Academic Papers

Here is a cultivated collection of tips I've learned from instructors, mentors, and articles in my high school academic career.

On this page:

Intro Paragraphs, Theses, Conclusions, Grammar, Citations

Document Based Questions, Op-Eds, Newspaper Articles

Coming:

Analytical Essays, Argumentative Essays, Claim Evidence Reasonings, Informative Speeches, Your Recommendations!

Introduction Paragraphs

One of my favorite English instructors explained to my class that the introduction paragraph was the most important part of an essay. If your intro was good, the rest of your essay had a little "wiggle room" for how good it actually had to be. The intro should make CLEAR what your essay is about and what order it will be in.

Hook and Context

Spend a little bit of time (a good amount) on your first sentence. What will draw the reader in? What reveals a tad about what this essay will be about without throwing random words onto the paper? After that set the scene. Explain terms and details that the audience will encounter later in your essay.

Reasoning

Don't make work for your readers. Explain to them, show them step-by-step what you will talk about and how that all connects. How do you get from Point A to Point B? Define things that are not be common knowledge.

Thesis

One of the most important parts of your paper! Why are you writing what you are writing? What question are you answering? Why is this significant to the reader? Be specific and clear!

See description on theses below

THESIS

The main argument

Think of your intro paragraph like this triangle. Start broad and end SPECIFIC with your thesis as your final sentence.

Use precisce language, avoid adverbs, adjs, and superlatives like "important," "very," or "significant," which may hinder your true argument.

Fact and Interpretation

1) A fact or observation

2) A conclusion drawn from that fact

Thesis = observation + commentary

The thesis provides a statement, evidence, and why that is relevant to the reader.

The need for a thesis

A thesis starts from a question related to an idea, theme, or text. It should answer that question. If you are writing a thesis in response to media, clarify your interpretations compared to the creator of that media's intentions.

Conclusions

Let's be honest, no one really knows what a conclusion is or how to write one.

SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO MAKE IT EVEN MORE GOOD AND INTERESTING !

Here's how to do just that:

Spend a couple of sentences (not many) reminding the reader of your key points. Just for context and fluidity. But, do not repeat exact words or state the obvious. (DO NOT USE "In conclusion," WE ALREADY KNOW)
Are there any other ideas you can draw from those points? Something relevant now? Something else not addressed in the original question?
Is there a counterpoint you would like to acknowledge?
You've just spent an entire essay scrutinizing and looking closely at your argument; essentially, the conclusion is the time to zoom out and look at your paper from a wider perspective. Look at the whole argument and its purpose.
Don't stress about it. It doesn't have to be long.

Common Grammar

It's = it is
They're = they are
Their = possessive
There = a place/position

Commas are followed by FANBOYS when the following line could be its own sentence with a subject and verb without the coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).

Ex: Jason ate pie, and Lily drank lemonade.
- Jason ate pie. Lily drank lemonade.

AVOIDING PASSIVE VOICE
- Be aware of the verbs and subject usage.
  - Ex. The ball was kicked by Suzie vs. Suzie kicked the ball
    - Suzie does the ball kicking
    - The ball doesn't do anything. Don't describe--show.

MLA:

In the end, punctuation is always inside the quotation marks
- Ex. Suzie explains, "She always loved to write."
- The question "Is poetry prominent?" appears.
Page numbers go at the end in parenthesis
- Ex. The text states, "Josh ate pie" (197).

Sometimes Grammarly can help

Some sites to help you cite
CHICAGO STYLE

Purdue Owl Chicago Style Page
Sample Chicago-style research paper
- For book:
  FN: Author (First Last), Title, (City of publication: Publisher, year), #.
  B: Author (Last, First). Title. City of publication: Publisher, year.
- For website:
  FN: Author (First Last), “Title of the Page,” Title of the Site, Owner or Sponsor of the Site (if different from the title), publication or revision date, url.
- B: Same as above, except author name is Last, First and change commas to periods.
Noodletools (for any style citation)!

Specific Pieces

Analytical Essay

Analyzing data, text, works, a piece created by someone else.

Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Used to share the results and conclusions of a science experiement.

Answering a Document Based Question

Typically used for history classes (AP). Utilizing documents such as other written works, data, or primary sources and analyzing them to support your argument.

Informative Speech

Purpose: To inform the audience about X topic.

Op-ed

Opinion piece not affiliated with the newspaper/publication. The "opposite the editorial page!"

Crafting a Newspaper Article

Leave out the bias, keep the fact and make it interesting. Could be about events happening in your community, across the nation, internationally, or in space! Relative to now.