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How to Write a Survey Paper: A Comprehensive Guide

A survey paper is a unique academic challenge that requires both a comprehensive analysis and clear presentation. It involves exploring existing research, summarizing and critiquing studies, and providing meaningful insights. This guide aims to help you navigate the process of writing a survey paper effectively, whether you are a student or a researcher in the academic field How to Write a Survey Paper: What You Need to Know about Writing a Great Paper .

Survey Paper Overview

Writing a survey paper involves more than just summarizing content; it requires a deep dive into existing literature, selecting relevant sources, and presenting a clear overview of the chosen topic. In this guide, you'll find valuable insights on how to structure your survey paper, dos and don'ts, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Key Elements of a Survey Paper

When writing a survey paper, it's essential to understand the key elements that contribute to its success. From the difference between a survey paper and a literature review to crafting an effective survey paper outline, each aspect plays a crucial role in producing a high-quality paper.

Difference Between Survey Paper and Literature Review

Understanding the distinction between a survey paper and a literature review is fundamental. While both involve reviewing existing literature, a survey paper typically provides a broader overview, highlighting key findings and trends in a specific field. It goes beyond summarizing individual studies to offer a comprehensive analysis.

Writing a Good Survey Paper

Crafting a survey paper can be challenging, especially when faced with topics that seem difficult to address. This section provides practical tips on overcoming obstacles and finding the right approach to writing a survey paper that stands out.

Finding it Difficult to Write a Survey Paper?

If you're struggling with your survey paper, you're not alone. Many students and researchers encounter challenges in the process. This guide offers insights into overcoming common difficulties and provides guidance on selecting the right topic, structuring your paper, and presenting a compelling analysis.

Survey Paper Dos and Don'ts

To ensure your survey paper is of the highest quality, it's essential to be aware of dos and don'ts. This section outlines key practices to follow and pitfalls to avoid, offering a roadmap for success in your survey paper writing journey.

Survey Paper Example Topics

Selecting the right topic is a crucial step in writing a survey paper. This section provides examples of survey paper topics across various fields, offering inspiration and guidance on choosing a subject that aligns with your interests and academic goals.

FAQs about Writing a Survey Paper

When embarking on the journey of writing a survey paper, questions may arise. This FAQ section addresses common queries, providing clarity on issues such as selecting sources, defining the research question, and structuring your paper effectively.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, writing a survey paper is a challenging yet rewarding task that requires careful planning and execution. By following the guidelines and tips outlined in this comprehensive guide, you'll be well-equipped to tackle the intricacies of crafting a successful survey paper.

Useful Resources:  https://inspirationfeed.com/how-to-write-better-essays-10-strategies-you-should-consider/

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How to write a survey paper: structure and tips for effective writing

Updated 25 Jul 2024

All students dream of an easier way to learn a subject. Writing a survey paper example can effectively synthesize and consolidate information, helping you master a topic. It’s a valuable skill for anyone involved in academic research. This article will guide you through the essential steps of crafting an effective review. From understanding its purpose and structure to gathering and synthesizing information, you will learn how to write a survey paper and present a comprehensive overview of existing studies on a specific topic. You’ll be equipped with the tools to produce a well-organized and insightful text highlighting key findings and gaps in the literature.

What is a survey?

This is a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge and research on a particular topic. Unlike a sociology research paper and other original academic papers that present new findings, this writing summarizes and synthesizes existing studies, emphasizing significant developments, trends, and gaps in the literature. Its primary goal is to deliver readers a lucid explanation of the state of the art in a specific field. 

Where is it used?

Also known as review papers, paper survey examples are commonly used in academic and professional contexts where a broad topic overview is needed. They are prevalent in:

• Academic journals: Researchers publish review articles in scholarly journals to explain the current academic landscape, often to introduce a special issue on a particular subject.
• Theses and dissertations: Graduate students frequently use this writing the same way as a precis paper as part of their thesis or dissertation work to demonstrate their understanding of the existing literature.
• Conference proceedings: Papers based on good survey topics are presented at conferences to summarize current exploration directions and trends, creating a foundation for discussions and further study.
• Grant proposals: Researchers include them in grant applications to justify the need for their proposed exploration by highlighting gaps and unresolved issues in the existing science literature.

When do you need it?

• Project beginning: Researchers turn to this genre to gather and summarize existing knowledge, which helps identify gaps and formulate research questions.
• Curriculum development: Educators use review papers to develop course materials that give students a comprehensive understanding of a subject.
• Policymaking: Policymakers rely on a survey introduction example to gain insights into current research trends and evidence, which inform decision-making processes.
• Professional development: Professionals use papers on technology research topics to stay updated on the latest developments and advancements in their field.

Survey paper format and structure

To ensure adherence to academic standards, format your writing as follows. Use Times New Roman, 12-point font, and double-space the text. Set 1-inch margins on all sides for a professional look. Format headings and subheadings clearly and consistently. Include page numbers in the upper right corner. Follow the chosen citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, or Chicago) for in-text citations. Label and number all tables and figures, placing them in the appropriate sections and referring to them within the text.

Below is a general guideline on how to format a survey and structure it:

Your survey title examples should be clear and concise, reflecting the main topic to convey the paper’s focus quickly. This page should include the name(s) of the author(s), institutional affiliation(s), date of submission, and contact details.

How to introduce a survey? Complete the abstract (typically 150-250 words) with a summary of the objectives, scope, key findings, and conclusions, offering a snapshot of the research. List 3-5 keywords that represent the main topic.

Introduction

In your research survey introduction example, provide the background, significance, objectives, and an outline of the document to set the context, explain its importance, and guide the reader. 

Literature review

This section summarizes and evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of existing studies and discloses patterns, trends, and gaps, establishing a foundation and context.

Methodologies and approaches

This section is the same as you use in a communication paper. It describes, compares, and critiques study approaches, informing readers about various methods and assessing their effectiveness. 

Key terms and definitions

This section explains key terms and concepts used in research to ensure a clear understanding of the terminology.

Recent trends and developments

This section offers an overview of the latest exploration and emerging trends, describing the current state of the art and highlighting new directions.

It synthesizes the reviewed literature and trends, analyzes findings and implications, and identifies science areas requiring further exploration. 

In this part, summarize the main points and findings, significance, and recommendations to wrap up the text and suggest future research directions.

This is a complete list of cited sources in the proper format, crediting original authors and offering further reading resources.

Follow these guidelines to ensure your survey paper template is well-organized, clearly written, and academically rigorous. Always check for any specific requirements provided by your instructor, institution, or the journal to which you submit the text.

How to write a survey: step-by-step guide

An overview involves a systematic approach that ensures the final document is comprehensive, well-structured, and insightful. Below is an extended step-by-step guide to help you craft a thorough paper:

Step 1. Select a topic.

Choose a topic relevant to your study area with ample existing research. Ensure your survey topic examples are specific enough to be manageable but broad enough to cover significant exploration.

Step 2. Define the scope.

Clearly outline the scope of your work. This task will be easy if you know the answer to “ What is a term paper ”. Specify the aspects of the topic you will focus on to maintain clarity and focus throughout your document.

Step 3. Conduct a preliminary literature review.

Begin by reviewing the available literature to gain a general understanding of your topic's current state of research. Identify key studies, influential papers, and major findings to inform your subsequent detailed review.

Step 4. Formulate a research question.

To understand how to write a survey introduction, you should develop a clear and concise research question or thesis statement that will guide your work. Ensure your question is specific, focused, and researchable.

Step 5. Gather and organize relevant sources.

Collect literature directly addressing your research question using academic databases, journals, books, and credible online sources. Categorize it into themes, methodologies, or chronological order.

Step 6. Analyze and critique the literature.

Critically evaluate the studies, identifying their strengths, weaknesses, and contributions to the field. Look for patterns, trends, gaps, and areas of consensus or controversy in the existing study.

Step 7. Create an outline and conduct your research.

Develop a detailed outline for your work to guide your writing process. Create a document containing an introduction to a survey, body paragraphs with methodologies, key findings, and discussion, and finalize with a conclusion.

Step 8. Edit and proofread.

Review your paper for clarity, coherence, and consistency. Check for grammatical errors, proper citation, and adherence to formatting guidelines. Revise for improved quality and readability. Proofread the final draft to eliminate the mistakes. Seek feedback from peers or mentors for a polished, high-quality paper.

Step 9. Check formatting and presentation.

Ensure your document follows the provided formatting guidelines. Pay attention to font, margins, spacing, and heading styles. Correctly label and reference tables, figures, and appendices.

Step 10. Review and submit.

Conduct a final review for any errors or inconsistencies. Ensure logical flow and integration of all sections. Submit your text according to the given submission guidelines.

How to make your research stand out?

Creating a paper survey template can significantly advance your understanding of a topic, but to truly excel, there are a few essential recommendations to keep in mind. Let’s see how to write a survey paper to ensure your text stands out.

Understand your topic.

Begin by thoroughly understanding the topic. If any part of the question is unclear, seek clarification from your instructor. A solid grasp of the topic's basics will help identify key points of your exploration.

Select relevant literature.

Stay focused on your survey topics ideas by selecting sources that directly address them. Avoid hoarding unrelated sources and systematically review and filter appropriate studies.

Construct a concise research question.

Even if you prefer controversial research topics, keep your thesis statement short and clear to guide your paper’s direction and help you stay focused. This way, it will be easier for you to select relevant literature and avoid unnecessary information.

Use your library.

A preliminary investigation is crucial. Start with your college library, which offers a wealth of resources like encyclopedias and introductory texts to help outline your topic. Use these references to delve deeper into specific academic texts, enhancing your study outcomes.

Prioritize different up-to-date sources.

Base your work on current literature, ideally published within the last 5 years, and ensure you have more than 10 relevant sources. This balance maintains the relevance and depth of your exploration.

Use reputable sources.

One of the key secrets of how to write a good survey is to choose peer-reviewed and recognized sources in your field. Quality trumps quantity, so focus on highly regarded publications.

Use a logical sequence.

Be sure you understand how to structure a paragraph and that each element of your work ties into the research question and overall objective. This requires revising, editing, and proofreading your work multiple times. 

Follow an appropriate format.

When learning how to write a survey report, remember to follow academic guidelines and use a standard format, including suitable headings, spacing, font, margins, and referencing style. Adhering to word limits and maintaining concise wording is also crucial.

With these tips, you can produce high-quality, well-organized reviews that effectively communicate your study outcomes. If you need professional assistance, do not hesitate to contact our research paper writing service . Our dedicated experts are ready to help complete your work, provide valuable recommendations, and edit and proofread your work.

Final thoughts

Writing surveys is a crucial academic skill that allows you to synthesize existing research and present a comprehensive overview of a specific topic. Following the steps outlined in this article, you can produce well-structured and compelling writing that highlights key findings, identifies gaps in the literature, and provides a clear direction for future exploration. From understanding the purpose and scope of your research to organizing your findings and refining your writing, each step is essential to creating a high-quality text.

However, the process can be challenging and time-consuming. If you need additional assistance, EduBirdie is here to help. We offer expert guidance and support for every aspect of survey writing, from conducting thorough research and organizing your paper to editing and proofreading. With our help, you can ensure your survey study example meets the highest academic standards and effectively communicates your findings.

Whether you are just starting your research or need help polishing your final draft, EduBirdie's professional services can make a significant difference in the quality of your work. Don’t hesitate to seek the support you need to excel in your academic endeavors.

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Written by Mary O. Spears

Mary O. Spears is a dedicated writer specializing in crafting insightful guides on essay and paper writing. With a profound understanding of academic standards and a talent for demystifying complex topics, Mary offers invaluable guidance to students aiming for academic excellence. Outside of her professional work, Mary is passionate about cooking and eating healthy, bringing creativity and balance to both her culinary and writing endeavors.

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How to Write a Survey Paper: A stepwise Guide with Examples

How to Write a Survey Paper

Some of you may be wondering what a survey paper is. A survey paper contains the interpretation that has been drawn by the author after they have reviewed and analyzed various research papers that are centered on a specific topic. Those research papers should be already published.

Now that we have understood what a survey paper is, let us explore the various steps that have to be taken when coming up with a survey paper. As noted, a survey paper lists and analyzes the most recent research work in a particular area of study.

To write a good survey paper, you need to research the representative papers, come up with a title, a good abstract, and writing the introduction, the body, and conclusions that reflect the findings as well as the challenges of the study.

To do this, there is a challenge of research. As such, the first challenge is to find the most recent and appropriate research papers for the topic. The 9 steps below should be followed when writing a survey paper.

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Step 1: selecting the representative papers.

The first step when writing a survey paper is selecting the most relevant representative papers that are within the scope of your research and summarizing them effectively. As you will note, there can be a lot of research papers, and the space required to create a survey paper is limited.

During such, it can be challenging when trying to pick the key work within the scope of your study.

As an author of the survey paper, you will have to read the research papers’ abstracts and conclusions and pick the subset that captures your area of study.

To ensure that the selected research papers are appropriate or relevant, they should be recent, contain more citations, and be published in journals with a high reputation.

The research papers should not be less than 10.

Step 2: Coming up with an Appropriate Title

The second step is coming up with a captivating title that provides a clear summary of your paper’s contents. As such, the title should be clear and brief. To achieve this, the title should utilize active verbs rather than complex phrases that are based on nouns. 

A good title of your survey paper should contain between 10 and 12 words because a title with more words will divert the attention of the readers from the central point.

A longer title will also appear unfocused. Therefore, the title should have the keywords of your survey paper in such a way that it defines the study’s nature. 

Step 3: Creating an Abstract

Another important step to be taken when writing a survey paper is to create an abstract. The abstract acts as a summary of your survey paper.

It should provide a summary of the problem that has been investigated, the methods used, the results of the study, and the conclusion.

Abstracts summarize the most important contents of your survey paper in a single paragraph of between 200 and 300 words.

When creating an abstract, make sure that it contains or highlights the key points while convincing the readers or the target audience to continue reading the whole survey paper. Should always include an abstract in your survey paper.

Step 4: Listing Key Terms

While the keywords help the target audience or other researchers understand the field of the survey paper, the subfield, research issue, the topic, and so on, the main purpose of this section is to help readers or researchers locate your paper when they are doing searches on the topic.

Most of the databases, electronic search engines such as Google, and journal websites will utilize keywords when deciding whether to display the survey paper to interested readers and when this should be done.

With the proper keywords, your survey paper will be more searchable and it will be cited by more researchers because it can be easily located. 

Step 5: Writing the Introduction

The next step when writing a survey paper is to include a good introduction.

A good introduction paragraph will explain to the target readers how the research problem has been tackled by the research papers that you have included in your paper.

The introduction should arouse the readers’ interest in knowing more about the topic and the research domain. If they are interested, they will continue reading your survey paper.

Unlike the abstract, the introduction within a survey paper does not contain a very strict word limit. However, it should be concise because it introduces the paper’s topic, provides a broader context of the study, and gradually narrows the scope down to the research problem. 

Therefore, make sure that your introduction sets a scene and contextualizes your paper. It can begin with a historical narrative bringing the narrative to the present day and ending with a research question. Ensure that the very last sentence of your introduction is the thesis statement. 

Step 6: Providing the Approaches Used in the Survey Paper

This is a very important step in any survey paper. This is where you are required to provide the methodologies used to conduct your research or survey in a logical order.

You are required to logically move from one method to the next as you clearly define each approach at the beginning of every section.

To ensure that your readers are at par with you, you should share the motivation behind each methodology. This is achieved by giving a high-level summary of every approach and then narrowing it down to the specific approaches.

You should also demonstrate the applicability and the practicability of every approach used in the research, and the areas that need to be improved. You should graphically visualize at least one method used. 

Step 7: Writing About the Paper Surveys

This step should take the bulk of your survey paper because it is the point where you survey the papers you have selected. Here, you should decide what you are going to inform your readers about each research paper.

Therefore, it is important to first read the research papers in a manner that you can know what to inform your readers about them.

For each research paper, make sure that you tell your readers about their research direction. Also, ensure that you identify the algorithms or mathematical techniques the research papers rely on and whether they are application or theory papers. 

You should also state whether the selected research papers are an improvement on other works or they are a continuation of other works.

Then, state whether the research papers utilize simulations, theoretical proofs, real-life deployment, and so on. Finally, you should state the strengths and weaknesses of each research paper, authors’ claims, and assumptions. 

Step 8: Research Challenges

After surveying every research paper you have utilized, the next step is to state the challenges you encountered while conducting research.

When writing a survey paper, you will always face various challenges.

Such challenges can be finding the best or most appropriate research papers, comparing them to determine their strengths, and so on.

Other challenges can arise from the research papers themselves. This can include their delivery of results. Some research papers will contain confusing data. 

Step 9: Coming up with a Conclusion

Finally, the conclusion should answer the questions that have been raised by your survey paper’s objectives and goals.

Though it should be interesting and captivating, it should still be presented academically. It should be objective and offer a final say concerning the survey’s subject. 

The conclusion should synthesize the results by proving their interpretation, propose the course of action as per the results, and offer solutions to the issues that have been identified.

The reader should be capable of understanding the whole survey paper by reading the conclusion. Therefore, ensure that your conclusion synthesizes your paper. 

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Tips When Writing a Good Survey Paper

The first tip in writing a good survey paper is to select the most appropriate and latest research papers that will be used in the paper. This is a very important tip because the survey paper will be completely based on them. Old research papers will render your survey paper useless.

Research papers that are not within the scope of your research or topic will also render the survey paper useless.

The second tip is to make sure that you come up with a concise topic that will summarize what your paper is about.

It is also very important to follow the appropriate format of a survey paper.

The format, after you have written your title, should be abstract, key terms, introduction, approaches or methodologies, conducting surveys for every paper used, research challenges, and finally the conclusion.

Another important tip is to utilize more than 10 research papers for the survey. Then can be even more than 20 depending on the scope of your study. The more the research papers used in your survey paper, the more professional and credible it will appear. 

It should be noted that a good survey paper will utilize research papers that are recent (not more than 5 years) and have more academic sources.

To increase the credibility of your survey paper, the research papers used should come from reputable journal sources or publications. In our guide to writing good research papers , we explained more about references. Check it out.

Also, note that the process of writing a survey paper is much different from that of writing an issue paper or doing opinion essays . Therefore, each step needs to relate to the survey.

15 Examples of Topics for Writing a Survey Paper

• Advances in leaf image analysis for bacterial disease detection
• A survey on the impact of social media among youths in the united states
• A Survey on leaf image analysis for bacterial disease detection
• Recent trends in the electric cars manufacturing industry
• Recent trends in perinatal care: Exploring the major causes of perinatal mortality
• Leaf image analysis for bacterial disease detection
• Advances in curriculum-based education: A survey on educational trends in sub-Saharan Africa
• Recent trends in environmental awareness campaigns in low-income countries
• A survey on COVID-19 pandemic impact on the united states economy
• Recent trends in the immunization approach taken by third world countries after the second and third wave of COVID-19 disease
• Advances in semiconductor manufacturing for BMW electronic cars
• A survey on the impact of 5-G connectivity among SMEs in Britain
• Recent trends in the space race: A survey of how the founders of Virgin Atlantic, Tesla, and Amazon are competing to dominate space travel 
• Advances in care for pressure ulcers: A survey on the impact of frequent automated turning on older immobile patients in Germany
• A survey on the impact of geopolitics on peace within the Middle East 

Josh Jasen or JJ as we fondly call him, is a senior academic editor at Grade Bees in charge of the writing department. When not managing complex essays and academic writing tasks, Josh is busy advising students on how to pass assignments. In his spare time, he loves playing football or walking with his dog around the park.

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How to write a survey paper?

I want to write a survey on one emerging research topic in wireless communications (It can be applied to any field!). There are almost 500 papers on this topic as published or in early access. And the publishing rate in this topic is increasing day by day. So, I want to write a survey on this topic keeping in mind that it will get high citation and it will help new scholar who are in struggle with this topic. I found only one survey written by some reputed authors, however it lacks in many ways, like detailed information related to particular direction, it just assembles the papers in a good manner. I want to pick some directions and discuss important approaches with good connection between them. However, I find it very difficult to proceed with large number of papers. Is there any good way to handle the survey process in a good efficient and quick way? PS. According to me, many people have already started to write this.

• literature-review
• review-articles

• 4 As you said, the publishing rate in this topic is increasing day by day. I am afraid the survey paper will be a living document. You probabaly will need to update it every week. My suggestion: only discuss the most important papers in that survey. –  Nobody Commented Apr 11, 2015 at 8:17
• 1 @ scaaahu yes, it is true that I have to keep updating every week. Any detailed suggestions is appreciated. May I just add some reference of old paper in proper place without digging more inside the paper? –  Mithun Commented Apr 11, 2015 at 8:24
• I am no expert in your area. I don't know how critical those old papers are to your field. So, it's up to you. –  Nobody Commented Apr 11, 2015 at 8:33
• The think you are asking about is called a literature-review - we already have a lot of questions about that. And people write whole books to answer your question: see, for example, the Booth reference here –  410 gone Commented Apr 11, 2015 at 8:56
• 3 If you have trouble getting an overview of the topic due to the number of papers, then you are probably not the right person to write a survey of it. –  Tobias Kildetoft Commented Apr 11, 2015 at 10:38

3 Answers 3

The point of a survey paper of the type you are discussion (as distinct from a systematic review), is to provide an organized view of the current state of the field. As such, you should not be attempting to cite every paper, but only the ones that are significant (which will still be an awful lot).

Writing a good survey paper is hard, and there really aren't any good shortcuts: you do need to become familiar with the content of a very large number of papers, in order to make sure that the view you are presenting is sane.

My suggestion, based on my own experience in this area, is to use the following iterative process:

• Begin by collecting a large pile of papers to survey.
• Based on your experience and a few initial readings, hypothesize an organization schema for the field.
• Start reading (mostly skimming) and organizing your collection of papers you read using this schema, including noting which ones are most important and which do not fit the schema well.
• As you find significant numbers of papers that do not fit the schema well, adjust the schema to better fit what you are actually finding and shift the organization of your collection to match.
• Add new papers to the "to be read" collection based on the adjusted schema, then return to reading and organizing.

When the process converges to a stable schema and an empty to-be-read pile, you will have a well-developed view of the current state of the field and be in a good position to write a survey. Note, however, that this may take a number of months...

• 1 That's what I am looking for. Hope this will help me to proceed. In addition to this, I got some information about good software or package to handle reference like mendeley, Zotero etc. –  Mithun Commented Apr 11, 2015 at 13:22

I recently wrote a survey paper (which is now accepted and published) and here is what I learned from it:

• Set the scope Each research field is evolving (some at a faster rate) and hence you need to define the scope of your paper. Scoping has to be done not only for the topics/dimensions to be covered in the paper but also for the time duration in which relevant papers are published that you will explore. The first part of the scoping can be done by defining research questions concretely.
• Search protocol Define the literature search protocol early, document it, and follow it rigorously. Number of papers may reduce if you apply well-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria.
• Take notes Read all relevant papers and document relevant notes. If possible, classify each relevant paper according to your research questions.
• Infer, classify, and synthesize This is the most important step of writing a survey paper. IMHO, a survey should not produce a laundry list of papers for a specific dimension. Information in the synthesized form is much more appreciated than simply listing main contributions of the papers. For example: if a concept has been defined by 20 different authors, infer main characteristics of the concept commonly appeared in these definitions, and report them (obviously, cite relevant authors with each identified characteristic).
• Take away/implications Compile implications of your inferences/synthesis.
• Open research questions Include open research questions of the research domain - not (only) what you believe but also more importantly what the research community believe in general.

To further add something on the accepted answer, your paper should have a clear aim or should eventually reach to a well-justified conclusion. Whereas its purpose can always be a collection of top notch papers in wireless communications, this would not probably make it a high-citation/high-quality one, as it will again be "one of the many" in that sense.

Barton P. Miller's answer on researchgate.net better describes what I am trying to say above: "Think of a survey as a research paper whose data and results are taken from other papers." And based on these results, you can make your point and identify a possible gap in your field of research e.g. "To conclude, we see a lack of reliability in X wireless protocol" or "Power consumption is still an unresolved issue in this area".

The conclusion you try to reach to will help defining the structure of the paper. See Barton P. Miller's answer again for examples.

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How to Write a Good Survey Paper: An Ultimate Guide

• Guest Post , Student Research

Over the course of your college career, you will write many types of paper, whether it’s a research paper, an argumentative essay, a reaction paper, or even a persuasive essay.

One of the most common types of essay is the survey paper, which takes a broad look at a subject in order to establish the lay of the land and develop a foundational understanding of the subject.

In this article, we’ll take a look at survey papers and consider some of the best practices for writing a great survey paper.

What is a survey paper?

When you think about surveys, you’re probably thinking of those conducted by telephone or online surveys that aim to draw conclusions based on respondent opinions.

While those types of surveys are popular and key to informing action in business and government, they differ to survey papers.

Survey papers take a broad scope of a topic or field to examine its limits, consider the subtopics within it, and provide an overview of the scholarly consensus about them.

5 Tips on How to Write a Good Survey Paper

This leads us to the question of how students should approach a survey paper to make it as strong as possible.

1. Ensure you fully understand your topic and the essay question

It might sound obvious, but the place to start with any essay is with the essay question. Be sure that you have read the question carefully and understand what you need to do in order to write the essay and fully address it.

If there are any parts of the question that you don’t understand, you should be sure to discuss the issue with your instructor for clarification. Similarly, before you start writing, you should have a basic understanding of the topic and its broad outlines in order to identify research points.

If you have any doubts, you’ll need to start with a preliminary overview before you proceed with research and the writing process.

2. Make friends with your library

One of the most important steps in writing a survey paper is to research the topic. You need to have a good understanding to discover its limits and determine the major facets and contours of your topic.

The best way to do this is to use your college or university library. Your library will have different types of resources that can help you with your paper. For example, they likely have encyclopedias or introductory texts that will help you to get a feel for the broad outlines of your topic. You can then use the references in those texts to expand your search and broaden your understanding of the topic.

This will likely lead you to specific academic texts that will help you to go beyond the basics and strengthen the findings of your research.

3. Consider using a paper writing service

At this point, you may want someone to help you do your survey essays. Using the services of online experts to help you get the papers you need written quickly will help you to free up your time and give you more of a chance to devote your limited time to studying and your personal life.

A write my essay service like WriteMyPaperHub can help take some of the burden off of writing your paper so you won’t need to work as hard to achieve great grades.

4. Write an outline before you write your paper

Outlining might sometimes seem like a waste of time, but don’t knock it until you try it. Outlining can save you time and make it easier for you to write your survey paper faster. When you outline your paper, you are doing most of the hard work in a low-stakes, low-pressure way.

You can lay out each section and all of the supporting information, enabling you to identify what does and doesn’t work. You also won’t have as many problems making changes to content and order at this stage.

This way, when you develop your paper, you’ll have the whole thing put together ahead of time and can use that to write your essay from beginning to end without having to stop.

5. Revise and edit before you submit

Finally, it’s essential that you revise and edit your paper before you turn it in. Everyone is glad to be done when they finish the first draft of their essay, but no survey paper is complete after just one draft. You need to go through it carefully and look for errors and mistakes and places where you can develop a stronger paper.

The more effort that you put into revision, editing, and proofreading, the stronger your final product will be. Try to budget at least a couple of hours to review and improve your work before it’s time to hand it in. When you see your grade, you’ll be glad you did.

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How to Write a Survey Paper : Simple Steps

December 27, 2023

A survey paper is a comprehensive and systematic review of existing research and literature on a particular topic or research question. It aims to provide a summary and analysis of the current state of knowledge in a specific field or subject area. A survey paper involves collecting information from various sources such as research articles, conference papers, books, and other scholarly publications. The collected information is then synthesized and organized in a structured manner, highlighting the key findings, trends, and gaps in the literature. By writing a survey paper, researchers can contribute to the existing body of knowledge by identifying areas that require further research and proposing potential solutions or directions for future studies. It serves as a valuable resource for both researchers and practitioners looking to gain a comprehensive understanding of a specific subject or field.

Choose a Topic

Choosing a topic for a survey paper is a crucial step in the writing process. The topic should be carefully selected to ensure its relevance and significance in the field of study. Firstly, it is essential to have a clear understanding of your research interests and expertise. Consider selecting a topic that aligns with your knowledge and passion. Additionally, the chosen topic should be broad enough to encompass a sufficient amount of existing literature and research, but not too broad that it becomes overwhelming to review. It is also important to consider the current trends and gaps in the field when selecting a topic. Look for areas that have received recent attention or require further exploration. Finally, consider the potential impact and usefulness of the survey paper to the target audience. By carefully choosing a topic, you can ensure that your survey paper will be engaging, informative, and contribute significantly to the existing body of knowledge.

Survey Paper Topics:

• The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
• Impact of Social Media on Consumer Buying Behavior
• Advancements in Renewable Energy Technologies
• Evolution of Blockchain Technology and Its Applications
• A Comprehensive Review of Cybersecurity Threats and Mitigation Strategies
• The Effectiveness of Digital Learning Platforms in Education
• Understanding the Implications of Climate Change on Ecosystems
• Analyzing the Use of Virtual Reality in Training and Simulation
• Trends in Mobile App Development and User Experience Design
• Exploring the Applications of Big Data Analytics in Business Decision Making

Conduct a Thorough Literature Review

Conducting a thorough literature review is a critical step in writing a survey paper as it provides the foundation for your paper and ensures that you have a comprehensive understanding of the existing research on your chosen topic. Here are some key steps to follow when conducting a literature review:

• Identify relevant keywords and search terms: Begin by identifying keywords and search terms that are relevant to your topic. This will help you conduct a focused search and find the most relevant articles and publications.
• Utilize academic databases: Use academic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, IEEE Xplore, or ACM Digital Library to search for scholarly articles, conference papers, and books related to your topic. These databases will provide you with a wide range of reliable sources.
• Read abstracts and narrow down your sources: Review the abstracts of the articles to determine their relevance to your research question. This will help you narrow down the number of sources you will include in your survey paper.
• Analyze and synthesize the literature: Read the selected articles thoroughly and take notes. Identify common themes, methodologies, and findings. Organize the literature based on these themes, making it easier to present a coherent and structured survey paper.
• Identify gaps in the literature: As you review the existing research, note any gaps, inconsistencies, or unanswered questions in the literature. This will help you identify areas where your survey paper can make a significant contribution.

Remember to keep track of all your sources using reference management tools like Mendeley or Zotero to ensure accurate citations in your survey paper. By conducting a thorough literature review, you will lay the foundation for a high-quality survey paper that contributes to the existing body of knowledge in your field.

Defining Survey Objectives and Research Questions

Defining clear objectives and research questions is a critical step in writing a survey paper. These establish the purpose and focus of your paper, guiding your research and providing a framework for your analysis. Here’s how to define survey objectives and research questions effectively:

1. Start with a broad objective: Begin by identifying the overarching objective of your survey paper. What do you aim to achieve with your research? For example, it could be to provide an overview of the current state of research, identify gaps in knowledge, or analyze trends and developments in a particular field.

2. Break down the objective into specific research questions: Once you have established the objective, turn it into specific research questions. These questions should be focused and measurable, providing clear guidance for your literature review and analysis. For example, if your objective is to analyze trends in renewable energy technologies, some research questions could be:

• What are the recent advancements in solar energy technology?
• How has wind energy technology evolved over the past decade?
• What are the challenges and opportunities in the adoption of renewable energy sources?

3. Align the research questions with your target audience: Consider the knowledge level and interests of your target audience when formulating research questions. Make sure they are relevant and will provide valuable insights for your readers.

By defining clear objectives and research questions, you set a strong foundation for your survey paper, ensuring that your research is focused, comprehensive, and addresses key aspects of your chosen topic.

Selecting the Appropriate Research Methodology

Selecting the appropriate research methodology is crucial for writing a survey paper as it determines the approach you will take to gather and analyze data. Here are some key considerations when selecting the research methodology:

• Review existing methodologies: Start by reviewing and understanding the various research methodologies commonly used in your field. This will help you choose the most suitable one for your survey paper.
• Consider the nature of your research: Determine whether your survey paper will be based on primary research (conducting surveys, interviews, experiments) or secondary research (reviewing existing literature and data). This will guide your choice of methodology.
• Match the methodology to your research questions: Ensure that the selected methodology aligns with your research questions and objectives. For example, if you aim to gather quantitative data, a survey or experimental design may be appropriate. If you want to explore in-depth insights, qualitative methods like interviews or case studies may be more suitable.
• Assess practical considerations: Consider practical factors such as time, budget, and access to participants or data sources. Ensure that the chosen methodology is feasible within these constraints.
• Seek expert advice: Consult with research advisors, mentors, or experienced researchers in your field to seek guidance on the most appropriate research methodology for your survey paper.

By carefully selecting the appropriate research methodology, you will design a study that effectively addresses your research questions, collects relevant data, and produces valuable insights for your survey paper.

Collecting Data for the Survey Paper

Collecting data is a critical step in writing a survey paper as it provides the empirical evidence to support your research and analysis. Here are some key steps and considerations for collecting data:

• Determine the data sources: Identify the primary and secondary sources of data that are relevant to your research topic. This could include academic journals, conference proceedings, industry reports, books, or online databases.
• Develop a systematic approach: Create a systematic approach to collect data, ensuring that you cover a wide range of sources and perspectives. This may involve using specific search terms, setting inclusion and exclusion criteria, and documenting your search process.
• Conduct a thorough literature review: Review and analyze the existing literature to gather key findings, methodologies, and trends. Take detailed notes and organize the information based on themes or topics.
• Consider primary research methods: Depending on the scope of your survey paper, you may also consider conducting primary research such as surveys, interviews, or experiments to gather new data. Ensure that your chosen research methods align with your research questions and are feasible within the time and resource constraints.
• Maintain a comprehensive database: As you collect data, maintain a comprehensive database of all your sources, including proper citations and bibliographic information. This will aid in organizing your research and properly attributing the sources in your survey paper.
• Validate the credibility of sources: Ensure that the sources you include in your survey paper are credible and reliable. Check the reputation of the authors, the publication venue, and the content to ensure that the data you gather is trustworthy.

By following these steps and considerations, you will collect a robust and comprehensive set of data to support your survey paper, ensuring its credibility and academic rigor.

Analyzing and Interpreting the Survey Data

Analyzing and interpreting the survey data is a crucial step in writing a survey paper as it involves making sense of the data collected. Here are some key steps and considerations for analyzing and interpreting survey data:

• Convert the data: Convert the raw data into a format that is suitable for analysis, which could include statistical software or qualitative analysis tools.
• Clean the data: Clean the data by removing any errors, inconsistencies, or irrelevant information that may impact the analysis.
• Analyze the data: Use appropriate statistical or qualitative analysis techniques to derive meaningful insights from the data. Depending on the type of data collected, this could involve regression analysis, descriptive statistics, or thematic analysis.
• Interpret the results: Once the data is analyzed, interpret the results and draw appropriate conclusions based on the research questions and objectives.
• Present the findings: Present the findings in a clear and concise manner, using appropriate tables, graphs, and visual aids to illustrate the results.

By carefully analyzing and interpreting the survey data, you will derive valuable insights that will support your survey paper’s research questions and objectives, ensuring its academic rigor and relevance.

Presenting the Findings in a Clear and Structured Manner

Presenting the findings of your survey paper in a clear and structured manner is essential to effectively communicate your research to your target audience. Here are some key considerations for presenting your survey paper’s findings:

• Structure the paper: Organize your survey paper in a logical and coherent structure, including an introduction, literature review, methodology, findings, discussion, and conclusion. This structure will guide readers through your research process and enable them to easily navigate and comprehend your findings.
• Use clear and concise language: Write in a clear and concise manner, avoiding jargon or overly technical language. Clearly explain your findings using language that is accessible to your target audience.
• Utilize visual aids: Incorporate tables, graphs, charts, and diagrams to visually represent your findings. Visual aids enhance the readability of your survey paper and help readers grasp complex information more easily.
• Provide contextual information: Provide necessary background information and context for your findings. Explain the relevance and implications of your findings within the broader research landscape.
• Support findings with evidence: Back up your findings with the relevant evidence from your survey and other supporting sources. Cite proper references to validate the credibility of your findings.
• Summarize key findings: Provide a concise summary of the key findings in the conclusion section. Emphasize the main points and contributions of your survey paper.

By presenting your findings in a clear and structured manner, you effectively communicate the outcomes of your survey paper and enhance its readability and impact.

Discussion and Critical Evaluation of the Survey Paper

The discussion and critical evaluation section of your survey paper is where you provide a comprehensive analysis of your study’s strengths and limitations and offer insights into future research areas. Here are some key considerations for this section:

• Address research questions and objectives: Reiterate the research questions and objectives, and discuss how your findings address and contribute to answering these questions.
• Evaluate the limitations of your study: Reflect on the limitations of your survey paper, such as sample size or response bias, and explain how these limitations may impact the validity of your findings.
• Consider the implications of findings: Discuss the implications of your findings within the broader context of your research field. How do they contribute to existing knowledge or literature? What are the practical and theoretical implications?
• Identify gaps and future research areas: Identify the gaps in existing research and the future research areas that your study has highlighted. Suggest ways for future researchers to address these gaps.
• Provide a critical evaluation of the study: Provide a critical evaluation of your study’s overall validity, reliability, and generalizability. This analysis should highlight the strengths and limitations of your study, and areas where improvements could be made in the future.

By providing a thorough discussion and critical evaluation of your survey paper, you contribute to the knowledge in your field and ensure that your research is well-rounded and comprehensive.

Conclusion and Future Directions

The conclusion and future directions section of your survey paper serves as a concise summary of your research findings and offers insights into potential future research avenues. Here are some key points to consider:

• Recapitulate your findings: Summarize the main findings of your survey paper, emphasizing the key insights and contributions to the field.
• Address research objectives: Revisit the research objectives and highlight how your findings have addressed and fulfilled these objectives.
• Discuss implications: Discuss the broader implications of your findings, both in terms of their theoretical significance and practical applications.
• Propose future research directions: Identify areas for further exploration and research. Highlight specific gaps or unanswered questions that have emerged from your study, and suggest potential directions for future researchers.
• Reinforce the value of your survey paper: Emphasize the value and significance of your study in advancing knowledge and understanding in your research area.

By providing a well-rounded conclusion and future directions section, you leave readers with a clear understanding of your survey paper’s contributions and set the stage for further research in your field.

The references section of your survey paper is an essential component that demonstrates the credibility and academic rigor of your research. Here are some guidelines for creating the references section:

• Follow a standardized citation style: Use a recognized citation style such as APA, MLA, or Chicago to format your references consistently throughout the paper.
• Include all cited works: List all the sources that you have referenced in your survey paper, including academic articles, books, conference papers, and credible online sources.
• Follow proper citation formatting: Provide full author names, publication dates, article titles, book titles, journal names, volume and issue numbers, page numbers, and URLs (if applicable) for each entry.
• Maintain correct formatting and punctuation: Ensure that the formatting and punctuation of each reference entry adhere to the guidelines of the chosen citation style.
• Alphabetize the references: Arrange the references in alphabetical order by the last name of the first author. If there is no author, use the title of the work for alphabetization.

By carefully compiling and organizing your references, you demonstrate your commitment to accurate and ethical research practices and provide readers with the means to explore your cited sources further.

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How To Write a Term Paper: A Guide That Works

30 June, 2020

16 minutes read

Author:  Mathieu Johnson

Once you’ve started your university career, you are going to be asked to present a term paper. What’s the difference between a term paper and a research paper? How can you write a good term? What’s the best way to structure it? Where can you find some tips to make the writing process faster? In this article, we’ll discuss a few tips to help you prepare a term paper quickly and professionally.

What Is a Term Paper… And What Is The First Step?

A term paper is a critical and analytical report on the topic or subject that you covered within the course of studies. It usually consists of two separate but equally important aspects: your own thoughts about the topic and a demonstration of your understanding of the existing literature. The main goal of this assignment is to summarize the material you learned and showcase your understanding of the topic. This aspect makes the term paper a universal instrument for assessing a student’s proficiency. It also explains why term papers cost so many points of your course grade.

We usually associate a term paper with a research paper , but although the concepts are quite similar, a research paper requires a more academic approach and a deeper investigation into the literature of your field of study.

To write an outstanding college term paper, you must understand that your professor has requested it in order to test your analytical thinking skills. You must collect relevant data, analyze it, and then make a summary or solve a particular problem. Such skills are highly relevant to the business world, so this type of the task is as practical as it is educational.

So, let’s start the preparation!

Before you begin writing

Unfortunately, there is no magical recipe that allows you to get everything done fast. You will need to choose the best way forward in whatever situation you find yourself, but here are some tips to help you prepare for the assignment.

To begin with, take the research stage seriously . Sometimes, when students are really interested in a topic, they only want to present their personal ideas about the problem. Unfortunately, if you’re not completely familiar with all the data from the various sources, you will need to reinvent the bicycle.

Term paper writing was never an easy ride. Well, not for our expert writers. Place an order with our term paper writing service and secure yourself an “A!”

In the initial stages of your research, investigate everything you can find on the topic . This may sound like a tall order, but you’ll find that it doesn’t actually entail that much reading. At this point you are only compiling the research, so you will be skimming through numerous prospects rather than reading them completely. Bear in mind that your aim is to get acquainted with the various aspects of your problem. The term paper summarizes the knowledge you gained within a course and requires to familiarize yourself with the research that other people have already made on your topic.

Thinking that your opinions are completely original and unique is quite egocentric, and it can get you into trouble. So, “your” thoughts about the problem are usually just somebody else’s statements that you have rephrased (or even a well-established academic concept!). Remember that your professor will be familiar with all the literature surrounding the issue: if you merely rewrite someone else’s thoughts and present them as your own (even if you don’t realize doing it), be prepared for criticism!

Applying a Structure To Your Term Paper

Once you have read all the leading authors and their approaches to your problem, it’s time to create a structure for your work. This is not yet an outline; you just need to decide what to write about. Sketch out the topic for the theoretical portion of your work and think about practical aspects and how you can approach the research in the best possible way.

At this point, you really need to call or email your supervisor . Your professor will have seen hundreds of term papers like yours (i.e., they have not yet been written, but a definite idea exists!) and will be prepared to give you feedback and advice. He or she will tell you what literature you have omitted, offer suggestions about what you should read, and give you feedback about your paper. It may well be that your approach has already occurred to somebody else, in which case there is no need to repeat it.

Choosing a Topic: Easy as Riding a Bike?

When you choose your topic, make sure you choose something that you are interested in . That’s our advice if you want a painless term paper. If you prefer to investigate a field that you’ve never really explored before, you can challenge yourself to do that, too. That might be sophisticated, but why not?

If you decide to investigate a topic or a problem that you are pretty familiar with, your writing will be more fluid. You will focus your attention on a specific aspect of the chosen field and expand your knowledge within that scope. On the contrary, choosing an unfamiliar subject matter can wash out your expertise.

Be prepared to change the topic if you find out that your research isn’t going anywhere. It might occur that you presuppose that your topic has a potential but somewhere at the stage of initial research, you find that it just won’t work. It’s always a good idea to consider two or three topics when you kick off the term paper writing – even if they are just different ways of examining the same problem. By doing this, you will be able to choose the best version, which may not be the one you started with at all!

Related Post: 100 Persuasive essay topics

Formulating a Thesis statement

Writing a proper thesis statement can also be challenging. To begin with, write down a couple of prominent ideas or concepts, then try to make rough drafts of them to see how they’ll work in the structural framework. You will probably find that one idea fits your style, interests, and knowledge base: you can choose that one as your thesis statement.

Remember that the thesis statement is the skeleton, the central concept of your paper. It is the elemental attribute of almost any academic paper – from master’s thesis to a simple five paragraph essay. If you do a thorough job on it, you will find that writing (and defending!) your argument is much easier.

Be aware that all of these stages are parts of a procedure – one leads to another. When writing a term paper, you should collect the material and wrap it up at the same time.

Planning – The Key To Success

Some people claim that they can write a term paper without any planning. In our opinion, this is impossible. If you don’t have a postgraduate degree and you aren’t a certified genius, you need to prepare an outline for your project. It may come as a surprise, but even people who claim otherwise actually prepare outlines – in their heads. But if you don’t have that much experience, use a pencil and your notebook to ensure that you don’t forget anything.

Don’t procrastinate on your College or University papers anymore. Get professional help with our essay writer !

That’s when we get to preparing your first draft . There’s only one thing to add here: do as many drafts as you need in order to achieve your goal. Understand that your aim is to create an excellent term paper and keep working at it until you are satisfied.

Term Paper Outline: Write Everything In The Proper Section!

In the Introduction , state the topic that you are going to investigate and the context of your work. This is the critical ‘selling’ moment of your work. In a nutshell, your introduction combined with a conclusion should give a sneak peek into what the whole paper is about. If your introduction is well-prepared, it will be quite complacent about the body of your project. The introduction must include an abstract that presents your thesis statement . You should explain your motivation (why should the reader be concerned about this problem?) , your methods (what scientific tools did you use?) , and the results (what you achieved) .

The Literature Review totally corresponds to its name – it is here to review the literature you compiled. Your professor will double check it to make sure that you understand the context of your argument. One more thing to add is: collect all the information you can! Ideally, you should read or at least glance through every book and author that you can find on the topic. Think of your task as a fascinating journey: if you approach it like that, reading hundreds of pages won’t seem like that much of a challenge.

In the Discussion , you must present the interpretations of the problem. Be honest, explain what you pieces of data you don’t agree with and what ideas and concepts you support. This section connects the dots between theory and practice when writing a term paper. Wherever possible, provide several interpretations of the subject matter, then choose the one(s) that are most relevant to the case you are presenting.

In the Body , focus on those arguments that prove your thesis statement. This section must be absolutely logical. If you have chosen a more complicated topic, use heading and sub-headings to improve the appearance of this section. While writing the body, keep your target audience (your professors) in mind. In other words, don’t just record the obvious causes/effects/solutions but also showcase your own findings – what you have discovered and how that proves your thesis statement. Demonstrate that you are familiar with the details and you will stun your readers with the prolific mastery of the topic.

Now, the Conclusion   is her to summarize both the content and the purpose of the paper. The most challenging part is not to make it too dry. Reiterate your thesis statement and briefly show how your results justified your proposition. At the very end, you can suggest a call to action or pose a rhetorical question or statement that leaves your reader wanting more.

What to do next?

When you have finished, reread your work a couple of times. You will almost certainly find a few faults, whether they are contextual, factual, syntactical, grammatical, or even simple spelling mistakes. A very useful tip is to wait for two or three days after writing your final draft to proofread it afterward. Your brain will have time to process the information, and you’ll be able to look at it with a fresh view.

When proofreading, take care to polish the structural problems. The skeleton (the logic and the thesis statement) should make sense. If they don’t, try to approach the problem from another perspective. The changes may take some time, but bear in mind that your objective is to produce professional work. Be patient!

After that, print the term paper. The human eye processes information differently on the paper than on a computer screen; that’s why you need to print it and take one final look for any possible mistakes. Even if you don’t see any serious defects, pay attention to formatting, punctuation, and synonyms. It’s an academic text, so make it shine!

Term Paper Sample

Be sure to check the sample of a term paper, completed by our writers. Use it as an example to perfect your own writing. Link:  Term Paper Sample: Consumer Buying Behavior .

The Do’s and Don’ts of Term Paper Writing

There you have the most important tips to help you succeed in writing a term paper. Now it’s up to you to stop reading and start writing!

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How to Write a Term Paper From Start to Finish

The term paper, often regarded as the culmination of a semester's hard work, is a rite of passage for students in pursuit of higher education. Here's an interesting fact to kick things off: Did you know that the term paper's origins can be traced back to ancient Greece, where scholars like Plato and Aristotle utilized written works to explore and document their philosophical musings? Just as these great minds once wrote their thoughts on parchment, you, too, can embark on this intellectual voyage with confidence and skill.

How to Write a Term Paper: Short Description

In this article, we'll delve into the core purpose of this kind of assignment – to showcase your understanding of a subject, your research abilities, and your capacity to communicate complex ideas effectively. But it doesn't stop there. We'll also guide you in the art of creating a well-structured term paper format, a roadmap that will not only keep you on track but also ensure your ideas flow seamlessly and logically. Packed with valuable tips on writing, organization, and time management, this resource promises to equip you with the tools needed to excel in your academic writing.

Understanding What Is a Term Paper

A term paper, a crucial component of your college education, is often assigned towards the conclusion of a semester. It's a vehicle through which educators gauge your comprehension of the course content. Imagine it as a bridge between what you've learned in class and your ability to apply that knowledge to real-world topics.

For instance, in a history course, you might be asked to delve into the causes and consequences of a significant historical event, such as World War II. In a psychology class, your term paper might explore the effects of stress on mental health, or in an environmental science course, you could analyze the impact of climate change on a specific region.

Writing a term paper isn't just about summarizing facts. It requires a blend of organization, deep research, and the art of presenting your findings in a way that's both clear and analytical. This means structuring your arguments logically, citing relevant sources, and critically evaluating the information you've gathered.

For further guidance, we've prepared an insightful guide for you authored by our expert essay writer . It's brimming with practical tips and valuable insights to help you stand out in this academic endeavor and earn the recognition you deserve.

How to Start a Term Paper

Before you start, keep the guidelines for the term paper format firmly in mind. If you have any doubts, don't hesitate to reach out to your instructor for clarification before you begin your research and writing process. And remember, procrastination is your worst enemy in this endeavor. If you're aiming to produce an exceptional piece and secure a top grade, it's essential to plan ahead and allocate dedicated time each day to work on it. Now, let our term paper writing services provide you with some valuable tips to help you on your journey:

• Hone Your Topic : Start by cultivating a learning mindset that empowers you to effectively organize your thoughts. Discover how to research a topic in the section below.
• Hook Your Readers: Initiate a brainstorming session and unleash a barrage of creative ideas to captivate your audience right from the outset. Pose intriguing questions, share compelling anecdotes, offer persuasive statistics, and more.
• Craft a Concise Thesis Statement Example : If you find yourself struggling to encapsulate the main idea of your paper in just a sentence or two, it's time to revisit your initial topic and consider narrowing it down.
• Understand Style Requirements: Your work must adhere to specific formatting guidelines. Delve into details about the APA format and other pertinent regulations in the section provided.
• Delve Deeper with Research : Equipped with a clearer understanding of your objectives, dive into your subject matter with a discerning eye. Ensure that you draw from reputable and reliable sources.
• Begin Writing: Don't obsess over perfection from the get-go. Just start writing, and don't worry about initial imperfections. You can always revise or remove those early sentences later. The key is to initiate the term papers as soon as you've amassed sufficient information.

Ace your term paper with EssayPro 's expert help. Our academic professionals are here to guide you through every step, ensuring your term paper is well-researched, structured, and written to the highest standards.

Term Paper Topics

Selecting the right topic for your term paper is a critical step, one that can significantly impact your overall experience and the quality of your work. While instructors sometimes provide specific topics, there are instances when you have the freedom to choose your own. To guide you on how to write a term paper, consider the following factors when deciding on your dissertation topics :

• Relevance to Assignment Length: Begin by considering the required length of your paper. Whether it's a substantial 10-page paper or a more concise 5-page one, understanding the word count will help you determine the appropriate scope for your subject. This will inform whether your topic should be broad or more narrowly focused.
• Availability of Resources : Investigate the resources at your disposal. Check your school or community library for books and materials that can support your research. Additionally, explore online sources to ensure you have access to a variety of reference materials.
• Complexity and Clarity : Ensure you can effectively explain your chosen topic, regardless of how complex it may seem. If you encounter areas that are challenging to grasp fully, don't hesitate to seek guidance from experts or your professor. Clarity and understanding are key to producing a well-structured term paper.
• Avoiding Overused Concepts : Refrain from choosing overly trendy or overused topics. Mainstream subjects often fail to captivate the interest of your readers or instructors, as they can lead to repetitive content. Instead, opt for a unique angle or approach that adds depth to your paper.
• Manageability and Passion : While passion can drive your choice of topic, it's important to ensure that it is manageable within the given time frame and with the available resources. If necessary, consider scaling down a topic that remains intriguing and motivating to you, ensuring it aligns with your course objectives and personal interests.

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Term Paper Outline

Before embarking on the journey of writing a term paper, it's crucial to establish a well-structured outline. Be mindful of any specific formatting requirements your teacher may have in mind, as these will guide your outline's structure. Here's a basic format to help you get started:

• Cover Page: Begin with a cover page featuring your name, course number, teacher's name, and the deadline date, centered at the top.
• Abstract: Craft a concise summary of your work that informs readers about your paper's topic, its significance, and the key points you'll explore.
• Introduction: Commence your term paper introduction with a clear and compelling statement of your chosen topic. Explain why it's relevant and outline your approach to addressing it.
• Body: This section serves as the meat of academic papers, where you present the primary findings from your research. Provide detailed information about the topic to enhance the reader's understanding. Ensure you incorporate various viewpoints on the issue and conduct a thorough analysis of your research.
• Results: Share the insights and conclusions that your research has led you to. Discuss any shifts in your perspective or understanding that have occurred during the course of your project.
• Discussion: Conclude your term paper with a comprehensive summary of the topic and your findings. You can wrap up with a thought-provoking question or encourage readers to explore the subject further through their own research.

How to Write a Term Paper with 5 Steps

Before you begin your term paper, it's crucial to understand what a term paper proposal entails. This proposal serves as your way to introduce and justify your chosen topic to your instructor, and it must gain approval before you start writing the actual paper.

In your proposal, include recent studies or research related to your topic, along with proper references. Clearly explain the topic's relevance to your course, outline your objectives, and organize your ideas effectively. This helps your instructor grasp your term paper's direction. If needed, you can also seek assistance from our expert writers and buy term paper .

Draft the Abstract

The abstract is a critical element while writing a term paper, and it plays a crucial role in piquing the reader's interest. To create a captivating abstract, consider these key points from our dissertation writing service :

• Conciseness: Keep it short and to the point, around 150-250 words. No need for lengthy explanations.
• Highlight Key Elements: Summarize the problem you're addressing, your research methods, and primary findings or conclusions. For instance, if your paper discusses the impact of social media on mental health, mention your research methods and significant findings.
• Engagement: Make your abstract engaging. Use language that draws readers in. For example, if your paper explores the effects of artificial intelligence on the job market, you might begin with a question like, 'Is AI revolutionizing our work landscape, or should we prepare for the robots to take over?'
• Clarity: Avoid excessive jargon or technical terms to ensure accessibility to a wider audience.

Craft the Introduction

The introduction sets the stage for your entire term paper and should engage readers from the outset. To craft an intriguing introduction, consider these tips:

• Hook Your Audience: Start with a captivating hook, such as a thought-provoking question or a compelling statistic. For example, if your paper explores the impact of smartphone addiction, you could begin with, 'Can you remember the last time you went a whole day without checking your phone?'
• State Your Purpose: Clearly state the purpose of your paper and its relevance. If your term paper is about renewable energy's role in combating climate change, explain why this topic is essential in today's world.
• Provide a Roadmap: Briefly outline how your paper is structured. For instance, if your paper discusses the benefits of mindfulness meditation, mention that you will explore its effects on stress reduction, emotional well-being, and cognitive performance.
• Thesis Statement: Conclude your introduction with a concise thesis statement that encapsulates the central argument or message of your paper. In the case of a term paper on the impact of online education, your thesis might be: 'Online education is revolutionizing learning by providing accessibility, flexibility, and innovative teaching methods.'

Develop the Body Sections: Brainstorming Concepts and Content

Generate ideas and compose text: body sections.

The body of your term paper is where you present your research, arguments, and analysis. To generate ideas and write engaging text in the body sections, consider these strategies from our research paper writer :

• Structure Your Ideas: Organize your paper into sections or paragraphs, each addressing a specific aspect of your topic. For example, if your term paper explores the impact of social media on interpersonal relationships, you might have sections on communication patterns, privacy concerns, and emotional well-being.
• Support with Evidence: Back up your arguments with credible evidence, such as data, research findings, or expert opinions. For instance, when discussing the effects of social media on mental health, you can include statistics on social media usage and its correlation with anxiety or depression.
• Offer Diverse Perspectives: Acknowledge and explore various viewpoints on the topic. When writing about the pros and cons of genetic engineering, present both the potential benefits, like disease prevention, and the ethical concerns associated with altering human genetics.
• Use Engaging Examples: Incorporate real-life examples to illustrate your points. If your paper discusses the consequences of climate change, share specific instances of extreme weather events or environmental degradation to make the topic relatable.
• Ask Thought-Provoking Questions: Integrate questions throughout your text to engage readers and stimulate critical thinking. In a term paper on the future of artificial intelligence, you might ask, 'How will AI impact job markets and the concept of work in the coming years?'

Formulate the Conclusion

The conclusion section should provide a satisfying wrap-up of your arguments and insights. To craft a compelling term paper example conclusion, follow these steps:

• Revisit Your Thesis: Begin by restating your thesis statement. This reinforces the central message of your paper. For example, if your thesis is about the importance of biodiversity conservation, reiterate that biodiversity is crucial for ecological balance and human well-being.
• Summarize Key Points: Briefly recap the main points you've discussed in the body of your paper. For instance, if you've been exploring the impact of globalization on local economies, summarize the effects on industries, job markets, and cultural diversity.
• Emphasize Your Main Argument: Reaffirm the significance of your thesis and the overall message of your paper. Discuss why your findings are important or relevant in a broader context. If your term paper discusses the advantages of renewable energy, underscore its potential to combat climate change and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.
• Offer a Thoughtful Reflection: Share your own reflections or insights about the topic. How has your understanding evolved during your research? Have you uncovered any unexpected findings or implications? If your paper discusses the future of space exploration, consider what it means for humanity's quest to explore the cosmos.
• End with Impact: Conclude your term paper with a powerful closing statement. You can leave the reader with a thought-provoking question, a call to action, or a reflection on the broader implications of your topic. For instance, if your paper is about the ethics of artificial intelligence, you could finish by asking, 'As AI continues to advance, what ethical considerations will guide our choices and decisions?'

Edit and Enhance the Initial Draft

After completing your initial draft, the revision and polishing phase is essential for improving your paper. Here's how to refine your work efficiently:

• Take a Break: Step back and return to your paper with a fresh perspective.
• Structure Check: Ensure your paper flows logically and transitions smoothly from the introduction to the conclusion.
• Clarity and Conciseness: Trim excess words for clarity and precision.
• Grammar and Style: Proofread for errors and ensure consistent style.
• Citations and References: Double-check your citations and reference list.
• Peer Review: Seek feedback from peers or professors for valuable insights.
• Enhance Intro and Conclusion: Make your introduction and conclusion engaging and impactful.
• Coherence Check: Ensure your arguments support your thesis consistently.
• Read Aloud: Reading your paper aloud helps identify issues.
• Final Proofread: Perform a thorough proofread to catch any remaining errors.

Term Paper Format

When formatting your term paper, consider its length and the required citation style, which depends on your research topic. Proper referencing is crucial to avoid plagiarism in academic writing. Common citation styles include APA and MLA.

If unsure how to cite term paper for social sciences, use the APA format, including the author's name, book title, publication year, publisher, and location when citing a book.

For liberal arts and humanities, MLA is common, requiring the publication name, date, and location for referencing.

Adhering to the appropriate term paper format and citation style ensures an organized and academically sound paper. Follow your instructor's guidelines for a polished and successful paper.

Term Paper Example

To access our term paper example, simply click the button below.

The timeline of events from 1776 to 1861, that, in the end, prompted the American Civil War, describes and relates to a number of subjects modern historians acknowledge as the origins and causes of the Civil War. In fact, pre-Civil War events had both long-term and short-term influences on the War—such as the election of Abraham Lincoln as the American president in 1860 that led to the Fall of Fort Sumter in April of the same year. In that period, contentions that surrounded states’ rights progressively exploded in Congress—since they were the initial events that formed after independence. Congress focused on resolving significant issues that affected the states, which led to further issues. In that order, the US’s history from 1776 to 1861 provides a rich history, as politicians brought forth dissimilarities, dissections, and tensions between the Southern US & the people of slave states, and the Northern states that were loyal to the Union. The events that unfolded from the period of 1776 to 1861 involved a series of issues because they promoted the great sectional crisis that led to political divisions and the build-up to the Civil War that made the North and the South seem like distinctive and timeless regions that predated the crisis itself.

Final Thoughts

In closing, approach the task of writing term papers with determination and a positive outlook. Begin well in advance, maintain organization, and have faith in your capabilities. Don't hesitate to seek assistance if required, and express your individual perspective with confidence. You're more than capable of succeeding in this endeavor!

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What is the Difference between a Term Paper and a Research Paper?

What is the fastest way to write a term paper.

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How to Write a Successful Term Paper

By: Tasha Kolesnikova

Studying at college or university, you have to deal with a variety of assignments. They are necessary to gain new knowledge, skills, and experience important for your future career. Some tasks may be pretty easy, while others require a lot of time and effort. However, you should challenge yourself because it is when you’re developing and becoming better.

Can I Ignore the Length Requirements?

Introduction, make sure you have enough time, start by creating an outline, use a strong tongue, don't forget about proofreading, how to write a term paper proposal, how to start a term paper, how to finish a term paper, term paper apa formatting, term paper mla formatting, term paper chicago formatting, social issues topics.

Regardless of the major you choose, each discipline has a specific structure and goals. You’ll have lectures, practical lessons, internships, and so on. Your professor may use different strategies to test your knowledge, and writing is one of them.

It is not so hard when it goes about regular essays. But the term paper is something the most students are afraid of. It is a voluminous piece that synthesis all your knowledge received during the course.

We’re ready to provide you with an ultimate guide to write a term paper. Let’s start from the beginning.

Definition of a Term Paper

A term paper is a research document that you write after a semester or year of work. This assignment helps you determine your understanding of the course content and the aspects required by the curriculum.

Writing a term paper has other purposes as well. Working on your task, you delve deeper into the discipline, get acquainted with its main problems and challenges. It also improves your analytical, critical thinking, and writing skills, which are useful both during your studies and after university.

Your professor can assign you a specific topic, depending on the material being studied. Sometimes the choice is up to you, or you can choose a narrower theme from a broader list of options.

Regardless of the title, it would help if you delved in. We’ve prepared some actionable tips to come up with outstanding writing. You may follow them or send us your “ write my essay ” message if you need professional assistance. Our authors are eager to share their experiences and help you to boost academic performance.

How Long Is a Term Paper?

There is no universal standard for the volume you should adhere to. It depends on the requirements of your institution.

If you search for this information on the Internet, you will see that different sources offer different data. One website claims that you need to submit a 10-page document, while another writes about 45 pages. This is why it is important to read your professor's requirements carefully.

The volume determines which approach you take to writing. For example, if your paper is short, you need to state your thoughts concisely and clearly, going straight to the point. If it is long, do not fill the pages with hot air, but try to do thorough research and look at the issue from different angles.

You may write about 10% less or more, but overall try to adhere to the particular number of pages or words. All students are in identical conditions, so your article should be standardized. If you don’t know what to write about, ask your professor about additional instructions.

It would also be a great idea to read some examples written by other students or professional authors. Filter out the documents with the same volume as you need and pay notice to the paper writer's structure .

Term Paper and Research Paper - Differences

We understand if you are confused after reading our introduction. If you need to conduct research, why are you writing a term paper and not a research one?

Many students confuse these two types of assignments. But certain aspects indicate the differences between them.

Writing a research paper takes months or even years. It covers various aspects of the topic, up to the development of new strategies and innovative ideas.

The term paper should be submitted by the end of the semester or year. Its content is based on the material covered. Of course, you can use additional resources, but in general, custom term paper assignment is only relevant to the themes you discussed in class.

The purpose is another crucial difference between the two assignments.

When you work on a research paper, you need to work through the problem and find a viable solution. You are dealing with a hypothesis that needs to be confirmed or refuted.

The term papers have the task of reflecting your knowledge of the discipline. It is more straightforward but influences the final score much more.

What Are Parts of Term Paper?

Each student paper has its structure you should strictly adhere to. It is useful to organize your thoughts and to provide your readers with a clear and understandable text. Here is the list of the main parts you should include in your term assignment.

The cover or title page is necessary to introduce your paper and provide the basic information about it, including your data, professor’s name, topic, etc. More detailed requirements depend on the particular formatting style, so read your instructions carefully.

This part is something like a short introduction to your paper. It lets your readers understand the overall direction, the issue you explore, and why you have decided to choose this particular theme. If you have additional comments that may be interesting for your audience, provide them here as well.

Start your paper with an exciting and engaging statement. The main thing you should know about the thesis is that it is a pivot point of your writing. You build all body paragraphs and the primary research around it.

If you don’t know how to write a thesis , you may read some articles or ask for professional help.

The body consists of the main paragraphs. The traditional essay structure includes 3 of them; however, if you’re writing a 10-pages or even 40-pages paper, you should change your structure according to requirements.

You should develop your findings, ideas, or arguments, considering the final goal. For example, if your task is to analyze some issues and perceive readers to accept your point of view, you should provide compelling evidence-based arguments. If you need to explore the theme, write down, and develop the main ideas it covers. Make sure each paragraph is devoted to one aspect only.

This part is of great significance because you should show particular progress. Have you accepted certain things about your topic? Have you changed your view from the moment you started working on the piece? Any insights you’ve gained you should describe in the Results section. If you’re not satisfied with them, you can explain the reasons here as well.

It is a conclusion chapter where you can wrap up. You should analyze your text and provide readers with the next steps one should follow to continue one’s research on the subject you’re working through.

As an unusual essay conclusion, the discussion doesn’t contain any new information.

Main Tips to Write a Killer Term Paper

Do not hope that you will complete this task in a day or an hour. Some students make the mistake of starting paper right away. This is a beginner's mistake. You may think that if you have already written a few lines, this indicates significant progress. But these proposals will be weak, meaningless.

Any work takes time. Think of it as a project with specific goals. You can split a task into multiple milestones and set a deadline for each one.

If you realize that you cannot write this piece on time, hire an experienced writer. The more experience you have, the faster the process lasts.

So, you've gathered enough information. We understand if you don't know what to do next and what your first step should be.

Get a sense of control with a paper outline. This is your plan that describes all stages of the process. It also helps you organize your time and information.

In the end, you can come back to this plan again to check how the final version matches your initial expectations. If you have developed a high-quality outline, you can quickly determine which aspects of the document are needed and which are just filling the space.

You should write the term paper competently. You have done the research, collected enough information, analyzed it. Any of your doubts will indicate a lack of professionalism.

This is why you need to keep an eye on your writing style. Formal academic writing involves an active voice, professional vocabulary, and no fluffy words. You don't need to write something that doesn't make any sense for the main task.

Remember, we said that writing a term paper is long and complicated? Most students hate this. They spent a lot of time writing all sections of the article and do not feel like proofreading the entire text.

But if you have not yet encountered academic writing, you may not imagine how many mistakes a text can contain. Even if you are a very literate person, you may not notice some typos and occasional flaws. Of course, this does not make you incompetent, but readers can lose confidence in your paper.

Proofread the piece very thoroughly and carefully. Wait a few days before doing this; your brain should not be tired.

How to Make a Term Paper Outline

An outline is the part of the writing process that deserves a little more attention.

Use it as the guiding map that is always ready to point you in the right direction if you get confused.

There are several ways to design an outline, and you can download different templates from the Internet.

Some methods are suitable for people who like to organize all information in a coherent plan. But if you are a creative person, you can also choose a suitable template for yourself. For example, a mind map.

An outline is not something that your professor will check, so you don't have to worry about the exact format and details. The main thing is to make sure that you fully understand the content and use it for your writing.

Even before you start researching a topic and writing, you need to prepare a college term paper proposal. This is a document that will help you defend your idea in front of the professor. Even before starting the main work, you will submit this proposal to get approval.

You need to show the importance of this theme by including recent data with correct links. Why do you think your piece will correlate with the course syllabus? How is it useful for you and your fellow students?

Set goals for your college assignment and organize your ideas into one article. This will let the professor know that you have understood the assignment correctly.

It's okay if you fail at this stage. It is needed just so that the professor checks whether you are on the same wavelength and can provide you with any further instructions.

So, you received confirmation from your professor, came up with a topic, conducted initial research, and made an outline. What's next?

• Try to narrow down your topic. You need a learning perspective that allows you to organize and structure your thoughts.
• Create bait for your readers. Have a brainstorming session and write down different ideas: rhetorical questions, anecdotes, statistical facts, etc
• Come up with a thesis statement. If you cannot summarize your article's main idea in 1-2 sentences, you need to return to the first step and think about narrowing the topic.
• Check out the style requirements. Your piece must be in a standardized format. Below you will learn more about APA format and others.
• Do more research. You can go deeper because now you know your goals better. Use quality and trusted sources only.
• Write the first sentence. If you worry too much, just start. You may delete the first sentences later, but don’t look for a perfect moment: start as soon as you have enough information.

You may think that the conclusion chapter is not so important because it doesn’t provide your readers with any new information. However, each section has its tasks and goals, so don't relax too early.

The last paragraphs should provide an answer to a fundamental question. This question is “So what?”. Just imagine your regular reader who finishes the text and doesn’t understand what is next. Was your text just a pleasant evening reading? Is it one more piece to improve academic performance? Or is it something more that was created to contribute to the field you’ve studied?

If you don’t have strict instructions from your professor, you can decide on your own. Think about questions your work creates, and provide the audience with steps to follow.

Term Paper Format

All college and university papers must be standardized. The requirements are the same for all students regardless of their educational institutions. If you plan to pursue a scientific career, you’ll deal with these standards all the time.

Formatting is not the most straightforward task because you need always be concentrated on some details that seem to be useless for you. It is clear why you should develop a unique thesis statement, but some students can’t get why they should use the particular font type or double-spacing.

That’s why formatting is one of the most popular writing services. While you’re working on tasks you like, the professional author and editor provide you with quality formatting.

Several styles are typical for the modern scientific society. Let’s look at them to get a basic understanding.

If you are studying psychology or other social sciences, the APA format is your choice. Here's a shortlist of the main things to consider:

• White A4 sheet 8.5 x 11 inches.
• Times New Roman or other easily readable 12 point font.
• Double spacing for all text.
• 1 "margins on the left, right, top, and bottom of the sheet.
• Indent the paragraph by 1/2 inch.
• The first-page heading, which includes the capitalized running head and the page number.

The MLA style is the preferred guideline for dealing with the humanities such as English and Literature, Arts, etc. Some of the features of this style are:

• Times New Roman, Arial or similar, 12 point font.
• Double spacing for the entire document. Get rid of single or one and a half intervals.
• Enter your contact details and instructor in the upper left corner.
• Take care of 1 "padding on all sides of the sheet.
• Add your last name and page number to all pages in the upper right corner.
• Align the title of the article in the center. Don't use bold, italic, quotation marks, underlines, etc.
• Align the entire article to the left.
• Indent all paragraphs to the right 1/2 inch.

Chicago or Turabian styles are used when it goes about the law assignments. The requirements are similar, but there are some differences as well. Take a look at this list:

• Times, Times New Roman 12 pt font.
• 1-inch margins on all sides.
• Double-spacing.
• Left-justified text with a ragged right edge.
• 12 inch indent for the first sentence of each paragraph.
• Provide page numbers in the top right corner.

Of course, we can’t provide you with all the format requirements in this article. You should have an official relevant guide with all details and examples to follow. Ask your professor if you have any questions. And don’t forget about correct citing, it is necessary to avoid plagiarism.

• The main arguments for and against the death penalty.
• What is more important: national identity or globalization?
• Social isolation and its consequences.
• Should church and state function together?
• Could modern advertising be dangerous?

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• A Research Guide
• Writing Guide
• Assignment Writing

How to Write a Term Paper

• Purpose of a term paper
• How to start a term paper
• Structure and outline

Step-by-step writing guide

Standard term paper format.

• Term paper examples
• Writing tips

What is the purpose of a term paper?

How to start a term paper correctly.

• Choose your topic by focusing on what inspires you unless you are already given a topic.
• Take time to research and analyze your subject.
• Start with a term paper outline (see our templates in the next sections).
• Come up with a strong thesis statement before writing anything for body paragraphs.
• Provide topic sentences and practical examples.
• Provide a strong lesson in the conclusion if it suits the subject you write about.
• Edit and proofread available information for trustworthiness.

Term paper structure and outline

• Introduction. This is where you talk about the subject and a problem you are researching. It helps to introduce your thesis statement and explain the objectives that have been set.
• Body Paragraphs. As a rule, in writing college term papers, one must write down several subheadings and headings to divide ideas and arguments into several (at least four) paragraphs. As done below, each body paragraph should contain one idea and a strong topic sentence.
• Heading 1: History of the argument and background.
• Heading 2: Extent of the problem that you write about.
• Heading 3: Effects of the problem and possible causes.
• Heading 4: Possible solutions and outcomes.
• Conclusion. The final part should represent a strong summary and a response to your thesis statement.

Step 1: Data collection

Step 2: explaining research relevance, step 3: introducing your subject, step 4: literature review preparation, step 5: offering results and conclusions, step 6: structural term paper evaluation, step 7: check your citations and references.

Helpful term paper examples

• Term paper examples that earned an A grade from the University of Delaware
• Sample term paper offered by the Justus-Liebig Universitat Giessen
• Purdue Owl Lab Citation Formats Database
• Simon Fraser University Sample Term Paper

Term paper writing tips

• Choose a topic that inspires you if you have an opportunity. If you have been given an already existing prompt to write, research your subject online and ask about the use of course materials. It will help you to narrow things down and already have source materials for referencing purposes.
• If you can choose a subject to write a final paper for your course, think about something you can support with statistical data and some practical evidence.
• Most importantly, keep your term paper relevant to the main objectives of your study course.
• Keep your tone reflective and natural as you write.
• Double-check your grading rubric regarding limitations and obligatory requirements that must be met.
• Always proofread your term paper aloud!
• If you have an opportunity, consider editing your term paper with the help of a friend or a fellow college student.

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Surveys are a special research tool with strengths, weaknesses, and a language all of their own. There are many different steps to designing and conducting a survey, and survey researchers have specific ways of describing what they do.

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Everyone goes through a term paper. Whether you are a student of Business faculty or History, it is an essential writing assignment to complete during the semester. And if you are up to something more than just finishing high school, you need to befriend this type of assignment.

Why? According to recent studies, the student should have at least three publications from their work before graduation to become a strong Ph.D. candidate and ensure their future academic career is prone to get some substantial grants. Whereas another survey suggests, students who have tamed this beast boast of having the best job offerings among peers. Like it or not, a term paper is a path to success.

Let's break it into pieces to understand what is term paper proposal, why is it important, and what term paper format should look like?

Term Paper Basics: What Is Term Paper Format?

First things first – a college term paper is a scientific report of an assigned topic that is based on an extensive research. It shows students' technical writing expertise and, most importantly, in-depth knowledge of a specific course and subject.

The Importance of Term Paper

So, why do you need to nail term paper? As we have already pointed out, according to recent surveys, students with strong term paper profiles are more often being sought out for offers of employment. Though, that's not all. It is crucial for a student's academic career for such reasons as:

• It carries enormous significance to the overall grade.
• It makes a difference between passing or failing the class.
• It compels students to sort out their thoughts on the subject, making things much more apparent.
• It pushes students to practice their writing and editing skills.
• It provides students with lots of new material and compels them to expand their knowledge and strengthen their academic background.
• It levels up research skills.
• It improves organizational skills that are crucial for communicating ideas and concepts. This quality is necessary for those who want to control their career path and get regular promotions at work.

Term Paper Format: The Definition

Term paper format is a set of writing style guidelines that students need to stick to when describing their research and results and expressing their arguments and findings during the process. There are four types: APA style (it is used in all sorts of disciplines), MLA style (it is another typical style native to various fields), Chicago Style (it is primarily used in History and occasionally in Science and Social Science), and Turabian Style (it is commonly used in Business and Fine Arts).

How to Ensure a Perfect Term Paper?

Our curated collection of samples term papers may provide everyone with some good insights on how to nail this task. Our collection is diverse, so chances are you will find the term paper example that fits your needs. However, do not get too comfortable. This is only half of the battle. To emerge victorious, it is crucial to understand the basics of this writing assignment. Let's consider it closely.

The Basics of a Term paper

Term paper consists of such vital sections:

• The term paper cover page, also known as the term paper title page, is the front face of the writing assignment. It includes the student's name, the title of the paper, the professor's name, course name, and due date. Follow the instructions provided by your teacher and guides of the chosen style to make it fit the university's standards.
• A table of contents. It lists main headings and subheadings to reveal the structure and information hierarchy of the document.
• It describes work on one page and covers the main issue, the subject, and why it is vital for a student's career.
• This section features a thesis or statement of the discussed topic or problem.
• It is the most significant part that uncovers the topic. It includes the main points of the research, information about the problem, analysis of the research, and the author's conclusion.
• This section is about the result of the research and how students' view has changed. It echoes with the introduction and conclusion.
• Every writing assignment ends with a summary; the term paper is no exception. The discussion part is like conclusion: it sums up everything about the research including student's opinion and thoughts about the subject.

Professional Term Paper Outline Template – Where to Get One?

The term paper outline template is a great starting point, especially for first-year students who have never dealt with this assignment before. However, it is also beneficial for senior students. Having a representative example of term paper for college at hand helps undergraduates to kick-start their projects right away and lay the solid foundation to share research results and findings.

So, where to find one? You can surf the web; however, the most effective way is to peek inside our collection of free educational material. Along with free sample essay papers , it has many term paper samples.

Successful Term Paper: Tips and Best Practices

As we have already pointed out, our enormous database provides students with term paper help. Here you can find the term paper template that ideally fits your purpose. However, you cannot use it as it is. It can be only the base for your project. To make it work for you, follow these tips:

• Pick a topic astutely. Choose a topic that is either difficult or unique. This allows you to find some interesting facts that may positively impact your instructor.
• If the topic is assigned, make sure to read the instructions carefully. Identify the purpose of the paper.
• Come up with a thesis statement that shows the exact idea and reflects the type of paper. Place it at the end of the introduction.
• Start with research earlier. Discover auxiliary and essential sources for your research. Gather materials before creating a term paper outline. Search through credible resources such as books, peer-reviewed journals, and official websites of government or universities. Be careful with articles in journals and magazines since they may express the author's personal opinion.
• Choose statements that are informative, directional, meaningful, and engaging.
• Start each paragraph with the statement.
• Create the first-level outline. After that, fill in subpoints and the second-level outline.
• Include arguments and counter-arguments.
• Cite your resources according to the chosen style.
• Format bibliography.
• Cover page,
• Presentation;
• Procedure area,
• Discoveries;
• Conversation;
• Double-check everything and read the paper twice.
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How to Write a Survey Report

Last Updated: February 16, 2024 Approved

This article was reviewed by Anne Schmidt . Anne Schmidt is a Chemistry Instructor in Wisconsin. Anne has been teaching high school chemistry for over 20 years and is passionate about providing accessible and educational chemistry content. She has over 9,000 subscribers to her educational chemistry YouTube channel. She has presented at the American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AATC) and was an Adjunct General Chemistry Instructor at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. Anne was published in the Journal of Chemical Education as a Co-Author, has an article in ChemEdX, and has presented twice and was published with the AACT. Anne has a BS in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, and an MA in Secondary Education and Teaching from Viterbo University. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, several readers have written to tell us that this article was helpful to them, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 407,522 times.

Once you have finished conducting a survey, all that is left to do is write the survey report. A survey report describes a survey, its results, and any patterns or trends found in the survey. Most survey reports follow a standard organization, broken up under certain headings. Each section has a specific purpose. Fill out each section correctly and proofread the paper to create a polished and professional report.

Writing the Summary and Background Info

• Table of Contents
• Executive Summary
• Background and Objectives
• Methodology
• Conclusion and Recommendations

• Methodology of the survey.
• Key results of the survey.
• Conclusions drawn from the results of the survey.
• Recommendations based on the results of the survey.

• Study or target population: Who is being studied? Do they belong to a certain age group, cultural group, religion, political belief, or other common practice?
• Variables of the study: What is the survey trying to study? Is the study looking for the association or relationship between two things?
• Purpose of the study: How will this information be used? What new information can this survey help us realize?

• Look for surveys done by researchers in peer-viewed academic journals. In addition to these, consult reports produced by similar companies, organizations, newspapers, or think tanks.
• Compare their results to yours. Do your results support or conflict with their claims? What new information does your report provide on the matter?
• Provide a description of the issue backed with peer-reviewed evidence. Define what it is you're trying to learn and explain why other studies haven't found this information.

Explaining the Method and Results

• Who did you ask? How can you define the gender, age, and other characteristics of these groups?
• Did you do the survey over email, telephone, website, or 1-on-1 interviews?
• Were participants randomly chosen or selected for a certain reason?
• How large was the sample size? In other words, how many people answered the results of the survey?
• Were participants offered anything in exchange for filling out the survey?

• For example, you might sum up the general theme of your questions by saying, "Participants were asked to answer questions about their daily routine and dietary practices."
• Don't put all of the questions in this section. Instead, include your questionnaire in the first appendix (Appendix A).

• If your survey interviewed people, choose a few relevant responses and type them up in this section. Refer the reader to the full questionnaire, which will be in the appendix.
• If your survey was broken up into multiple sections, report the results of each section separately, with a subheading for each section.
• Avoid making any claims about the results in this section. Just report the data, using statistics, sample answers, and quantitative data.
• Include graphs, charts, and other visual representations of your data in this section.

• For example, do people from a similar age group response to a certain question in a similar way?
• Look at questions that received the highest number of similar responses. This means that most people answer the question in similar ways. What do you think that means?

Analyzing Your Results

• Here you may break away from the objective tone of the rest of the paper. You might state if readers should be alarmed, concerned, or intrigued by something.
• For example, you might highlight how current policy is failing or state how the survey demonstrates that current practices are succeeding.

• More research needs to be done on this topic.
• Current guidelines or policy need to be changed.
• The company or institution needs to take action.

• Appendices are typically labeled with letters, such as Appendix A, Appendix B, Appendix C, and so on.
• You may refer to appendices throughout your paper. For example, you can say, “Refer to Appendix A for the questionnaire” or “Participants were asked 20 questions (Appendix A)”.

Polishing Your Report

• The table of contents should list the page numbers for each section (or heading) of the report.

• Typically, you will cite information using in-text parenthetical citations. Put the name of the author and other information, such as the page number or year of publication, in parentheses at the end of a sentence.
• Some professional organizations may have their own separate guidelines. Consult these for more information.
• If you don’t need a specific style, make sure that the formatting for the paper is consistent throughout. Use the same spacing, font, font size, and citations throughout the paper.

• Try not to editorialize the results as you report them. For example, don’t say, “The study shows an alarming trend of increasing drug use that must be stopped.” Instead, just say, “The results show an increase in drug use.”

• If you have a choice between a simple word and a complex word, choose the simpler term. For example, instead of “1 out of 10 civilians testify to imbibing alcoholic drinks thrice daily,” just say “1 out of 10 people report drinking alcohol 3 times a day.”
• Remove any unnecessary phrases or words. For example, instead of “In order to determine the frequency of the adoption of dogs,” just say “To determine the frequency of dog adoption.”

• Make sure you have page numbers on the bottom of the page. Check that the table of contents contains the right page numbers.
• Remember, spell check on word processors doesn’t always catch every mistake. Ask someone else to proofread for you to help you catch errors.

Survey Report Template

Community Q&A

• Always represent the data accurately in your report. Do not lie or misrepresent information. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://survey.umn.edu/best-practices/survey-analysis-reporting-your-findings
• ↑ https://www.poynter.org/news/beware-sloppiness-when-reporting-surveys
• ↑ https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/assessment/assessing-community-needs-and-resources/conduct-surveys/main

About This Article

To write a survey report, you’ll need to include an executive summary, your background and objectives, the methodology, results, and a conclusion with recommendations. In the executive summary, write out the main points of your report in a brief 1-2 page explanation. After the summary, state the objective of the summary, or why the survey was conducted. You should also include the hypothesis and goals of the survey. Once you’ve written this, provide some background information, such as similar studies that have been conducted, that add to your research. Then, explain how your study was conducted in the methodology section. Make sure to include the size of your sample and what your survey contained. Finally, include the results of your study and what implications they present. To learn how to polish your report with a title page and table of contents, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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• Survey Research | Definition, Examples & Methods

Survey Research | Definition, Examples & Methods

Published on August 20, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on June 22, 2023.

Survey research means collecting information about a group of people by asking them questions and analyzing the results. To conduct an effective survey, follow these six steps:

• Determine who will participate in the survey
• Decide the type of survey (mail, online, or in-person)
• Design the survey questions and layout
• Distribute the survey
• Analyze the responses
• Write up the results

Surveys are a flexible method of data collection that can be used in many different types of research .

Table of contents

What are surveys used for, step 1: define the population and sample, step 2: decide on the type of survey, step 3: design the survey questions, step 4: distribute the survey and collect responses, step 5: analyze the survey results, step 6: write up the survey results, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about surveys.

Surveys are used as a method of gathering data in many different fields. They are a good choice when you want to find out about the characteristics, preferences, opinions, or beliefs of a group of people.

Common uses of survey research include:

• Social research : investigating the experiences and characteristics of different social groups
• Market research : finding out what customers think about products, services, and companies
• Health research : collecting data from patients about symptoms and treatments
• Politics : measuring public opinion about parties and policies
• Psychology : researching personality traits, preferences and behaviours

Surveys can be used in both cross-sectional studies , where you collect data just once, and in longitudinal studies , where you survey the same sample several times over an extended period.

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Before you start conducting survey research, you should already have a clear research question that defines what you want to find out. Based on this question, you need to determine exactly who you will target to participate in the survey.

Populations

The target population is the specific group of people that you want to find out about. This group can be very broad or relatively narrow. For example:

• The population of Brazil
• US college students
• Second-generation immigrants in the Netherlands
• Customers of a specific company aged 18-24
• British transgender women over the age of 50

Your survey should aim to produce results that can be generalized to the whole population. That means you need to carefully define exactly who you want to draw conclusions about.

Several common research biases can arise if your survey is not generalizable, particularly sampling bias and selection bias . The presence of these biases have serious repercussions for the validity of your results.

It’s rarely possible to survey the entire population of your research – it would be very difficult to get a response from every person in Brazil or every college student in the US. Instead, you will usually survey a sample from the population.

The sample size depends on how big the population is. You can use an online sample calculator to work out how many responses you need.

There are many sampling methods that allow you to generalize to broad populations. In general, though, the sample should aim to be representative of the population as a whole. The larger and more representative your sample, the more valid your conclusions. Again, beware of various types of sampling bias as you design your sample, particularly self-selection bias , nonresponse bias , undercoverage bias , and survivorship bias .

There are two main types of survey:

• A questionnaire , where a list of questions is distributed by mail, online or in person, and respondents fill it out themselves.
• An interview , where the researcher asks a set of questions by phone or in person and records the responses.

Which type you choose depends on the sample size and location, as well as the focus of the research.

Questionnaires

Sending out a paper survey by mail is a common method of gathering demographic information (for example, in a government census of the population).

• You can easily access a large sample.
• You have some control over who is included in the sample (e.g. residents of a specific region).
• The response rate is often low, and at risk for biases like self-selection bias .

Online surveys are a popular choice for students doing dissertation research , due to the low cost and flexibility of this method. There are many online tools available for constructing surveys, such as SurveyMonkey and Google Forms .

• You can quickly access a large sample without constraints on time or location.
• The data is easy to process and analyze.
• The anonymity and accessibility of online surveys mean you have less control over who responds, which can lead to biases like self-selection bias .

If your research focuses on a specific location, you can distribute a written questionnaire to be completed by respondents on the spot. For example, you could approach the customers of a shopping mall or ask all students to complete a questionnaire at the end of a class.

• You can screen respondents to make sure only people in the target population are included in the sample.
• You can collect time- and location-specific data (e.g. the opinions of a store’s weekday customers).
• The sample size will be smaller, so this method is less suitable for collecting data on broad populations and is at risk for sampling bias .

Oral interviews are a useful method for smaller sample sizes. They allow you to gather more in-depth information on people’s opinions and preferences. You can conduct interviews by phone or in person.

• You have personal contact with respondents, so you know exactly who will be included in the sample in advance.
• You can clarify questions and ask for follow-up information when necessary.
• The lack of anonymity may cause respondents to answer less honestly, and there is more risk of researcher bias.

Like questionnaires, interviews can be used to collect quantitative data: the researcher records each response as a category or rating and statistically analyzes the results. But they are more commonly used to collect qualitative data : the interviewees’ full responses are transcribed and analyzed individually to gain a richer understanding of their opinions and feelings.

Next, you need to decide which questions you will ask and how you will ask them. It’s important to consider:

• The type of questions
• The content of the questions
• The phrasing of the questions
• The ordering and layout of the survey

Open-ended vs closed-ended questions

There are two main forms of survey questions: open-ended and closed-ended. Many surveys use a combination of both.

Closed-ended questions give the respondent a predetermined set of answers to choose from. A closed-ended question can include:

• A binary answer (e.g. yes/no or agree/disagree )
• A scale (e.g. a Likert scale with five points ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree )
• A list of options with a single answer possible (e.g. age categories)
• A list of options with multiple answers possible (e.g. leisure interests)

Closed-ended questions are best for quantitative research . They provide you with numerical data that can be statistically analyzed to find patterns, trends, and correlations .

Open-ended questions are best for qualitative research. This type of question has no predetermined answers to choose from. Instead, the respondent answers in their own words.

Open questions are most common in interviews, but you can also use them in questionnaires. They are often useful as follow-up questions to ask for more detailed explanations of responses to the closed questions.

The content of the survey questions

To ensure the validity and reliability of your results, you need to carefully consider each question in the survey. All questions should be narrowly focused with enough context for the respondent to answer accurately. Avoid questions that are not directly relevant to the survey’s purpose.

When constructing closed-ended questions, ensure that the options cover all possibilities. If you include a list of options that isn’t exhaustive, you can add an “other” field.

Phrasing the survey questions

In terms of language, the survey questions should be as clear and precise as possible. Tailor the questions to your target population, keeping in mind their level of knowledge of the topic. Avoid jargon or industry-specific terminology.

Survey questions are at risk for biases like social desirability bias , the Hawthorne effect , or demand characteristics . It’s critical to use language that respondents will easily understand, and avoid words with vague or ambiguous meanings. Make sure your questions are phrased neutrally, with no indication that you’d prefer a particular answer or emotion.

Ordering the survey questions

The questions should be arranged in a logical order. Start with easy, non-sensitive, closed-ended questions that will encourage the respondent to continue.

If the survey covers several different topics or themes, group together related questions. You can divide a questionnaire into sections to help respondents understand what is being asked in each part.

If a question refers back to or depends on the answer to a previous question, they should be placed directly next to one another.

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Before you start, create a clear plan for where, when, how, and with whom you will conduct the survey. Determine in advance how many responses you require and how you will gain access to the sample.

When you are satisfied that you have created a strong research design suitable for answering your research questions, you can conduct the survey through your method of choice – by mail, online, or in person.

There are many methods of analyzing the results of your survey. First you have to process the data, usually with the help of a computer program to sort all the responses. You should also clean the data by removing incomplete or incorrectly completed responses.

If you asked open-ended questions, you will have to code the responses by assigning labels to each response and organizing them into categories or themes. You can also use more qualitative methods, such as thematic analysis , which is especially suitable for analyzing interviews.

Statistical analysis is usually conducted using programs like SPSS or Stata. The same set of survey data can be subject to many analyses.

Finally, when you have collected and analyzed all the necessary data, you will write it up as part of your thesis, dissertation , or research paper .

In the methodology section, you describe exactly how you conducted the survey. You should explain the types of questions you used, the sampling method, when and where the survey took place, and the response rate. You can include the full questionnaire as an appendix and refer to it in the text if relevant.

Then introduce the analysis by describing how you prepared the data and the statistical methods you used to analyze it. In the results section, you summarize the key results from your analysis.

In the discussion and conclusion , you give your explanations and interpretations of these results, answer your research question, and reflect on the implications and limitations of the research.

If you want to know more about statistics , methodology , or research bias , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

• Student’s  t -distribution
• Normal distribution
• Null and Alternative Hypotheses
• Chi square tests
• Confidence interval
• Quartiles & Quantiles
• Cluster sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Data cleansing
• Reproducibility vs Replicability
• Peer review
• Prospective cohort study

Research bias

• Implicit bias
• Cognitive bias
• Placebo effect
• Hawthorne effect
• Hindsight bias
• Affect heuristic
• Social desirability bias

A questionnaire is a data collection tool or instrument, while a survey is an overarching research method that involves collecting and analyzing data from people using questionnaires.

A Likert scale is a rating scale that quantitatively assesses opinions, attitudes, or behaviors. It is made up of 4 or more questions that measure a single attitude or trait when response scores are combined.

To use a Likert scale in a survey , you present participants with Likert-type questions or statements, and a continuum of items, usually with 5 or 7 possible responses, to capture their degree of agreement.

Individual Likert-type questions are generally considered ordinal data , because the items have clear rank order, but don’t have an even distribution.

Overall Likert scale scores are sometimes treated as interval data. These scores are considered to have directionality and even spacing between them.

The type of data determines what statistical tests you should use to analyze your data.

The priorities of a research design can vary depending on the field, but you usually have to specify:

• Your research questions and/or hypotheses
• Your overall approach (e.g., qualitative or quantitative )
• The type of design you’re using (e.g., a survey , experiment , or case study )
• Your sampling methods or criteria for selecting subjects
• Your data collection methods (e.g., questionnaires , observations)
• Your data collection procedures (e.g., operationalization , timing and data management)
• Your data analysis methods (e.g., statistical tests  or thematic analysis )

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