Writing a term paper
Sigurd Allern, spring 2006
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.
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.
Plagiarism

Plagiarism is to present other authors work
as your own.

Plagiarism is regarded as cheating
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..)
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.
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
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
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.
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://….
