Writing 2: Humanities Paper
From UCSB English Department Knowledge Base
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Instructor: Melissa Stevenson
Winter 2001
Guidelines For Writing Your Humanities Paper
Nuts and Bolts:
The paper should be at least 5 double-spaced pages in 12 point Times or similar font plus a list of works cited. Keep the margins reasonable, 1 inch or less please. All citations must be in MLA format. Please give your paper a title. Talk to me about potential for extra credit.
Subject Material:
You may write on one of the poems or stories in the reader. You may also choose to write on Blade Runner or Brave New World. You may also decide to write on a work outside of our reading. If you choose to write on a text not read in class, please select (and copy) a short story, poem, novel, or film that deals with images of the future. I would be happy to suggest possibilities. You must speak to me before selecting a work.
Topic/Thesis Statement:
You must have an argument (thesis statement) around which to structure your paper. Keep in mind that you will be writing at least 5 pages on your topic, so make it something you are interested in, as well as something you can sustain over a period of time without repetition. Your thesis statement must not be self evident, it must be an arguable statement. “Brave New World takes place in the future” is not an arguable statement. “In Brave New World, Aldous Huxley argues that personal identity is less important than happiness and global stability.” is arguable; if you are going to argue for it, someone should be able to argue against it. You should also be able to say not only What (The topic) but Why (why is this important, why would this happen in the text?).
Evidence:
As you are trying to prove a point in your paper, you need evidence. This evidence should be in the form of quotations from the text (properly cited) and, perhaps, related information. Don’t simply recap the plot to me (I’ve read it too), bring specific attention to those parts of the text which help build your argument. Don’t make statements you can’t prove!
Structure:
I subscribe to the road map theory of paper writing. Give your paper a title that helps me understand where we will be headed (The Open Ending in ....). Your argument/purpose/direction should appear somewhere in the first paragraph along with a quick synopsis of the stops we will be making in your evidence paragraphs on our way to get there (Love is shown as X through “paragraph one,” “two”,....”) Your evidence paragraphs should identify themselves with a topic sentence, and remind the reader why this stop is made and its relation to the eventual destination. By the conclusion your argument should be well supported and established. Here you can remind the reader why the argument is important or make suggestions for complications.
Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is defined as representing the words or ideas of others as your own. It is punishable by failure of the course, and, in some cases, expulsion from the university. Let’s not go there. If you are worried about inadvertent plagiarism see me or CLAS about how to credit your sources.
CLAS:
A great resource for paper writing. Campus Learning Assistant Services has numerous handouts on how to write a paper, MLA format, and many other topics. In addition, the tutors at CLAS, available though appointment or on a drop-in basis, can help with any step in the writing process.
Office Hours:
As always, you can come speak with me about any questions or problems you have with the paper writing process. You may also make an appointment to speak with me during office hours. You can also make an appointment to see me, or contact me by e-mail.
--MarthineSatris 18:00, 8 August 2007 (PDT)
