My Professor’s Approved Essay Format

Good evening, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) sports fans.

If you ever have to write an essay, I want to give you a technique from my professor, Dr. Kevin Petit (Lieutenant Colonel, Retired, U.S. Army) – and he’s awesome. Here you go:

Purpose of the essay introduction is to frame your argument (NOT argue yet). There are many ways, but here’s the best three (chose one).

Paragraph 1:

• Short story/vignette
• Conventional Wisdom says X. Conventional Wisdom is wrong.
• Articulate a puzzle (his favorite)

Paragraph 2:

• This essay argues…
• This work argues…
• I argue (Explicit, direct, succinct)

Paragraph 3: You say, “This essay proceeds in four parts. First, it XXX. Second it YYY. Third it ZZZ. Fourth, it sums.”

ALL of the following paragraphs are evidence (and warrant) to substantiate claims you made in your argument paragraph.  So, there you have your sections.  [You might sum the article briefly in one section.  In the next section, you might say you agree with the author’s arguments and why.  In next section, you might mention why you disagree with an argument.] Optional, but always welcome: counterarguments, alternate theories – and why these might not be compelling as YOUR theory

Conclude with your argument, summarize the logic bridge you lead the reader across/evidence.

And I wish I knew this format years ago.  You have to read thousands of academic journal articles to get this format down to a tee.  Don’t reinvent the wheel.  Don’t have sentences longer than 19 words.

Thanks,

Matthew

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