Academic structure: it's not a long-form five-paragraph essay

When it comes to structuring writing, many of us are taught some variation of the five-paragraph essay. It goes something like this:

• Introduction: “hook” the reader, give background information, state your thesis in one final sentence.
• Supporting paragraphs: take one subpoint, introduce it w/ a topic sentence, give 3 pieces of evidence, and conclude w/ a clear point.
• Conclusion: Restate thesis & main points. Never, ever add new ideas.

Academic writing is not so simply structured.

But this means it also allows for more flexibility.

And in some ways that makes the writing easier: the five paragraph essay is hard because it makes you start from scratch, like you’re the only one talking. Not so in most academic writing. Scholars usually start their writing by building off what others have said.

Try these approaches make your academic writing more connected

In the beginning

• Quote/summarize what other scholars have said about your topic (you can use the article you read in our book for this)
• Explain the background of the “academic discourse” (field) you’re writing in
• Explain why this topic is an important thing to study (this can be as simple as saying “This topic is relevant to explore because….”)
• Identify what the other scholars you quoted haven’t talked about
• Tell the reader what you plan to accomplish in the paper, and also what you’re NOT trying to do (this is different from a thesis statement)
• Examine (don’t just state) definition of key terms

In the middle

Free your paragraphs from the five-paragraph “subpoint” mentality. Instead divide your paragraphs more naturally. Write whole paragraphs devoted to:

• responding to points other scholars are making
• contrasting your topic with related topics
• exploring (not just listing!) the potential positives
• exploring (not just listing!) the potential negatives
• examples that illustrate your topic
• relevant history of your topic
• appropriate personal examples or anecdotes

Then tie all your body paragraphs together by relating your ideas & points to what the other scholars you quoted have said.

At the end

Feel free to bring up new ideas!

• Consider predicting the future: how will we think about your topic 20 years from now?
• What other related things should be questioned?
• End with a series of questions that encourages further scholarly research in the field.