Academic Essay Structure

 

I.  Intro

        A. *Attention—getter

Give me my horror movies and no one gets hurt!    

 

B.  Intro:  Intro topic as much as necessary  (History/Background/Relevant Facts)

        **One idea per paragraph please

 

        C.  Opposition:  Acknowledge the other side

                1.  Their stance on the topic

                2.  Their reasons

**Present/Identify, but do not develop

**Remain objective until you reach your thesis        

Fearful world view; give sickos ideas; desensitize

       

*D. Authority:  Why is your opinion valid?

You have seen 3,017 horror films

You are a horror film buff

       

E.  Thesis:  Topic + Claim (supportable)

        “What should the reader think/know/do?”

 Horror movies provide us with sane options for dealing with our insane urges and emotions.

       

*F. Set-up:  Identify the points you will develop

Safe challenges; Antisocial urges; Normality

 

**Your thesis should be the final sentence in your intro.  The reader is ready for your argument.

II. Body (just a sample—papers will differ)

        A.  Main Point 1:  Safe challenges

                1.  support/evidence/example

                2.  support/evidence/example

       

B.  Main Point 2:  Antisocial Urges

                1.  support/evidence/example

                2.  support/evidence/example

       

C.  Main Point 3:  Normality

                 1.  Sub—point:  Not as evil

                        a.  support/evidence/example

                2.  Sub—point:  Not as crazy

                        a.  support/evidence/example

                3.  Sub–point:  Not as ugly

                        a.  support/evidence/example

4.  Not as stupid:  Not as stupid

 

III. Conclusion:  Leave the reader thinking without introducing new ideas.

·       project into future +/—

·       ask reader to put self in another’s shoes

·       tell him what to do with this new knowledge