Examples of Academic Essays That Break the Rules

Academic essay writing is usually taught with a “five-paragraph” model (extended to a “five-section” model for longer papers), with a strong emphasis on mechanics. However, in real academic life, almost no one follows the model. Here are my favorite papers that refine, critique, or simply ignore the rules, while nevertheless embodying the best of academic writing.

(For real help with writing, see my page of Resources for College Essay Writing.)

Watson & Crick’s announcement of the structure of DNA

A mere page long, but among the most famous academic essays in history. It breaks all the rules while accomplishing more than all the rest of us.

“I, Pencil” (Leonard Read)

A classic case of an economist writing for the public with a thesis statement that doesn’t appear anywhere near where we normally say it should.

“The Skillful Writing of an Awful Research Paper” (Royce Murray)

Published in Analytical Chemistry: a scientific paper illustrating how not to write a scientific paper.

“The Phenomenology of Error” (Joseph Williams)

The punchline comes in the last paragraph, but to appreciate it, you have to read at least half the paper first. Please do that before skipping to the end.

Book Review: Winnie-the-Pooh and the House at Pooh Corner” (JJ Cammarota)

Best literary essay with a debatable thesis statement and ingenious support: “A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh books belong to the very old and respected genre of heroic epic.”