{"id":40904,"date":"2024-09-19T10:08:35","date_gmt":"2024-09-19T08:08:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.grin.com\/magazin\/essay-versus-term-paper\/"},"modified":"2024-09-23T15:24:21","modified_gmt":"2024-09-23T13:24:21","slug":"essay-versus-term-paper","status":"publish","type":"magazin-studierende","link":"https:\/\/www.grin.com\/en\/magazin\/finding-your-topic-research-and-more\/essay-versus-term-paper\/","title":{"rendered":"Essay versus term paper: What is the difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"40904\" class=\"elementor elementor-40904 elementor-27519\" data-elementor-post-type=\"magazin-studierende\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-cd64a8e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"cd64a8e\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-deb91c8\" data-id=\"deb91c8\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e2f2414 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e2f2414\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>First things first:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Essays: 8-10 pages, personal opinion supported by arguments, citations are necessary, formal requirements must be met.<\/li>\n<li>Term papers: 20-40 pages, factual, supported by citations, formal requirements must be met.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2d33664 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2d33664\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1caf49e\" data-id=\"1caf49e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-04e10f6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"04e10f6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Not all written assignments are created equal! Each academic text type has its own set of rules and characteristics. To help you navigate them, we\u2019ve summarized the key points about essays and term papers below.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-05bc155 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"05bc155\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f9246ff\" data-id=\"f9246ff\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9eca6a0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9eca6a0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>The essay: Short and snappy<\/h2><p>The word \u201cessay\u201d derives from \u201cto try, test, or evaluate,\u201d which gives away two main features: an essay doesn\u2019t aim to cover a topic exhaustively and allows for <b>subjective opinions<\/b>. Choose a <b>small, focused topic<\/b> where you can add a personal touch. Typically, an essay is pretty short, usually between five and ten pages. With such limited space, you need to keep your research question clear and to the point.\u00a0<\/p><p>In most cases, you don\u2019t need to break your text into chapters or include a table of contents. An essay usually consists of a <b>continuous text<\/b> and citations, especially if you\u2019re analyzing a literary work. Of course, you still need to include sources and a bibliography, just like in any other academic work. So, whenever you use information or quotes from other sources, they need to be clearly marked and referenced. This also applies for essays. However, in an essay, it\u2019s normal to have fewer sources and to spend more time developing your own argument or analyzing a quote over several paragraphs.<\/p><p>In the sections where you build your own argument, you have more freedom in how you present your ideas. An essay is the right place to share personal impressions or make your own evaluations. <b>Just remember that your personal opinion still needs to be backed up by reasoning and not presented as a fact. <\/b>The style can be a bit more relaxed or even literary, as long as your readers can still follow your points.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-17d74cd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"17d74cd\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0fd76dd\" data-id=\"0fd76dd\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8b7bc98 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8b7bc98\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Essay checklist:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>An essay is typically<b> five to ten pages<\/b> long.<\/li>\n<li>No need for a table of contents or chapter divisions. Nevertheless, a title page, a bibliography and the affidavit should not be missing. <\/li>\n<li><b>Personal opinions and evaluations<\/b> are allowed.<\/li>\n<li>All information from other sources must be properly cited and referenced.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2de4e1c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2de4e1c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1106696\" data-id=\"1106696\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9755285 elementor-widget elementor-widget-global elementor-global-13182 elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"9755285\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<!--Banner Tag \/\/ Website: GRIN.COM \/\/ Adslot: gri_outstream (6695068) -->\r\n<div id='npm_6695068'><\/div>\r\n<script>ADNPM.cmd.push(function(){ADNPM.loadAd(6695068)});<\/script>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0497e91 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0497e91\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a96d127\" data-id=\"a96d127\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-805caf5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"805caf5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>The term paper: Practicing academic writing<\/h2><p>A term paper, especially in the early semesters, can be just 15-20 pages long\u2014not much longer than an essay. Still, it requires a more structured approach. The focus of a term paper is on objectivity. All statements must be <b>verifiable<\/b>, and of course, all sources must be cited. The style should be neutral and factual, so your arguments come across through <b>well-reasoned and supported claims<\/b>. If you want to include evaluative comments, use footnotes or a separate section. A term paper should always aim to contribute to academic knowledge; your personal opinion should not be the main focus.<\/p><p>Choose your topic based on the length requirements. For a shorter 20-page paper, go for a <b>narrower topic<\/b>. For 30 or 40 pages, you can tackle a broader subject. When in doubt, it\u2019s always better to cover a smaller topic thoroughly than to get lost in a larger one.<\/p><p>A term paper should provide an overview of the most important contributions of previous research on your topic. You\u2019ll likely need more citations than in an essay, and your bibliography will usually be more extensive. This is already a clear indication that term papers shouldn\u2019t include subjective opinions. Instead, you need a <b>clear method and a strong argument<\/b> that considers all aspects and weighs them against each other.\u00a0<\/p><p>Before you start writing, create a clear structure and outline your chapters. A good outline is often half the battle won because it forces you to think about what points you want to cover and what outcome you\u2019re aiming for. The outline is a crucial part of a term paper. Every term paper also needs a title page, a table of contents, a bibliography, and an affidavit.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-367715a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"367715a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b309140\" data-id=\"b309140\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-83afddb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"83afddb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Term paper checklist:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>A term paper is typically<b> twenty to forty pages <\/b>long.<\/li>\n<li>Formal requirements are: title page, table of contents, bibliography, affidavit. Check with your department for additional requirements. <\/li>\n<li>A term paper should <b>objectively<\/b> cover all aspects and perspectives of a topic.<\/li>\n<li>Scientific verifiability and well-founded argumentation are indispensable in a term paper.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0c6b4ac elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0c6b4ac\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-dfed18a\" data-id=\"dfed18a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-149ffc1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"149ffc1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Sources:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.grin.com\/de\/magazin\/fuer-studierende\/?tags=hausarbeit\">https:\/\/www.grin.com\/de\/magazin\/fuer-studierende\/?tags=hausarbeit<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.grin.com\/en\/services\/templates-instructions\/\">https:\/\/www.grin.com\/de\/services\/vorlagen\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/de.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Essay\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/de.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Essay<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6410c5d2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6410c5d2\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2eab6db2\" data-id=\"2eab6db2\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-74d39add elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"74d39add\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Do you like our magazine? Then sign up for our GRIN newsletter now! <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-382f33f6 elementor-button-align-center elementor-mobile-button-align-stretch registr_form_grin elementor-widget elementor-widget-global elementor-global-34452 elementor-widget-form\" data-id=\"382f33f6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;step_next_label&quot;:&quot;N\\u00e4chster&quot;,&quot;step_previous_label&quot;:&quot;Voriger&quot;,&quot;button_width&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;step_type&quot;:&quot;number_text&quot;,&quot;step_icon_shape&quot;:&quot;circle&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"form.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<form class=\"elementor-form\" method=\"post\" id=\"newsletter_subscription\" name=\"Formular\" aria-label=\"Formular\">\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"post_id\" value=\"40904\"\/>\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"form_id\" value=\"382f33f6\"\/>\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"referer_title\" value=\"\" \/>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-form-fields-wrapper elementor-labels-above\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-field-type-text elementor-field-group elementor-column elementor-field-group-name elementor-col-100 elementor-field-required\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"form-field-name\" class=\"elementor-field-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFirst name\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input size=\"1\" type=\"text\" name=\"form_fields[name]\" id=\"form-field-name\" class=\"elementor-field elementor-size-sm  elementor-field-textual\" placeholder=\"My first name\" required=\"required\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-field-type-text elementor-field-group elementor-column elementor-field-group-field_ac13577 elementor-col-100 elementor-field-required\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"form-field-field_ac13577\" class=\"elementor-field-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSurname\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input size=\"1\" type=\"text\" name=\"form_fields[field_ac13577]\" id=\"form-field-field_ac13577\" class=\"elementor-field elementor-size-sm  elementor-field-textual\" placeholder=\"My surname\" required=\"required\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-field-type-email elementor-field-group elementor-column elementor-field-group-email elementor-col-100 elementor-field-required\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"form-field-email\" class=\"elementor-field-label\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEmail\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input size=\"1\" type=\"email\" name=\"form_fields[email]\" id=\"form-field-email\" class=\"elementor-field elementor-size-sm  elementor-field-textual\" placeholder=\"mymail@example.com\" required=\"required\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-field-group elementor-column elementor-field-type-submit elementor-col-100 e-form__buttons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"elementor-button elementor-size-sm\" type=\"submit\" id=\"subscription\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Sign up now<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/form>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In many study programs, you have to write essays as well as term papers. Here\u2019s what you need to know about each type of academic writing. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":27522,"menu_order":0,"template":"area-article.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"magazin_studierende_tag":[],"collections":[343],"class_list":["post-40904","magazin-studierende","type-magazin-studierende","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","collections-finding-your-topic-research-and-more"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/magazin-studierende\/40904","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/magazin-studierende"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/magazin-studierende"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.grin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/magazin-studierende\/40904\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41054,"href":"https:\/\/www.grin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/magazin-studierende\/40904\/revisions\/41054"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27522"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.grin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40904"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"magazin_studierende_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/magazin_studierende_tag?post=40904"},{"taxonomy":"collections","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.grin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/collections?post=40904"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}