Writing term papers [http://www.flashpapers.com/] is a science and an art that not everybody can excel in. It is a skill that is learned, which you can gain and apply throughout your college and university years. These proven and tested steps for writing a term paper will guarantee a good foundation for your custom writing papers at college and relieve you from the everyday struggle with the writer's block and the never - ending pressure from approaching deadlines:

Step # 1 - Choose a good term paper topic and make sure that:

It raises questions that you would like to answer;
It invokes strong feelings within you;
You can find authoritative information about it;
It provides intellectual challenges or forces you to reflect on what you think;

Step # 2 - Find a focus for your research

List whatever you already know, and then turn to brainstorm questions you would like to answer through your research. Ask yourself the following questions:

What is my tentative focusing question?
How other questions might help me explore that particular focus?

Step # 3 - Give yourself enough time to work and research

Unless you plan to take help from a custom paper writing service, for an average length term paper you should give yourself almost a month for collecting materials, writing your first draft, and polishing your term paper until it is perfect. At a bare minimum you should give yourself a week or two.

Write a quick schedule to help yourself allocate your time wisely: list the days you have left and the time during the days when you will be able to work.

Step # 4 - Do a preliminary search on your term paper topic

Look for books, articles, experts you can interview, web sites, videos, newspapers, etc. Make sure you find enough information that is required to develop your term paper. Use information from a variety of reference sources which include encyclopedias, almanacs, scholarly journals, magazines, and newspapers. Find these sources in print form, on CDs, or from the Internet.

Step # 5 - Prepare note cards for your term paper

Use note cards to record the notes from each source you have utilized while writing your term paper. Number all your note cards to keep a track of them and write down all bibliography information on a separate index card. This would help you identify footnotes and citations.

Step # 6 - Write a rough draft

Use your note cards and information to write a rough draft of your term paper. As you have written your draft, use the numbered footnotes to credit sources from which you have taken quotations or the major ideas.

Step # 7 - Experiment with "leads"

As you start writing your introduction, consider the following options to grab attention of your reader:
Use anecdote;
Set a scene;
Profile a person or provide background on your topic;
Use quotations;
Compare any two unlike things that highlight a problem or dilemma;
Open with a dialogue, question, or an announcement.

Step # 8 - Revise your rough draft

Make any changes that are needed to make sure that your ideas are clearly expressed, and your writing has accurate spelling and grammar.

Step # 9 - Prepare your reference list

At the end of your term paper, provide a list of all the sources that you have used in your paper. Your note cards will help you list down your sources of information in alphabetical order and format them.

Step # 10 - Create a title page

A title page is the first page of your term paper which includes the title of your paper, the date, your name, and your teacherÕ ¢ï¿½ï¿½s name. However, there are some different styles of formatting the title page, depending on the term paper format that you have been assigned