Writing a term paper

1. Writing a term paper Sigurd Allern, spring 2006

2. The Five Paragraph Essay • 1) Introducing the reader to the topic. Make it clear and limited. Present your thesis and subtopics. • 2-4: Restatements of the three supporting ideas presented in the first paragraph. Each of these is again supported by supporting sentences. Present your empirical evidence. • 5: The summary paragraph: the last chance to convince the reader of the validity of the information presented.

3. Sources • Part of what you write will be based on other authors ideas, theories, arguments and data. • Show where you have gout your inspiration and information through references. • References secure that the reader can identify your sources – and your own independent contribution. • Lacking or inadequate references can lead to suspicions and accusations of plagiarism.

4. Plagiarism • Plagiarism is to present other authors work as your own. • Plagiarism is regarded as cheating

5. References • Name your source when you are quoting fro another text • Name your source when you are paraphrasing; expressing in a shorter or different way what someone has said or written • Name your source when you refer to something • It is NOT necessary to name your source if you refer to something that is generally known and accepted (like: George W. Bush was re-elected president in the US..)

6. Choose a reference system • The Harvard system: based on author and year (give the authors name and year in the text, and all information about the book/article in alphabetic order in a separate reference list. • The Vancouver system: a number system. In the text give up a (serial) number, in the reference give the full information in the same order.

7. Harvard style, special rules • If a source has more than two authors, just refer to the first name and then write: & al. • Several publications from one author from the same year are separated by a, b, c after the publication year • If you use secondary sources name your your source and refer to the quotation for the secondary source

8. Harvard, special rules (2) • Quotations under two lines of written words can be quoted directly in your own text. • If you are quoting more than two lines of written words you can use the tab key to indent the quotation: Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

9. Reference list (example) • Bjørklund, Tor (1991). Election Campaigns in Post-war Norway (1945-1989): From Party-Controlled to Media_driven Campaigns. Scandinavian Political Studies, Vol 14 – no.3.  • Boorstin, Daniel (1992/1961). The image. A guide to pseudo-events in America. New York: Vintage Books • Ericson, Richard V. & al (1989). Negotiating Control: A Study of News Sources. Milton Keynes: Open University Press. • Blumler, Jay & al. (1989). The earnest vs. the determined: election newsmaking at the BBC, 1987. In I. Crewe & M. Harrop (Eds.). Political communication: The general election campaign of 1987. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.  

10. Reference list (example 2) • Article in a newspaper: • Nilsen, Kjell Arild (2006, February 9th). Slik ble protestene iscenesatt. Aftenposten, Kultur s. 4. • Webpage: • Authors name (Year). Title in italics. Loaded day, month, year from http://….