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What Do Instructors Look for in a Term Paper?. Demonstration of originality and effort Demonstration that learning took place Neatness, correctness, and appearance of the presentation. Writing a Term Paper: Five Phases. Phase 1: Picking a topic
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What Do Instructors Look for in a Term Paper? • Demonstration of originality and effort • Demonstration that learning took place • Neatness, correctness, and appearance of the presentation
Writing a Term Paper: Five Phases • Phase 1: Picking a topic • Phase 2: Doing initial research and developing a preliminary outline • Phase 3: Doing further research—using the library • Phase 4: Sorting your notes, revising the outline, and writing a first draft • Phase 5: Revising, typing, and proofreading your paper—employing critical thinking
FINDING YOUR WAY AROUND THE LIBRARY • 1. The desk • 2. The catalog • 3. A reference section • 4. A periodicals section • 5. A section housing books • 6. A section housing back issues of periodicals
FINDING YOUR WAY AROUND THE LIBRARY • 1. A media center • 2. A section for reserve books • 3. A vertical file containing pamphlets on special topics • 4. A government documents section
HOW TO FIND WHAT YOU WANT IN BOOKS • CD-ROM catalogs • Online computerized catalogs
HOW TO FIND WHAT YOU WANT IN NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES, & JOURNALS • Newspaper indexes • Magazine indexes • Journal indexes and abstracts
HOW TO FIND OTHER REFERENCE MATERIALS • Dictionaries, thesauruses, style books • Encyclopedias, almanacs, handbooks • Government literatureCD-ROM encyclopedias, atlases, and reference works • Computer networks
SOME WRITING TIPS • Make your point and give support • Quote experts • Avoid irrelevancies • Give the source of your data and examples • Jot down ideas • Take breaks
How does an instructor spot a term paper based primarily on Web research? • No books cited • Outdated material • Unrelated pictures and graphs • Superficial references
Making an Oral Presentation • PREPARING YOUR NOTES: TWO METHODS • On 4 x 6 cards • Outlined on paper
HOW TO REDUCE YOUR NERVOUSNESS: REHEARSAL & PREPARATION • Read silently • Read aloud • Memorize the opening • Practice on a spot • Practice in a mirror • Practice on audiotape, videotape, or in front of friends