesis arguments.