College entrance

College entrance essay 

major is doctor of pharmacy 

Academic Paper Essay Example

ACADEMIC ESSAY STRUCTURES & FORMATS

Standard American argumentative essays begin with an introduction that gives a main point
(thesis). The thesis is supported by a series of body paragraphs with sub-points, and the
essay ends with a conclusion. Below is a visual representation of this structure, adapted from
the Seattle University Writing Center; on the back is an example of the typical format for an
academic paper.

paper idea diagram

topic: ____________________________

introduction: _________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

subtopics – supporting arguments:

_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________

details:
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________

_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________

_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________

conclusion: __________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

(continued on next page)

Academic Paper Format

Here is an example of what an academic paper typically looks like. Using standard
fonts, margins, and indentations helps your paper gain credibility with an academic
audience; readers who are comfortable with your paper’s format can pay close attention
to the ideas you’re communicating.

Writer’s Name
WRIT 1201

Professor’s Name
September 20, 2007

Writing an Organized Paper

The ability to write a well-organized and insightful paper is very important in order to be

successful at the University of Minnesota. Most classes require at least one written assignment,

and professors expect a high level of writing skill. A good paper generally includes a thesis,

paragraphs that support it, and a strong conclusion.

A good thesis is integral to any academic paper and should work as a general summary of the

argument or main point of the paper. The thesis needs to be clear, and it should outline the main

points to be discussed. Sometimes just making a list of the basic things you plan to write about and

then compiling them into a sentence is enough. The rest of the paper should then follow the plan

laid out by the thesis.

In order for readers to be able to follow the logic of a paper, each paragraph should be related

to what was introduced in the thesis. A good way to start is by making a topic sentence to begin

each paragraph. The topic sentence is often an extended or elaborated version of some part of the

thesis statement. For example, this paper’s thesis mentions “paragraphs that follow [the thesis],”

and the topic sentence for this paragraph expands on that idea. The rest of a paragraph should

include evidence to support or explain the topic sentence.

Once readers have been led through the paragraphs that support your main point, they will

expect to find a solid conclusion that discusses the significance of what they have just read. If the

thesis predicts the main point of the paper, then the conclusion emphasizes the importance of your

main point in some larger context. In the case of this paper, a conclusion might point out that

following the general guidelines for presenting your ideas in an academic setting allows your

papers to make an impact on readers. Readers appreciate your presenting a paper in a way that’s

familiar to them; in turn, they are more likely to be open to your unique perspective.

Write your name,
the course, the
instructor’s name,
and the date here
(unless your
instructor says
otherwise). Some papers

include a title that
suggests the topic.

Academic papers
often include a
thesis in the first
paragraph.

In general, each
paragraph should
start with a topic
sentence.

Every paragraph
begins with an
indentation of five
spaces (created
with the “tab” or
“return/enter” key).

Papers are typically
in 12 point Times
New Roman font
with double spacing
and one-inch
margins all around.

Note how the
ends and
beginnings of
paragraphs work
to create a
transition between
ideas.