Structural Elements of a

Paper
Tips, Examples, and Practices

Introduction
- First impression

- Hook

- Background information

- Thesis statement

- Concise but specific

Example
From the claim of the famous philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, God is dead to the mass rise of
atheism worldwide, an intellectual revolution has unfolded and has continued to spread in order to
denounce a higher power. Mainly the contention against God is based on an opposition to the
philosophy of fundamentalist Christian sects, where God decides fate and has created the world
in seven days, or Islamic sects that claim that no prophet besides Muhammad is real. Through this
narrow argumentation, atheists have discarded a higher power altogether. But even if the claim
God is dead is referring to a universal phenomenon and not just an ecclesiastical one, I cannot
understand the logic of it. Denying the existence of an entity beyond our capacity is cancelling out
every mystical experience that human beings have undergone in the entire history of our
existence. I ascertain that a spiritual force exists in the universe based on this historical, manifold
evidence.

Practice
Questions for the class about the example:
- What first impression do you get?
- Where is the hook?

- What did you think about the background information?

- What is the thesis statement?

- What words helped the most for the example to be specific?

Main Body
- Each paragraph should have one idea

- Each paragraph should be important

- Each paragraph should connect with the preceding and following paragraph

- Topic sentence, assertion, example, explanation, significance

Example
Thesis Statement: Denying the existence of an entity beyond our capacity is cancelling out every
mystical experience that human beings have undergone in the entire history of our existence. I
ascertain that a spiritual force exists in the universe based on this historical, manifold evidence.

Abstract mysticism usually refers to transcendent experiences within human consciousness. The Sufi
order of Islam alone has millions of accounts of rising above worldly senses and consciousness
(Hanold 23). Beyond religion itself, there are thousands of testimonials of physical, emotional and
mental transcendence without drugs and psychosis being entered into the equation (Hanold 433).
In fact, it is rare that a human being does not feel the presence of a higher power at least once in
their life, if not for a second looking up at the sky in awe, feeling a sudden unexplained peace,
their consciousness radically shifting in the matter of a second (Jennings 126).

Practice
Questions for the class about the example:

- What is the main idea?

- What information was important?

- Did the paragraph connect to the thesis statement?

- Was the topic sentence clear?

- Was there enough substantial information/examples to make it worthwhile to read?

Conclusion
- Remind the readers of what the essay was about

- Give an afterthought

- So what?

Example
Did all the religious, spiritual, and seeking people in the world get together and
form an alliance to spread untruth in order to gain sway over global politics
and economics? Doubtful. Does every human being have an innate
tendency to believe in a supernatural power in order to feel comforted by
the reality that they behold without the backing of logic or personal
experience and is this tendency based on strict scientific explanation? No
such evidence has been applied and no tendency as stated has been
examined within the strictures of science as conclusive (Samus 756). The
absurdity of the atheist agenda is not so much that it has focused primarily
on Christian creationism and Islamic extremism, but that it has ignored
millions of personal accounts the world over of everyday and evolutionary
mysticism by proposing a guise of mass delusion inherent in human beings.
Besides the point: if the confusion is real, is reality better?

Practice
Exercise:

Write a bad conclusion for this essay, then explain to me why it is bad. Split up in two groups and
write the conclusion together in groups. You have 15 minutes. If you have any questions in the
process, please ask.

Outline
- Key phrases so your mind remembers

- Put thesis statement at the top

- Play with the order of paragraphs to see which is most effective

Example
Title: Frederick Douglass
Thesis: Frederick Douglass played a crucial role in securing the abolition of slavery and equality of African-American
rights through his actions, ideas, and efforts as a lecturer, author/publisher, and politician.

A.
B.
A.
1)
2)
B.
1)
2)
C.
1)
2)

I. Introduction
Thesis
Roles/Arguments
II. Douglass as Lecturer
History as slave and acquisition of education
He experienced slavery
Literacy allowed expression
Early lectures, including initial speech before Garrison
Success of initial speech
Goals for future speeches
Effect of lectures on society
Open eyes
Encourage activism

Continued...
III. Douglass as Author/Publisher
A. Narratives success and effect
1) Springboard for paper
B. Goals/hopes for paper
C. Garrison set-back and significance
D. Significance of Paper
IV. Douglass as Politician
A. Key trait for success
B. Goal of political activism
C. Efforts for Republican party
1) Significance of efforts
D. Black soldier enlistment crusade
E. Joining of Republican party
1) Significance of efforts
V. Conclusion
A. Summarize arguments and efforts

Practice
Question for the class about the example:

- Were there keywords that could remind the author of what they wanted to
write about?

Exercise:

- Do you think there is a better way to order the paragraphs? Get into two
groups and write down a better way to organize the essay structure on a
sheet of paper. You have 10 minutes. After you are done, please tell me

Abstract
- Get readers interested in your work

- Dont use business language or buzzwords

- General to specific

Example
This dissertation examines the role of newspaper editors in the political turmoil
and strife that characterized late First Empire Rio de Janeiro (1827-1831).
Newspaper editors and their journals helped change the political culture of
late First Empire Rio de Janeiro by involving the people in the discussion of
state. This change in political culture is apparent in Emperor Pedro Is
gradual loss of control over the mechanisms of power. As the newspapers
became more numerous and powerful, the Emperor lost his legitimacy in
the eyes of the people. To explore the role of the newspapers in the political
events of the late First Empire, this dissertation analyzes all available
newspapers published in Rio de Janeiro from 1827 to 1831. Newspapers
and their editors were leading forces in the effort to remove power from the
hands of the ruling elite and place it under the control of the people. In the
process, newspapers helped change how politics operated in the
constitutional monarchy of Brazil.

Practice
Questions for the class about the example:

- Did it get you interested in the subject?

- Did it use business language or buzzwords?

- Did it go from general to specific?

Summary
- Give readers a look into what the paper is about

- Cover each major point

- Dont include any of your own ideas

Example
In the short story "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," author James Thurber humorously presents a
character who fantasizes about himself as a hero enduring incredibly challenging circumstances.
In his real life, Walter Mitty lives an ordinary, plain life; he is a husband under the control of an
overbearing, critical wife. Thurber uses lively dialogue to give readers an understanding of Mitty's
character. The story takes place over a period of about twenty minutes; during this brief time, Mitty
drives his wife to the hairdresser and runs errands that his wife has given him while he waits for

her. In between his worrying that he is not doing what she wants him to do, he daydreams about
himself as a great surgeon, brilliant repair technician, expert marksman, and brave military
captain. This story shows that fantasy is often a good alternative to reality.

Practice
Questions for the class about the example:

- Did it give you a glimpse of what the paper is about?

- Did it go over the main points of the short story?

- Did it include any personal ideas from the person who wrote the summary?

Differences
Summary - Quick knowledge

Abstract - Entice

Outline - Plan

Conclusion - Remind and answer: so what?

Which One is Which?

This research looks at the work of Margaret C. Anderson, the editor of the Little
Review. The review published the first works by Sherwood Anderson,
James Joyce, Wyndham Lewis, and Ezra Pound. This research draws
upon mostly primary sources including memoirs, published letters, and a
complete collection of the Little Review. Most prior research on Anderson
focuses on her connection to the famous writers and personalities that she
published and associated with. This focus undermines her role as the
dominant creative force behind one of the most influential little magazines
published in the 20th Century. This case example shows how little
magazine publishing is arguably a literary art.

Continued...
Researchers Yoder, Hogue, Newman, Metz, and LaVigne (2002) conducted a study to determine how
gender salience affects door-holding behavior in the contexts of dating and everyday life. They
hypothesized that, if door holding is a gender-neutral behavior, men and women would have the
same rates of door holding in both contexts. If it is a helping behavior influenced by notions of
chivalry, men would have higher rates in both contexts. Lastly, if it is a benevolent sexist behavior,
men would have higher rates of door holding during dates than in everyday life. To obtain data for
the study, five undergraduate students observed 769 college-age female-male pairs in 16 public
places. Seven were everyday locations, pairs were only included in the study if a member of a
non-courting pair was observed holding a door for the other member. In the dating locations, pairs
were only included if a member of a courting pair exhibited door-holding behavior. The result of
the study revealed that, in the context of everyday life, women held the door for men more than
men did for women. However, in the dating context, men held the door for women more than
women did for men. The data supported the benevolent sexism hypothesis but not the genderneutral and helping behavior hypotheses. The outcome of this study implied that male doorholding behavior was more likely to occur in the context of dating because gender was more
conspicuous. It supported the social role theory that the context variable is an important factor in
influencing behavior.

Continued...
The practice of rhetoric involves a careful attention to the characteristics and
preferences of the audience for whom the writer intends the message.
Although Syfers' and Limpus' essays might be somewhat out of place for a
contemporary audience, in the 1970s they were not. However, as argued
throughout this essay, it is Syfers' memorable sarcasm and wit that
ultimately win over her audience. Being humorous while also driving home a
worthwhile point is a difficult feat to accomplish in writing. Because Syfers
accomplishes it so well, she seems to have stepped over the boundaries of
time and reached a much larger audience than she may have originally
intended.