Putting the Term Paper Together
Final Outline-Your final outline will line up just like your preliminary outline did. You will skip one line between Roman numerals. You will use your notecards to break your outline down as far as possible. Remember, if you have an a, you must have a b; if you have a 1, you must have a 2. Your outline should go from being one page in length to being 1-3 pages if you have broken it down as far as possible. Below is a sample of the outline I started with and gave you a copy of . I have broken down the first Roman numeral for you as an example.
II. Dating
A. Getting acquainted
1. Church functions
2. School events
a. Dances
b. Sporting events
c. Clubs / activities
3. Online
a. E-harmony
b. Social networks
1) Facebook
2) Myspace
3) Twitter
4. Mutual friends
B. Enjoying companionship
1. Alone
a. Date
1) Movies
2) Restaurants
3) Bowling
4) Skating
b. Phone
2. With others
a. Family
1) Holidays
a) Thanksgiving
b) Christmas
c) Easter
2) Sundays
3) Special occasions
b. Friends
1) Double dates
2) Prom
3) Sporting events
Paper with documentation – Using your final outline and your notes and bib cards, you will write your paper. Your first paragraph will be an introduction. Your introduction must have at least three sentences and the last sentence will be your thesis word for word off your final outline. You will start out broad and move to specific (thesis).
Example: Many diseases plague the people of the world every day. One of these illnesses is diabetes. Diabetes can and must be controlled for the patient’s sake.
Example: As long as there have been people, there have been unexplained occurrences. The Loch Ness Monster has caused much controversy and discussions. This paper will prove the existence of the Loch Ness Monster.
Example: Marriage is not a simple step in life. One is making the most important decision he/she will ever make when deciding to marry. For this reason, one must consider many things when thinking of marriage.
After your introduction, move to Roman number II. You will use the facts you have and organize and use transitions to make the information flow smoothly. After each fact, you must document where the information came from. You will use the author’s last name and page number after the fact. If the source has no author, you will use part of the title and the page number.
Example from Roman number II:
Couples can get acquainted through a variety of methods. One way is through church functions. A couple may meet in a Sunday school class, at a church picnic, or before church services begin (Jones 43). Couples can also meet at school events. Dances, sporting events, and clubs all provide opportunities for people to get to know one another (Smith 2). Today, many couples are becoming acquainted through social networks. Three of the most popular social networks are Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter (Dating Today 1). An old-fashioned way to meet is through mutual friends; friends often know both persons and know what they have in common (Jones 46).
After a couple gets acquainted, they will spend more time with each other and enjoy each other’s company.
You will continue down your outline using your notes to write the paper. When you finish all the Roman numerals except the last one, you will write a conclusion. Your conclusion starts with your thesis reworded and works back out broad.
Example: This paper has proven that diabetes can and must be controlled. Doctors are working hard to find a cure for diabetes. Maybe one day, no one will have to suffer from this disease.
Example: This paper has proven the existence of the Loch Ness Monster. Other monsters have been sighted by people as well. As long as there are people, people will encounter unexplained “monsters”.
Example: As this paper has proven, one must consider many things when thinking of marriage. Marriage is forever. For this reason, a person must be sure that he/she is making the right choice in a lifetime partner.
Final Bibliography- Use the three pages of handouts I gave you when we started the paper as format guidelines. In addition, follow these rules:
a- List only the sources you used in your paper. Find the bib cards you used for documentation within your paper. Pull these bib cards out. These will make up your Final bibliography.
b-Alphabetize entries (bib cards) using author’s last name; if no author use first word of title omitting “a,” “an,” and “the.”
c- Do not number entries.
d- Single space entries and double space between entries. Your entries will look like the ones on the handouts I gave you.
e- Indent all lines but the first line of each entry.
f- Put a period at the end of each entry.
g- Type Works Cited on top of your page in the center.
NOTE: Turn in your paper in this order. Final draft is due by April 19, 2013 at 4:00. NO LATE PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED!!! Murphy’s Law will kick in: what can go wrong on Thursday night April 18, 2013 will go wrong. Get it in early!!!!!!!
