term paper front page

How to Write a Cover Page for a Term Paper

One thing is embarking on the journey of writing a term paper is no small feat—it’s a voyage of discovery, a testament to your dedication, and a canvas for your intellect to shine. Just as a captivating book cover entices you to dive into its pages, a meticulously crafted cover page sets the stage for your term paper, beckoning your readers to delve into the depths of your thoughts and ideas.

Imagine your cover page as a first impression, a glimpse into the world of knowledge you’re about to unveil. It’s the threshold that welcomes your audience, inviting them to step into your realm of research, analysis, and creativity. Just as a warm smile can brighten someone’s day, a well-designed cover page can infuse your term paper with a touch of elegance and emotion.

So, let’s embark on this journey together, where words meet emotions, and where a simple cover page becomes the prelude to a symphony of ideas. Let your cover page be the reflection of your soul’s labor, an invitation to explore the corridors of your mind, which makes a racism essay very different. Join us as we unlock the secrets to a mesmerizing cover page that leaves a lasting impression and kindles a genuine curiosity for the brilliance that lies within.

Related: What is Racism Essay? All You Need to Know

Crafting a compelling cover page requires careful attention to detail. Follow these steps to create a cover page that leaves a lasting impression:

Choose the right format.

Before you start designing your cover page, it’s crucial to understand the required format. Different academic institutions and disciplines may have specific guidelines for cover pages. Common elements to consider include:

title of the paper
Course name and number
Instructor’s name
Submission date

Always refer to your assignment guidelines or professor’s instructions for any specific formatting requirements.

Create an engaging title.

The title of your term paper should be concise, informative, and engaging. It should give readers a clear idea of the paper’s focus and scope. Use relevant LSI keywords to enhance the visibility of your paper in search results. Consider using action verbs and descriptive language to make the title more compelling.

Incorporate visual elements

A well-designed cover page often includes visual elements that enhance its appeal. You might consider adding:

Your institution’s logo
Relevant images or graphics
Decorative borders or accents

Ensure that any visual elements you include are relevant to the topic and maintain a professional appearance.

Format Consistently

Consistency is key to a polished cover page. Ensure that the font, font size, and formatting choices (such as bold or italics) remain consistent throughout the page. This uniformity contributes to a clean and organized look.

Provide the necessary information.

In addition to the title and your name, include other relevant information, such as the course name, course number, and instructor’s name. This information helps establish the context of your paper and ensures that it is properly categorized and identified.

Use subheadings for clarity.

If your term paper includes distinct sections or chapters, consider adding subheadings to the cover page. Subheadings provide a preview of the paper’s structure and make it easier for readers to navigate through the content.

Add a subtitle or tagline.

To further clarify the focus of your term paper, you can include a brief subtitle or tagline below the main title. This can provide additional context or highlight the main argument or theme of your paper.

Keep it simple and professional.

While creativity is encouraged, it’s essential to maintain a professional tone on the cover page. Avoid using overly decorative fonts or excessive colors that might distract from the content’s seriousness.

Expert Tips for an Impressive Cover Page

Crafting an exceptional cover page requires attention to detail and a keen eye for design. Here are some expert tips to help you create a cover page that stands out:

Consistency is Key: Ensure that the formatting, font, and spacing on your cover page are consistent with the rest of your paper.
Alignment Matters: Pay attention to the alignment of text and visual elements to achieve a balanced and visually appealing composition.
Use high-quality images: If you choose to include images or graphics, make sure they are of high quality and relevant to the topic.
Proofread carefully. Typos and errors on the cover page can diminish its impact. Proofread thoroughly to maintain a professional appearance.
Seek Inspiration: Look at the cover pages of published academic papers in your field to gather inspiration and ideas for your design.

Can I use a different font for the title on the cover page?

While it’s generally recommended to use a consistent font throughout your paper, you may use a slightly larger or bolder font for the title on the cover page to make it stand out.

Should I include a page number on the cover page?

No, the cover page is not typically assigned a page number. Page numbering usually starts on the first page of the actual content.

Can I include a photograph on the cover page?

Yes, you can include a relevant photograph on the cover page, especially if it directly relates to the topic of your paper.

Should I include my institutional affiliation?

In most cases, it’s advisable to include your institutional affiliation (university or college name) on the cover page, especially if it’s required by your professor or institution.

Is the cover page included in the total page count?

No, the cover page is not usually counted as part of the total page count of your term paper.

Can I use color on the cover page?

Yes, you can use color on the cover page, but make sure it complements the overall design and maintains a professional appearance.

Final Thoughts

Crafting a compelling and meticulously designed cover page for your term paper is more than a mere formality; it’s a reflection of your dedication to your academic pursuits and an invitation for readers to engage with your work.

By infusing your cover page with thoughtfully chosen elements, from the title that encapsulates your paper’s essence to the visual design that captivates attention, you set the stage for a meaningful exploration of your research.

Remember, your cover page is the first impression, a glimpse into the world you’ve meticulously constructed within your term paper’s pages. As you finalize your cover page, take a moment to appreciate the significance of this seemingly small detail. It’s a testament to your commitment to excellence and your passion for knowledge.

So, let your cover page stand as a testament to your intellectual journey and a symbol of the dedication and hard work you’ve poured into your research. As you present your term paper to your peers, instructors, and the academic community, let your cover page shine as a beacon of your academic integrity and your unwavering pursuit of scholarly enlightenment.

Related : How to Write an Opinion Essay

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Home / Guides / Writing Guides / Parts of a Paper / How to Write an Essay Cover Page

How to Write an Essay Cover Page

What you include in your cover page depends slightly on which citation style you are using, but the rules are generally the same.

Guide Overview

APA cover pages
MLA cover pages

For APA cover pages:

Include the title of the paper, running head, the author’s name, institutional affiliation, and an author’s note.

Here is an example of a cover page in APA:

For MLA cover pages:

Cover pages are not as frequently used in MLA format, as the inclusion of headers is preferred.

A header looks like this:

Cover pages can include the name of your school, your paper title, your name, your course name, your teacher or professor’s name, and the due date of the paper. If you are unsure of what to include, check with your instructor.

Here is an example of a cover page in MLA format:

For more help making cover or title pages, visit our title page generator here.

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Sample MLA Paper – normal paper
Sample MLA Paper – has cover page
Sample APA Paper
Sample Chicago Paper
Sample CSE Paper
APA Format Guidelines
MLA Format Cover Page

The Modern Language Association (MLA) does not require you to create a cover page when you complete your research paper, but some instructors may require it.

If your instructor requires your paper to have a cover page, here is how to make it (very easy). This cover page should include: your school name, your research paper title, your name, your class, your professor name and your paper due date.

How to Format Your MLA Cover Page:

This page is double spaced and the letters are centered.
Font: Times New Roman
Font size: 12
The first letter of each word should be capitalized with the exception of very short words such as: the, and, of, or, a, an, in, to, for. Note: the first letter of the first word should be capitalized, regardless of what kind of word it is.
Type the name of your university or college.
Skip to about one-third of the page and type your research paper title, include a subtitle if you have.
Skip several lines down and type your name, your course name and number, your instructor name and your paper’s due date.

Sample MLA Format Cover Page:

Sample MLA Format Cover Page

Alternate First Page:

If your instructor requires a cover page, you would omit the main heading on your first page. Here is an example of the first page if a cover page is used. You still need your last name and page number on the first page and every other page.

Sample MLA Format First Page with Cover Page

Sample MLA Paper:

Visit here for a sample paper with the cover page. The cover page can vary slightly. This paper also has the outline page for your sample.

If you find this website useful, please share with a friend:

How do I get the header on the second page on down? I tried editing it but then it takes the header away from all the pages.

In word select the header then go to: Header & Footer>Page Number>Format Page Numbers>Page Numbering>Start at page>Set to 0

How do I get the header on the second page on down? I tried editing it but then it takes the header away from all the pages. I am using windows. Also, the page numbers are not working for me either. Please help me.

How should I start the page after my cover page?

https://mlaformat.org/mla-format-heading/

Thank you so much Stephen !!! Helped a lot in my written assignments 🙂

Great site ! Thank you so much. Just returned to school to complete my bachelors and needed a little refreshing. Has all the information I needed !

Thanks so much for all of the great information! I have not used MLA before and was a little panic stricken. I have found all of my answers here. This is now saved to my favorites so I can use it regularly. Thanks again!

Should the lines on the cover page be double spaced?

Thanks so much for the picture of the cover page it has helped a lot. But, I was wondering do I still need to put my Title at the top of every page after the header?

Hello Lydia. You do not.

After your cover page, your next page’s heading should look like the “Alternate First Page” above.

After the “Alternate First Page” => your next pages should have “The Inner Pages” heading: https://mlaformat.org/mla-format-heading/

Sample paper: https://mlaformat.org/mla-format-sample-paper-with-cover-page-and-outline/

hey Lydia you don’t need to but if you want to you can

Thank you so so much. I love the simplicity of the website, very easy to understand. I finally have a cover page for my paper!!

I love this website!! It helped so many times with all my essays. I’m working on a college one and this was very useful. Thank you soo much. And thanks for the examples im a visual person I needed that 🙂

Hi Kaylin, I am glad you find this site useful. Take care!

By the way (sorry i forgot!) for the coverpage, would the text font be 12 times new roman???

You can set everything 12, Times New Roman. Or you can set the Title a little larger than 12, that should work too.

In the example above, I have the title larger than 12.

Here is an example with everything set at 12.

Thank you so much for your help on this useful website! I found it very organized and I’m very glad that I came across this particular article. Thanks!!!!!!!:)

I have a question regarding the cover page and the following pages. If I have a cover page as the example provided, do I still need the heading on the next page? And should the pages after that contain my last name on the top left as the header does on the on the previous pages? or do I not need the header at all if I have the cover page and just my name?

Excellence question, Stella! I have updated this article with information on the first page if a cover page is used. Please see “Alternate First Page” above.

You can omit the main heading but you still need your last name and page number on the first page and all subsequent pages. Take care!

Everything You Need to Know to Write an A+ Term Paper

Last Updated: March 4, 2024 Fact Checked

Sample Term Papers

Researching & outlining.

Drafting Your Paper
Revising Your Paper

Expert Q&A

This article was co-authored by Matthew Snipp, PhD and by wikiHow staff writer, Raven Minyard, BA . C. Matthew Snipp is the Burnet C. and Mildred Finley Wohlford Professor of Humanities and Sciences in the Department of Sociology at Stanford University. He is also the Director for the Institute for Research in the Social Science’s Secure Data Center. He has been a Research Fellow at the U.S. Bureau of the Census and a Fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences. He has published 3 books and over 70 articles and book chapters on demography, economic development, poverty and unemployment. He is also currently serving on the National Institute of Child Health and Development’s Population Science Subcommittee. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin—Madison. There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 2,227,398 times.

A term paper is a written assignment given to students at the end of a course to gauge their understanding of the material. Term papers typically count for a good percentage of your overall grade, so of course, you’ll want to write the best paper possible. Luckily, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know to write an A+ term paper, from researching and outlining to drafting and revising.

Quick Steps to Write a Term Paper

Hook your readers with an interesting and informative intro paragraph. State your thesis and your main points.
Support your thesis by providing quotes and evidence that back your claim in your body paragraphs.
Summarize your main points and leave your readers with a thought-provoking question in your conclusion.

Think of your term paper as the bridge between what you’ve learned in class and how you apply that knowledge to real-world topics.
For example, a history term paper may require you to explore the consequences of a significant historical event, like the Civil War. An environmental science class, on the other hand, may have you examine the effects of climate change on a certain region.
Your guidelines should tell you the paper’s word count and formatting style, like whether to use in-text citations or footnotes and whether to use single- or double-spacing. If these things aren’t specified, be sure to reach out to your instructor.

Make sure your topic isn’t too broad. For example, if you want to write about Shakespeare’s work, first narrow it down to a specific play, like Macbeth , then choose something even more specific like Lady Macbeth’s role in the plot.
If the topic is already chosen for you, explore unique angles that can set your content and information apart from the more obvious approaches many others will probably take. [3] X Research source
Try not to have a specific outcome in mind, as this will close you off to new ideas and avenues of thinking. Rather than trying to mold your research to fit your desired outcome, allow the outcome to reflect a genuine analysis of the discoveries you made. Ask yourself questions throughout the process and be open to having your beliefs challenged.
Reading other people's comments, opinions, and entries on a topic can often help you to refine your own, especially where they comment that "further research" is required or where they posit challenging questions but leave them unanswered.

For example, if you’re writing a term paper about Macbeth , your primary source would be the play itself. Then, look for other research papers and analyses written by academics and scholars to understand how they interpret the text.

For example, if you’re writing a paper about Lady Macbeth, your thesis could be something like “Shakespeare’s characterization of Lady Macbeth reveals how desire for power can control someone’s life.”
Remember, your research and thesis development doesn’t stop here. As you continue working through both the research and writing, you may want to make changes that align with the ideas forming in your mind and the discoveries you continue to unearth.
On the other hand, don’t keep looking for new ideas and angles for fear of feeling confined. At some point, you’re going to have to say enough is enough and make your point. You may have other opportunities to explore these questions in future studies, but for now, remember your term paper has a finite word length and an approaching due date!

Step 5 Develop an outline for the paper.

Abstract: An abstract is a concise summary of your paper that informs readers of your topic, its significance, and the key points you’ll explore. It must stand on its own and make sense without referencing outside sources or your actual paper.
Introduction: The introduction establishes the main idea of your paper and directly states the thesis. Begin your introduction with an attention-grabbing sentence to intrigue your readers, and provide any necessary background information to establish your paper’s purpose and direction.
Body paragraphs: Each body paragraph focuses on a different argument supporting your thesis. List specific evidence from your sources to back up your arguments. Provide detailed information about your topic to enhance your readers’ understanding. In your outline, write down the main ideas for each body paragraph and any outstanding questions or points you’re not yet sure about.
Results: Depending on the type of term paper you’re writing, your results may be incorporated into your body paragraphs or conclusion. These are the insights that your research led you to. Here you can discuss how your perspective and understanding of your topic shifted throughout your writing process.
Conclusion: Your conclusion summarizes your argument and findings. You may restate your thesis and major points as you wrap up your paper.

Drafting Your Term Paper

Step 1 Make your point in the introduction.

Writing an introduction can be challenging, but don’t get too caught up on it. As you write the rest of your paper, your arguments might change and develop, so you’ll likely need to rewrite your intro at the end, anyway. Writing your intro is simply a means of getting started and you can always revise it later. [10] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
Be sure to define any words your readers might not understand. For example, words like “globalization” have many different meanings depending on context, and it’s important to state which ones you’ll be using as part of your introductory paragraph.

Step 2 Persuade your readers with your body paragraphs.

Try to relate the subject of the essay (say, Plato’s Symposium ) to a tangentially related issue you happen to know something about (say, the growing trend of free-wheeling hookups in frat parties). Slowly bring the paragraph around to your actual subject and make a few generalizations about why this aspect of the book/subject is so fascinating and worthy of study (such as how different the expectations for physical intimacy were then compared to now).

Step 3 Summarize your argument with your conclusion.

You can also reflect on your own experience of researching and writing your term paper. Discuss how your understanding of your topic evolved and any unexpected findings you came across.

While peppering quotes throughout your text is a good way to help make your point, don’t overdo it. If you use too many quotes, you’re basically allowing other authors to make the point and write the paper for you. When you do use a quote, be sure to explain why it is relevant in your own words.
Try to sort out your bibliography at the beginning of your writing process to avoid having a last-minute scramble. When you have all the information beforehand (like the source’s title, author, publication date, etc.), it’s easier to plug them into the correct format.

Revising & Finalizing Your Term Paper

Step 1 Make your writing as concise as possible.

Trade in weak “to-be” verbs for stronger “action” verbs. For example: “I was writing my term paper” becomes “I wrote my term paper.”

Step 2 Check for grammar and spelling errors.

It’s extremely important to proofread your term paper. If your writing is full of mistakes, your instructor will assume you didn’t put much effort into your paper. If you have too many errors, your message will be lost in the confusion of trying to understand what you’ve written.

Step 3 Have someone else read over your paper.

If you add or change information to make things clearer for your readers, it’s a good idea to look over your paper one more time to catch any new typos that may have come up in the process.

The best essays are like grass court tennis—the argument should flow in a "rally" style, building persuasively to the conclusion. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
If you get stuck, consider giving your professor a visit. Whether you're still struggling for a thesis or you want to go over your conclusion, most instructors are delighted to help and they'll remember your initiative when grading time rolls around. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
At least 2 hours for 3-5 pages.
At least 4 hours for 8-10 pages.
At least 6 hours for 12-15 pages.
Double those hours if you haven't done any homework and you haven't attended class.
For papers that are primarily research-based, add about two hours to those times (although you'll need to know how to research quickly and effectively, beyond the purview of this brief guide).

↑ https://www.binghamton.edu/counseling/self-help/term-paper.html
↑ Matthew Snipp, PhD. Research Fellow, U.S. Bureau of the Census. Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.
↑ https://emory.libanswers.com/faq/44525
↑ https://writing.wisc.edu/handbook/assignments/planresearchpaper/
↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/thesis_statement_tips.html
↑ https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/outline
↑ https://gallaudet.edu/student-success/tutorial-center/english-center/writing/guide-to-writing-introductions-and-conclusions/
↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26731827
↑ https://writing.wisc.edu/handbook/assignments/writing-an-abstract-for-your-research-paper/
↑ https://www.ivcc.edu/stylesite/Essay_Title.pdf
↑ https://www.uni-flensburg.de/fileadmin/content/institute/anglistik/dokumente/downloads/how-to-write-a-term-paper-daewes.pdf
↑ https://library.sacredheart.edu/c.php?g=29803&p=185937
↑ https://www.cornerstone.edu/blog-post/six-steps-to-really-edit-your-paper/

About This Article

If you need to write a term paper, choose your topic, then start researching that topic. Use your research to craft a thesis statement which states the main idea of your paper, then organize all of your facts into an outline that supports your thesis. Once you start writing, state your thesis in the first paragraph, then use the body of the paper to present the points that support your argument. End the paper with a strong conclusion that restates your thesis. For tips on improving your term paper through active voice, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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