GUIDE TO TERM PAPER WRITING

Prepared By: Atty. Susan Munzing

Human Rights Law

TOPIC SELECTION

Choose your topic wisely. The key criteria in the selection of a research topic are:

1. Personal interest in the subject matter

2. Relevance to the present time
3. Good source of reference materials
4. Choose a topic where you can develop an argument
5. Choose a topic that can engage your audience and can address your subject properly

WRITING APPROACH

1. Amendment or repeal of a current law or enacting a new law

2. Critical evaluation of an accepted doctrine or current law
3. Tracing the history of a current law
4. Expository

THE OUTLINE

This is the first step in writing a term paper. The outline serves as the framework for developing
your term paper.

Parts of the Outline

1. Overview (Optional)

This is a summary of the term paper and appears at the start of the term paper in
order to give the reader an immediate appreciation of the entire research work. This
can only be included in the outline if the writer already predicts the entire conclusion
of the research paper. Otherwise this may be written only when the term paper has
been completed. Its inclusion in both the outline and final paper is optional but
beneficial and practical.

Example:

Title of Paper: The Right of Abode of Filipino Domestic Helpers in Hong Kong

Overview:

Migration of Filipinos in Hong Kong at the start of 1970 to work as household

helpers.

Eventual migration to Hong Kong of workers’ family members

Desire of Filipino workers to gain HK citizenship status to acquire permanent

residency and enjoyment equal benefits as local residents.

The Basic Law in Hong Kong allowing right of abode after 7 years stay.

The term paper is an investigation on whether HK’s Basic Law violates fundamental
human rights of migrant workers for being discriminatory. The result of the study
 shows that the Basic Law’s provision on the right to abode is constitutional by
reason that acceptance or denial of an alien is an act of sovereignty.

2. Introduction

The writer establishes the topic of research by citing the circumstances and
relevancy of the subject matter to the present time. The writer endeavors to elicit the
interest of the reader and specifies which particular aspect is being dealt with.

Example: Same title as above

The Chinese female sector dumped their household work to be active and to
participate in the business world.

Mass departure of Filipinos seeking greener pastures in Hong Kong despite reported
maltreatment and harassment, extended working hours, deprivation of rest days,
freedom of movement, deficient provision of nourishment, isolation and confiscation
of passports, the exodus nevertheless continued.

xxx

3. Statement of the Problem

The term paper is basically an “inquiry” into a subject matter. The term paper must
answer this “inquiry”. The writer selects a problem or an issue present in the subject
matter. The student then develops the entire term paper in answering or tackling this
issue. Only the facts pertaining to this problem should be considered in the term
paper.

Example of problem statements

* Topic: The Right of Abode of Filipino Domestic Helpers in Hong Kong

Problem: Is the disqualification of foreign domestic helpers to acquire
permanent residency in Hong Kong unconstitutional and a
violation of human rights?

* Topic: Divorce in the Philippines

Problem: Should Congress pass the house bill allowing
divorce in the Philippines?

* Topic: People Power

Problem: Is people power a constitutional mode of changing the
presidency of a government?

4. Objective (or Significance of the Study)

This could relate to present-day problems on the subject matter, a new concept or an
abused practice. It is the reason underlying the choice of the subject matter. You
could cite the merits for writing on the topic.

Example:

Title of Paper: The Right of Abode of Filipino Domestic Helpers in Hong Kong

Objective: The number of FDHs in Hong Kong has grown from 881 in 1974 to
28,851 in 1986, 70,335 in 1990 and 285,681 in 2010. The subject matter is
significant to this specific group. For economic reasons, the continuous outflow of
Filipinos to render service in foreign land improves the standard of living of all the
 members in the family of an FDH who lie in wait for financial support. Socially, a
permanent resident status uplifts the standing of an FDH in society.

Since majority of Filipino domestic workers choose Hong Kong as their work
destination, this article examines relevant local legislation on the rights and
conditions of migrant workers in Hong Kong and tests their compliance against
relevant international human rights standards.
.

5. Scope and Limitations of the Study

The student defines the aspects of the subject matter, the areas to be covered and
those excluded. The research work is confined to a certain period, place or other
parameters. For example if a student writes about the Constitution of the Philippines,
one must specify if it refers to the 1935, 1973 or 1987 Constitution or all. If one
writes about law student practices with regard to bar examinations, one should
specify if the work covers law students on a national basis, students in Metro Manila,
students in a particular province or only in a particular university.

6. Conceptual Framework

This is the main body of a term paper. The writer decides on all the points relevant to
the subject matter to be covered. This means you divide the entire body of the term
paper into organized topic segments.

For example, if one is writing about the efforts of Filipino migrant domestic workers
in Hong Kong to claim permanent residency after so many years of service, the writer
would have the following sub-sections:

 the state of poverty in the Philippines,

 lack of job opportunities
 low pay for domestic helpers
 the higher income earned in foreign countries
 the working conditions in Hong Kong
 the HK immigration laws, the requirements, prohibitions, etc.

7. Conclusion/Recommendations

The conclusion should answer the statement of the problem. The general findings
should be summarily stated with proposals and recommendations related to the
problem presented as the subject of inquiry.

8. Sources

For our purpose, students may utilize books, articles in the internet or jurisprudence.
The student should cite at least 5 sources.