The Shape of an
Academic Paper
Dennis Jerz
Seton Hill University
31 Mar 2006
An Academic Paper Has a Shape
 The
following examples use dummy
text, highlighted to emphasize
structural details.
 We’ll analyze a simple structure.
Your
instructor may ask for a specific,
more complicated structure.
The basic principles will still apply.
Shape of a 3-page Essay
Shape of a 3-page Essay
Mechanics
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MLA Style
Pagination
Title Block
Paper Title
Indented Blocks
Inline quotes
Nothing new here.
Organization

I’ve reformatted the
text from the previous
image into this
schematic.
Organization

Introduction (Olive)
 First
Point (Yellow)
 Second Point (Blue)
 Third Point (Magenta)

Conclusion (Black)
Caution!
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Three mini-papers do
not make a coherent
argument.
Note: You don’t need
exactly 3 points.
Note: One point may
require more than one
paragraph.
Controlling Idea
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Intro: A clear thesis (Green).
“Huck’s conflicted conscience
is a moral mirror of his times.”
Body: Relate points to thesis.
“The most obvious way that
Huck reflects the morality of
his time is…”
 “Huck further illustrates an
ethical conflict when he…”
 “Huck more subtly comments
on contemporary morality
when he…”

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Conclusion: Not just a
summary. Rather, it is the
destination at which the paper
has been driving all along.
Follow a Blueprint
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A good thesis (green)
briefly introduces the
supporting points
(yellow, blue, magenta).
The paper should treat
those points, in the
order in which the thesis
mentions them.
Use Quotations
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Support your points
with direct references
to the texts you are
studying (light green).
Every paragraph in
this example includes
several brief direct
quotes. That’s good.
Use Quotations

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This sample three-page
paper includes only two
block quotes. That’s
probably enough.
Instead of quoting long
blocks, integrate brief
excerpts into your own
sentences.
Paraphrase longer
passages. (But you’ll still
need to cite the source.)
Stay on Topic

Avoid starting with a list of
ideas that you do not plan to
investigate thoroughly.
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X “There are many ways of
looking at subject A. Some
people say X, some say Y, and
some say Z. This paper will
argue Q, which involves points
Q1, Q2, and Q3.”

The reference to Z, Y, and Z
appears to be a plan for the
paper, but it turns out to be a
dead end.
Pack Your
Thesis
Paragraph
(Don’t Pad)
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Both sample thesis paragraphs include direct
quotations (light green).
Both samples point forwards towards the
conclusion (black).
Continue
In an Orderly
Fashion
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Both papers continue to handle each of the
supporting points in the same order in which they
were introduced.
A Bare List Looks
Like Uncertainty
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The first example lists the supporting points, but so
briefly that it’s almost as if the author doesn’t yet
know what to talk about:
Clemens lampoons (1) religious dogma, (2) racial
prejudice, and (3) anti-social violence.
[Why should the reader care? Does anybody doubt
that Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a satirical
comedy? What’s your point?]
Start Persuading
Right Away!
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The second example begins the argument right away.
(1) Clemens humorously contrasts the rigid religious beliefs of the
Widow Douglas with Huck’s native conscience. (2) We see a similar
opposition between the senseless racial diatribes of Pap, and the
sentimentalized portrayal of Jim. (3) Huck also finds himself torn
between civilization and nature. Huck’s comically exaggerated
motion across these three thresholds mirrors his moral
development.
[Oh, I see – your point is that the exaggeration helps throw the
moral conflict into sharper focus. This sounds like a much
better paper.]
Avoid Looking
Backwards
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Avoid back-stitching
This author recognized
the need to supply
transitions…
…but simply tacked
the topic sentence
from the next
paragraph onto the
end of the previous.
The flow suffers.
Don’t Delay
Synthesis
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Only in the conclusion
do the three main
ideas appear together.
That’s much too late.
Build on Your
Strengths
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This author should
revise.
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Take the last few
sentences of the
conclusion and work
them into the thesis
paragraph.
As Always, Style Matters
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Mechanically following any of these
guidelines won’t guarantee success.
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A clunky or misleading transition is often
worse than no transition at all.
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First get the structure down, then revise
for style and elegance.
More Pointers
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A single source,
character or event
is not the same thing
as a supporting point.
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Source A, Source B, and Source C
may each offer important insight.
Character A, character B, and
character C may each be important.
But… writing a paragraph about
each will lead to dry summary,
rather than insightful synthesis and
evaluation.
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Review -Organization
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Carefully introduce all
supporting points in
your thesis paragraph.
 You
don’t need exactly
three points.
 Some points need more
than one paragraph.
Review –
Quotations
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Support your points
with direct quotations.
Avoid long block
quotations.
Prefer shorter quotes
(integrated into your
own sentences).
Review –
Controlling Idea
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Introduce each new
point by relating it
directly back to your
thesis.
Never let your reader
lose sight of your
main idea.
Integrate!

Weave your ideas
together tightly.
 “Blue”
paragraph
refers to the “green”
thesis and “yellow”
ideas.
 “Magenta” paragraph
refers to the “green”
thesis, “yellow” ideas
and “blue” ideas.