Essay vs term paper. Core similarities and differences

Is a term paper an essay? What’s the difference? And how long does it take to write a term paper or an essay? By the end of this post, you’ll have all the answers. 

In short, their only major similarity is that both are academic writing tasks. Everything else is different, from the length and scope to the outline, references, and writing style. Most importantly, while essays can take points off your final grade, failing a term paper can cost you a passing grade and make you retake the class next term. 

Definitions: what is an essay & what is a term paper?

An essay is a short academic assignment focused on a narrow topic. The goal is to present it objectively or express your position based on facts and evidence from credible sources. Professors can assign essays weekly to test your understanding of the topic and to make you practice your writing skills. Luckily, you only need an introduction, a main body, and a conclusion for an essay.

A term paper is a large-scale assignment, typically assigned once a semester. The goal is to research a topic and present your findings. As a result, it’s usually longer and requires more references and independent research. What’s more, a term paper is a large part of the class grade, so failing it can result in failing the class. 

By the way, if you ask the platform to “write a paper for me”, you only need to upload your prompt, and we’ll help you understand which assignment you’re dealing with. 

Similarities between essays and term papers

Depending on the way professors outline their prompts, a term paper and essay may seem like the same task. It’s no surprise, considering they share lots of similarities. For example:

1. The scope can be the same for a long essay or a short term paper.
2. Both require research and relevant and credible references.
3. The structure can be similar, unless you’re doing independent research.
4. A term paper and essay writing use the same standard formatting styles, like MLA and APA.

But there are many more differences, so let’s highlight the major ones. 

Differences between an essay and a term paper

WritePaperFor.Me experts specialize in custom term papers and essays, so we know the differences intimately. Here’s a quick breakdown of the major points you must understand to get a good grade on either assignment. 

Goal and timeframe

You’ll have to write both essays and term papers throughout the semester. But while you usually get no more than a week or two to complete an essay, you’ll get two or three months to finish a term paper. Considering term papers count heavily toward your final grade, you mustn’t give in to procrastination and try to finish the task in one sitting. Time management and regular feedback are crucial for acing a term paper. 

Length and scope

Essays can range from 500 to 2,500 words, depending on type and class. For example, an expository 5-paragraph essay is barely enough to present a topic, while a 2,500-word argumentative piece is long enough to develop a convincing thesis. In contrast, term papers are at least 10 pages long, but some professors will expect you to write up to 40 pages. This gives you enough room to complete a thorough literature review and present your research results. 

Research and references

Some essays don’t require research at all. For instance, you are the focus of a personal or reflection essay. Other genres do require sources to support your evidence, but you can usually get away with only using three to five sources. Term papers heavily rely on references, and you’ll need to cite at least ten recent publications by respected authors. It’s all because you must show your deep understanding of the topic, its relevance, etc. 

Outline and layout

Outlining an essay is easy. All you need are three basic components: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. The hardest part is ordering the body paragraphs to make sense and present the strongest argument. You can even play around with the layout if you’re working on a narrative or creative writing piece. 

Term papers are much more complex, though they also follow a standard outline. An introduction and conclusion are a must, but the body will include several mandatory sections, such as the literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and recommendations. Unlike essays, term papers usually require a title page, an abstract, and a table of contents. Some term papers might also need a chapter on ethical and consent issues, especially if you’re dealing with human subjects. Acknowledgements may also be necessary if you want to show gratitude to people or organizations who helped you complete the task. 

Tone and writing style

At first glance, there should be no difference in essay vs term paper style-wise, since both are academic writing assignments. In reality, essays are much more flexible. You can (and should) present a personal perspective on the issues, and use emotional means to persuade the readers to take your side. 

Term papers are much more formal. They do not allow for a casual or conversational tone. Instead, you should stick to the academic tone and keep your arguments objective without voicing strong opinions or taking sides. 

Essay vs term paper full breakdown

To grasp the difference between a term paper vs essay at a glance, check out the table below. Use it if you can’t make sense of the assignment you got, or to refresh your memory on the requirements for either task. 

Parameter	Essay	Term Paper
Timeframe	1 or 2 weeks	2 to 3 months
Length	2 to 10 pages 500 to 2,500 words	10 to 40 pages 2,500 to 10,000 words
Focus	Thesis presentation Supporting arguments	Scholarly research Findings presentation
Layout	Introduction Body paragraphs Conclusion	Introduction Literature review Methodology Results and discussion Conclusion
Research	Body paragraphs	Conclusion
Introduction	Isn’t mandatory May focus on personal opinion or experiences	Mandatory In-depth understanding of the current state of the issue
References	May not be necessary Usually, no more than 5 sources	Mandatory 5 to 10+ sources
Tone	Formal or personal, depending on the assignment	Formal Academic
Academic level	From middle school to postgraduate programs	College to postgraduate programs

Conclusion

Term papers and essays have few similarities and too many differences to count. Confusing the two is likely to end up in disaster for your class grade and GPA, so pay attention to the assignment requirements and ask questions if you can’t make sense of the task. It’s the only way to understand the assignment and complete it correctly, using the right references, outline template, and tone. 

What if you’ve stumbled across this post too late? If your term paper is due in just a few days, and you’ve barely begun, WritePaperFor.Me is here to help. Buy custom term papers from professional writers, and you’ll get passing grades every time!