Choose a workable topic and thesis for the assignment. Summarizing the history of Europe for an eight-page term paper is going to be stressful no matter how good you are at writing. Before organizing your term paper, develop a specific and limited thesis that is applicable to a clear topic. The thesis will serve as your guide throughout the process of organizing and writing your paper; it will determine what is relevant and what is not for your argument.
Research the subject and develop your main arguments and supporting evidence. Once your topic and thesis set your research direction, your research should yield several key arguments. Separate each argument -- perhaps on note cards or separate pages -- and develop them by adding statistics, quotations or other sources of relevant information.
Write an outline. For each section -- introduction, body and conclusion -- outline the sub-point that you will address. For instance, your introduction will need an attention-grabbing introductory sentence, a thesis and a transition to the first main point. Body paragraphs will each need a topic sentence, evidence and a conclusion sentence. Your conclusion will need to restate your thesis and end on a thoughtful note or with an intriguing question.
Write your paper in whatever order you are most comfortable working. With an outline, you need not write the paper in any particular order. You may write your conclusion first, or your body paragraphs or your introduction. As long as you follow your outline, and edit your work to ensure continuity, the term paper should read coherently.
Edit your work. Before submitting your term paper, ensure that your structure, grammar, style and arguments are coherent. It may help to have a friend or fellow student read your work and give you some feedback. Ask yourself if you have matched your term paper to your outline. Can you reverse-engineer your paper -- that is, could you take it apart and put it back together piece-by-piece in order? If so, then chances are you've organized it properly.