The text should be typed, but you may neatly hand-write equations and diagrams. Diagrams are very helpful in explaining most material, so use them frequently. Equations should be made part of a sentence, and all symbols should be fully defined and explained. Avoid long derivations, focusing your attention instead on the interpretation and physical significance of the important equations. Give limiting cases where appropriate, and include typical numbers for key parameters.
Short derivations are appropriate when they help the reader understand the key concepts.
The purpose of your paper is to convey to another student like yourself a good understanding of your laser's operating principles and applications. Don't quote directly from a book or article, but rather discuss the material in your own words. The term papers will be graded in a number of categories. First of all, the extent to which you successfully incorporate material from the lectures, textbook, and other reference sources will be considered. There should be a balance between material from different sources, and you should explain in your own words how the concepts or examples obtained from the various sources are related.