Writing A Literature Term Paper

by Internet Archive Book Images

The topic of a literature paper focuses on the works used more than on any other source. For example if one writes a paper Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s things fall apart, the paper will use the novel to the extent that it will be the only source of reference used in writing the literature paper. The first step in writing a good literature paper is the decision on the topic one wants to write and read that work or relevant portions of it thoroughly that one understands it enough to write on it.

This is important since one is expected to provide more supporting details for each point of the analysis. In addition, in any literature paper one must develop a thesis that will make a point about the topic. Thesis must be specific enough to allow one to write many pages about it. Thesis statement in literature papers reveals one’s perspective and it must be debatable. The next step in writing the literature paper will be to construct an outline in which one selects details from their original notes, and arrange them in groups according to subtopics or major points to make up the literature paper’s body.

This results to gathering evidence to support one’s thesis by underlining what fits one’s points and writing marginal notes about how the evidence fits. One can also take notes on the topic from the text together with page reference and own comment about the significance of a particular material. In writing literature papers, research papers, term papers, thesis or dissertations or essays, one must also write a first draft without paying much attention to grammar, punctuations, spellings or style. The draft must have three parts introduction, body and conclusion.

The introduction gets the reader’s attention in one’s paper as well as presenting one’s thesis. The scope of the literature paper should be made clear from the beginning and it always advisable for one to list the subtopics to be discussed in the body or indicate the direction to which the discussion will take. In a literature paper, every detail in the body should be in support of the thesis. Every paragraph should be treated as a mini-essay with a topic sentence that supports the subtopic. In the body, one should avoid summarizing the plot for literature work but instead interpret. Again, digressions and irrelevant referenced to personal experience or beliefs as well as clichés and unsupportable generalizations must be avoided. Finally, one must provide a conclusion section for the literature paper.

The concluding paragraph should tie together the specific points found in the body and give the literature paper a since of completeness and significance. In the end, one needs to revise the first draft made by correcting faulty grammar, punctuations, and spellings. In literature papers, title page is not necessary since one type their title two inches from the top of the first page with the first letters of each word capitalized. A one inch margin is left all around the paper and the text double-spaced. The beginnings of each paragraph are indented. Plagiarism or any other form of cheating in literature papers must be avoided through proper referencing of sources, and citations in the text. One should practice using quotations sparingly, accurately and introduce them smoothly.

Related Literature Articles