Writing a Humanities Essay: The Process

23 Novembro 2020, 11:00 • Cecília Maria Beecher Martins

Adapted from Graduate Lab Writing – Yale Centre for Teaching and Learning (Lynda Paul, May 2016) https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/LPaul_Humanities.pdf.

Frequently, the process of writing a research paper in the humanities does not follow a linear trajectory. Even changing just one piece might mean that the entire structure has shifted and needs to be adjusted. But in whatever order the pieces of the paper unfold for you, and however recursively you revisit sections and revise them, you will benefit from keeping in mind the following components, which are crucial to a humanistic argument.

 • Articulate a thesis idea that will be the starting point of your paper

The thesis idea may change throughout the writing process. That is not a problem but if that happens, just keep revising the thesis idea, so that you are always aware of what you are writing about. The more specific you make and keep your thesis idea, the more it will help you develop and refine your argument. This keeps you on track and reminds you if you still need to think/write about elements you have not covered yet. It might lead you to disregard these and focus on your central idea more.

• How am I going to defend/argue my thesis

Thesis statement: Your thesis statement must be supported by REASONS based on EVIDENCE. You don’t want to make a claim that is too big to be supported with the evidence you can supply within the scope of your paper. It is usually better to make a smaller claim that you can support well than a grand claim that you cannot. Your thesis statement should be stated explicitly at the end of the introduction section.

Topic sentences: Have a topic sentence for each idea/paragraph you wish to explore and place this at the beginning of each section.

Return to this idea: When you finish your essay underline your thesis statement and your topic sentences – ask yourself: does the flow they are presented in make sense?

• What is the difference between my abstract and my introduction?

Both must contain the thesis statement, but then they differ.

The abstract: what you are going to do and how you are going to do this – the language is objective and concise.

The introduction begins the conversation and introduces the concepts you are going to discuss. It tells your reader the question or problem your paper is pursuing, and why this question or problem is important.

• Craft an introduction

Questions to ask of your introduction:

Does my introductory paragraph define terms important to my thesis?

Does my introduction "place" my thesis within the larger, ongoing scholarly discussion about my topic?

Is the language in my thesis vivid and clear? 

 

• Craft a body

Most body paragraphs make one clear point (presented in the topic sentence). This supports the main thesis, and then discuss the reasons and evidence for that point. The main variation is that some paragraphs might address counter-arguments.

• Craft a conclusion

Conclusions do more than restate the main claim. They can be thought of as a broadening-out, or opening-up, of your initial question in light of the work you have now presented. How does your interpretation help your field move forward? Now that the readers have read your analysis, what new questions might they pursue? What areas should we look at because of your new research? This is a good place to speculate about ideas that deserve further exploration.

References: Booth, Wayne C., Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams. The Craft of Research. 3rd edition. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2008