Transformational Times Perspective/Opinion Template
[Title in Bold – Descriptive]
By [Name of author], [Academic degrees] – [Role, if appropriate]
[Short, two- or three-sentence precis that summarizes the essay. Provides a teaser to get the reader to click on the link and read more. Italicised and followed by an ellipsis.] …
[Text of essay.]
Suggestions: Include a hook at the top. The first paragraph will also appear in the email, so it should be compelling and story-based, if possible. Avoid academic or expository writing in the first paragraph.
One space between paragraphs. Use two spaces between paragraphs at natural breaks. Entire document is in Calibri size 12.
Use subsection headings when possible. These are in bold – two spaces above and one below
Strive for readability. Think of the reader skimming the page, reading the first sentence of each paragraph, and only stopping when something grabs them.
Use interesting words. Keep paragraphs short; let them cover only a single topic. Add plenty of commas. Use semicolons and paired emdashes (--) when appropriate. Break up the essay with subheadings. Do not fear white space.
Include links to articles and external websites, when appropriate and possible. Strive for accuracy. Check statistics and references. Suggest links for interesting or incompletely covered topics.
Wrap up the essay with a nod to the opening paragraph, if appropriate.
For further reading:
Include references here if the author has provided them. If the author has referred to specific article in the text, link them, if possible where they are mentioned. They can also be listed here, if desired. Avoid allowing the author to cut-and-paste verbiage that includes author’s names and dates (e.g., “…as described by Smith, 2013…”) without including either a link or the full reference.
[Full name of the author] is an [academic rank or title] in the Department of [department name] at MCW. [Other roles may be listed, particularly if they are relevant to the essay topic.] [She/he] is on the [appropriate] pillar of the Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Institute for the Transformation of Medical Education.
Return to Submission Guidelines page.