A lot of job hunters worry about whether they are suitably qualified for a position.  If the ad for your dream job insists that, say, only someone with a four-year degree from an accredited ninja school will be considered, and if you dropped out of ninja school in your sophomore year but have been working as a ninja for the intervening five years, you have good reason to be concerned about your chances of getting an interview.  Just reading the ad, it's

1. What is your name?

My stage name is chromatic.  My pen name... varies.

2. What is your quest?

Leaving the world a little more awesome today than yesterday.

3. What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

That depends on many variables.  How big is the swallow?  How thick is the air?  What planet is this?  Is there a tail wind?  Is the swallow in a box of magnetic…

Key parts of an argument paper

If you are writing an academic paper to present or develop an  argument, it must have certain key elements:

A debatable thesis  

This is a single, clear statement, usually expressed in a single sentence and placed at the end of your first, introductory paragraph,  which answers the question presented or implied by the assignment task and presents your position on the topic.  For instance if the essay title

U.S. Army Field Manual FM 21-75, "Combat Skills of the Soldier," Appendix G, p.16
Washington, DC: Department of the Army, 1984.

"PUT OUT ROUNDS!"

-Pvt. Joker,…