Stay Alert or Why Mid-Term Papers Are Not Less Important than Final Ones

Have you ever come across a syllabus in a course that is somewhat intimidating? Depending on the type of class you are taking, the syllabus could be filled with numerous projects, tests, and papers. A lot of concentration tends to be put on â€Å"finals†; whether it is the final exam, final project, or the final paper. There is no doubt that finals are very important, but the truth of the matter is that the rest of the coursework can strongly determine how well a student will perform during the finals. A great measuring step for determining how well you are doing in the class is by monitoring your scores on your mid-term works. Commonly, this stepping-stone is given in the form of mid-term papers. It does not only count as a significant portion of your grades, but it can also help you determine what you need to work on during the preparation for the final assignments, making it important as the final paper. Here are some other reasons why mid-term papers are just as important as final ones. It Helps You Understand What Your Instructor Requires If you spend time and efforts on your mid-term work and consult with your instructor, you will be able to write a paper that properly meets the demands. Getting this clarified will save you a lot of headaches later. You Can Get the Layout down Your instructor will probably want a specific type of layout. If you get used to writing in the proper format early, you will not only improve your course grade, but you won’t be confused when it comes to writing the final paper as well. Citation Formatting Can Be Practiced Does your instructor require APA, MLA, or maybe Chicago writing format? Figure this out when you are working on the mid-term piece, that way you will have a good grasp to save some time and efforts later. The Mid-Term Sets the Tone Last but not least, the mid-term counts toward your grade, and in some courses can be even as much as a half of the final grade! So, if you do great while the mid-term, you are already in good standing and you will not have to stress as much over finals. Moreover, you have already figured out the instructor’s expectations! When all is considered, it is easy to see why mid-term papers are so important. Yes, it might not count as much as the final paper, but achieving a good grade will put you in a more comfortable position when it comes to finals. Plus, you will have some understanding of how to pass the course requirements, so everything else will fall into place. The finals may still be stressful. However, if you take control of the coursework before the final, making it to the finish line can be smooth sailing. So during your course, remember that mid-term papers are just as important as final ones!