A term paper, also popularly referred to as a research paper, is a written study prepared by college and university students over the course of a semester.  As it usually accounts for a large part of a student’s final grade in the course in question, its importance cannot be overstated.  Their appreciation of the importance of term, or research papers, and the extent to which they can positively or negatively affect their final grade, has many students extremely anxious over the prospect of their researching and writing their term paper.  In keeping with its goal of relieving the pressure which college and university students, The Essayist has composed this simple and straightforward guide to term paper researching and writing.

A prerequisite to successful term paper research and writing is adherence to an 8-point systematic procedure:

1)      Selecting a topic relevant to the course but which you, yourself, find interesting

2)      Analysing the selected topic and deciding upon a particular focus.  For instance, if the term paper is being written for a political economy course and the topic selected is THE IMPACT OF WTO POLICIES ON DEVELOPING ECONOMIES, the focus could be, STRATEGIES ADOPTED BY THE ASIAN TIGERS TO COUNTER THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF WTO POLICIES.

3)      Collecting the research sources needed from the university library and/or online academic databases;

4)      Skimming through the research material gathered and setting aside those which are neither credible nor scholarly (newspaper, magazine and trade publication items)

5)      Reading through the research material selected for inclusion in the term paper and making notations, either on the articles themselves or on note cards

6)      Preparing your term paper outline, referring to the notes you have made

7)      Writing the first draft of your term paper

8)      Proofreading and editing your first draft and preparing your final term paper draft, ready for submission

Should you follow the steps outlined here, you can rest assured that you will produce a good term paper.  Certainly, the work involved is great, requiring both time and effort but, do not forget that the percentage of the final grade allocated to your term paper is equally substantial.  Hence, while you will never regret putting in the necessary effort, you will regret not doing so.

Remember, if you face any unexpected difficulties, you can always make your way over to http://www.thessayist.com for additional help.  We offer a wide range of academic services, several of which are invaluable to students writing their term or research papers.  A member of our Write Right team of professional researchers can either write you an entire, high quality, completely plagiarism-free model term or research paper, can help you in the collection of your research material or in proofreading, editing or evaluating a term paper you have already completed.

Online, you can look for universities and colleges with ease. No matter whether you would like to geo target colleges and universities near to you and you wish to explore kinds of educational institutions (e.g. four-year programs, community learning centers, co-op ed/accelerated programs), the Internet provides search tools as well as efficient customer service for you to make sense of the college choices. Online you may work with independent guidance counselor to explore the different American universities and colleges out there. Concentrate on what you wish out of the education before examining choices. The factors to take into accout include the price of the programs, then the time commitments coupled with learning, then the specificity degree with which you wish to pursue an educational subject, plus the nature of the intended career path. Nearly each respected and accredited college and university maintains flourishing Internet presences. Though, searching a school’s site as well as walking around on the campus are different things. When you have narrowed your area of application options by reading statistics, speaking with guidance counselors, and isolating your own wants and needs, you could plan a tour to some of your desirable schools. Also, you may schedule interviews with the admissions officials or alumni at your universities and colleges. Gather info in a timely way and be sure to put together your application materials with time to spare. Many four-year universities and colleges will need applicants to hand in personal essays, teacher recommendations, high school transcripts, financial aid data, as well as collage board (for example, the ACT and the SAT) scores. Also, you can apply to different schools through what is called the common application. In case you would like to help parsing your search results, or in case want to locate a well respected college guidance counselor in your field, you can work with online application writing representative to benefit from

It is important to draw justification for a study abroad program from the college/university mission statement. Look for excerpts from mission statements and senior level administration for internationalizing the curriculum, developing students with a global perspective, preparing students for a global workforce, etc.

Write a mission statement for study abroad that makes it a priority to integrate international education services into the foundation of the college/university mission. A study abroad office mission includes an academic enhancement role and student support services. It is essential to include with your mission statement, some measurable intended outcomes for study abroad. Your statements of intended outcomes will guide your policies and practice.

It is also important to understand that every institution invests dollars and staff in endeavors that support and enhance the institutional mission and outcomes. Just as we see different levels of support for campus housing on various campuses, we also see different levels of support for international education.

Study abroad has long been considered an elective or “luxury” experience and thus has not been tied to the core values (and therefore finances) of most institutions. The closer you correlate study abroad with institutional priorities, the more leverage you will have in gaining support for your endeavors.

An example of a campus mission statement that is easily identifiable with education abroad.

Mission Statement:

We educate students to put the liberal arts into action as citizens in a global society.

And they go on to describe their core values as:

Academic Excellence, Diversity, Equity, and Shared Governance, Education of the Entire Person, Adherence to Common Ethical and Moral Standards Community Service and Global Citizenship, Environmental Stewardship.

This makes it easy to integrate study abroad into the core values of the institution.

Another example of a university mission statement is:

Our mission is to educate and nurture students, to create knowledge, and to provide service to our community and beyond. Committed to excellence and proud of the diversity of our University family, we strive to develop future leaders of our nation and the world.

However, some university mission statements require a little more work to integrate international education into the core values. For example consider the following mission statement

Our mission is to discover, create, transmit, and apply knowledge to address the needs of individuals and society. This mission is accomplished through instruction, which communicates the knowledge and values and imparts the skills necessary for individuals to lead responsible, productive, and personally satisfying lives; through research, scholarship, and creative activities, which advance knowledge and enhance the educational process; and through public service, which contributes to the solution of societal problems and enriches the quality of life in the State.

And yet other university mission statements do not lend themselves easily to integrating international education as a core value.

Our mission as a multipurpose public institution is to develop educated persons of inquiring, creative, and disciplined intelligence to be competent in careers that are fulfilling and to be socially responsible contributors to society. This University strives, therefore, to graduate people on the bachelor’s and master’s level who have had sound education in the arts and sciences and relevant specialized training built upon that base.

A study abroad office mission statement can also come in many diverse forms and visions. The following mission statement is an example of a diverse vision:

The Office for Study Abroad promotes opportunities for global education to all eligible students in order for them to gain an understanding of other countries, regions, languages, and cultures through direct overseas experience.

Some universities have taken the approach of being very explicit about their connection to the institution’s core values:

In support of the University’s mission to “promote the process of lifelong learning from both global and integrative perspectives,” the Office for Study Abroad offers international education opportunities to students through the University’s overseas study centers, international exchange partners, and affiliated organizations. As an extension of the University’s academic program, we promote academic excellence and provide access to high quality international education programs in expanding geographic destinations to serve a diverse student population representing a wide array of academic disciplines. As educators, we facilitate the academic, personal, professional, and intercultural development of students through the programs and services we provide.

And one more example of a carefully crafted mission statement that not only integrates international education into the university core value, but also sets criteria and objectives for policy:

We are a world leader in research, teaching, and public engagement. Many hands – at home and abroad – make it so, and many benefit. Study abroad is one of the ways in which our students and others build and benefit from our University’s international engagement.

Our mission is to provide and facilitate a range of study and education opportunities abroad consonant in breadth and quality with on-campus curricula, offered for short or long duration according to curricular objectives and in consideration of students’ obligations, at a range of costs and with opportunities for scholarship or subvention such that study abroad opportunity is available to all students in good standing. Attention to students’ health, safety, and well-being abroad underlies all other considerations.

Our intention is that through study abroad we and our partners prepare students for global citizenship, guiding them to a greater understanding of world and domestic cultures and encouraging them to share that understanding with their hosts abroad and communities at home; that students gain or enhance area, linguistic, subject, and cultural knowledge and competence; that students contribute to their host communities; and that students emerge wiser and more engaged citizens

Having an opportunity to attend college was one of the life’s experiences that will always have an impact on my journey through life. With that experience and becoming a little wiser (older is a more applicable description), expressing pride in my institution is something that I really enjoy and feel is essential. I have no problem becoming a walking, talking billboard for my institution (Southern Illinois University – Go Salukis!) including sharing my stories with many during my journey. This activity has a dual effect. For me, it offers a reciprocal reaction which states that my institution is fortunate and grateful to have an alumnus that offers contributions to the world and demonstrates commitment and discipline to his craft. These types of characteristics continue to benefit my institution.

My college experience was fabulous. It seems like it was yesterday that I was on campus either heading to class or meeting many friends enjoying a great pizza or playing football on a frigid Saturday morning before we began our tailgating ritual. Yes those years were certainly memorable and quite an impact. As I continue to reach higher levels in my career, I will always reflect on my college experiences, classes, instructors and friends. Each reflection increases my admiration and pride for Southern Illinois University. With many of us unanimously agreeing that our college days were instrumental in where we are today, we must continue to express pride and make a commitment to our institution. There are many ways to express pride in your institution. Let’s take a look at some of the basic methods:

Alumni Giving – Alumni financial giving is at the core of any institution’s survival.

Participation/Alumni Groups – Each college/university has alumni located in the majority of large cities. Locate your local chapter and get involved.

Personal Story – Just a simple conversation about your experiences during your college days could create interest in your institution.

Institution Merchandise – Shirts, banners, bumper stickers, hats are additional ways to express pride in your institution. Also, by purchasing university merchandise, a source of revenue is provided for the institution.

Attend Athletic Events – Many institutions have well established athletic programs that create a wealth of revenue for the institution. Purchasing tickets, tailgating, participating in activities all contribute to the bottom line.

Volunteer to speak to youth groups – Middle and high school students are influenced by individuals that actually display effort to help. When you speak to a youth group, you provide an impact beyond measure.

Now many alumni ask the question “Why Should I Express Pride in my institution?” Many alumni feel that they have given enough to the institution via tuition. However tuition only covers a percentage of the overall cost of operating an institution. Many institutions rely on alumni giving to provide day to day operations. Our higher-ed institutions are the backbone of creativity for this global environment. Continued support for our institutions is crucial to our children’s success. Let’s give them an opportunity to experience some of the simple pleasures in which their memories will last a lifetime. I will always cherish my short period of time at SIU. From the beautiful campus and an invaluable education to the social events and life long friendships, my time at this institution will always be a part of my fabric. Express Pride and Commitment to Your College/University! Support Your Institution!

Melvin Anderson is VP-Business Development for Movitas Corporation. ExpressYourPride.com is a brand of Movitas. http://www.expressyourpride.com. ExpressYourPride.com provides products that allow students/alumni/fans/supporters of colleges/universities the opportunity to express pride and commitment to their individual institution. Each personalized/animated product is dynamically created with your first/last name, year of graduation, name of degree, etc. Express Pride and Commitment to Your Organization!

Accredited distance learning university and college degrees has been opening doors for people all over the world to a more fulfilling life, better career opportunities and providing keys to earning more money. With the ease of online education, people who would normally have no opportunities to study for university or college degrees can now do so by distance learning with accredited online universities and colleges.

All you need to do is just to conduct an internet search and you will find many accredited institutions offering online degree programs right from a bachelor’s degree to MBAs and even Doctorate post graduate programs. The world of online learning has exploded fast and furious in the last couple of years and even busy professionals and working adults can study for a degree online.

Studying for an online degree fits perfectly with the world of convenience that the internet has created. The internet has made our lives so much more convenient like paying bills, shopping and now, even getting a college degree online.

For many people, getting a college degree can mean a great jump in career advancement along with salary increment. Thousands if not millions of lives have changed for the better because of this technology.

Since getting an online degree do not have to adhere to strict and rigid classroom schedules, it has enabled many more busy people to get their degrees online. This is the primary reason why the online education industry has grown so rapidly together with its growing status of credibility and respectability.

The idea of studying anywhere and anytime is certainly appealing. Students can study from comfort of their homes or any other location as and when they choose to. How much more convenient can studying for a college degree can get?

Another great benefit of choosing to get an accredited long online degree is that students can evade costs and pain of relocation or commuting to and from college campuses. Boarding costs are also money saved since students are not required to attend any campus activities. Furthermore, many accredited online learning institutions, like The University Of Phoenix Online offer financial aid to students who qualify for such aids.

So if you want to get a college degree to advance your career, but do not have the time or financial means to do so in the past, then perhaps it is time to consider the option of studying for an accredited online degree now.