In Nick Mamatas's The Term Paper Artist, he describes what it is like writing term papers for many different people. Nick categorizes these people into three groups which he calls "Dumb Clients", "One-Timers", and "Well-Educated Professionals". He says that the "Dumb Clients" have probably never read a term paper before, therefore wouldn't know exactly how to piece one together. He said that they could get the basic idea of how to write a term paper from what their teachers have explained to them, but as for the criteria that should be included in one, they are left on their owns. Nick describes it as "trying to write a novel... without ever having read a novel." A "Dumb Client" ends up becoming so desperate that they don't care about the quality of the paper, as long as it meets the requirements the professor asks for.
Nick Mamatas claims that the key to a successful term paper is to focus more on the subject and less on the paper itself. His advice is to not approach it as if you are writing a term paper, but that you are trying to fill a set number of pages with information. He also claims "the secret to [writing a term paper] is to amuse yourself." If you keep a serious, but light attitude towards term papers, you will be able to focus more on the topic without stressing out over the fact that you're being graded.
I think that Nick's key to a successful term paper is a very useful thing to remember. If you focus more on the subject, you will most likely have more to say about the matter. Also, you relieve yourself of the stress coming with writing a term paper. By approaching it in this new light, you will be able to develop a stronger opinion on subjects or events that will help make for a stronger term paper. The easier you allow the thoughts to flow from your mind into a term paper, the more well-written and strongly worded the paper will be. Nick Mamatas believes that once you master the format of a term paper, you will be able to write as many as you need to without any problem and I agree with him. After accomplishing something so many times, it becomes easier and easier to do.
What I liked about yours is that you didnt write a whole lot, however you got to the point with what Nick wrote, and how you felt about his term papers. Also you took a different approach on writing your opinion on Nick. Where most people, including myself, focused more on Nick's "shady" ways of making his fast cash, you focused more on the positives. You talked more about learning how to actually write a term paper, and the advice Nick gives throughout the article. For example saying, "If you keep a serious, but light attitude towards term papers, you will be able to focus more on the topic without stressing out over the fact that you're being graded." Good Job!
ReplyDeleteI like your article as whole, but I do have a contradictory thought that I got from Claire Doak's article. What if the reason he writes term papers so well is because he doesn't care about the grade the client gets, he is just worried about getting paid and meeting requirements. This new way of thinking causes you to question whether or not writing a term paper is hard or not, but as I said, I did like your article.
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