GUIDELINES FOR PAPERS

I evaluate papers in terms of four main criteria:

· thesis

· organization

· support from the text to be analyzed

· clear, grammatically correct writing

Writing and content are not considered separately. To make a convincing argument, you must be able to express it clearly and you must have something substantive to express.

Note: Papers must answer the question assigned. You may not simply “write about” the text. There is, however, no single answer to the question or interpretation of the text to which your paper must conform.

Thesis

First and foremost, your paper must have a clearly stated thesis.

Your thesis statement explicitly states your argument, your interpretation of the assigned topic. A full thesis statement will explain in a few words what the thesis of your essay is and how you will substantiate it. A thesis statement is not simply a statement of the topic (e.g. “This paper is about...”), nor a statement of intention (e.g. “In this paper, I will look at...”). It should encapsulate your argument. It should appear in the first paragraph of the paper (usually at the beginning or the end; try not to bury it in the middle). You should be able to take a highlighter to this sentence; if you cannot identify the thesis statement, neither can I. Do not wait until the concluding paragraph to surprise me with the thesis.

Organization

Make sure that every paragraph in the body of the paper supports the thesis stated in your introductory paragraph. The paragraphs should be ordered logically. The concluding paragraph should pull together, and not simply restate, the key arguments of the body paragraphs and demonstrate how, together, they prove your thesis.

Support

To reiterate: the papers ask you to answer a question based exclusively on the evidence from the primary text assigned. You are not expected to do any outside research, nor should you rely on the lectures to address the question.

Most of your major points should be supported by evidence from within the text itself, which you should cite (i.e. specific words or phrases). You may note general tendencies of the text as well (such as the use of certain imagery). Do not, however, merely summarize the content of the text.

Avoid citing large blocks of text. A longer quote is not necessarily a better quote; often only one line or word is needed to illustrate your point.

Be creative while you are reading and taking notes. It is not a matter of looking for direct statements in answer to the question – for instance, of finding the three main quotations that obviously bear on the subject – though this is a good start. Be on the lookout for passing comments, clues to the author’s basic assumptions, and aspects of the text’s overall tone or structure that might bear on the question assigned.

Avoid sweeping generalizations (“all medieval people were superstitious”), and any generalization than you cannot support with evidence from the text. The same holds for judgments (“this happened because medieval people were bad”). Assume you are writing for me or a fellow student in this class: do not waste space providing background information that is not directly relevant to your argument (e.g., by explaining when the Middle Ages occurred or recounting the course of the Investiture Conflict).

Style

You writing must be grammatically correct throughout, from paragraph organization down to apostrophes. Strive for clarity of expression and an economy of words. You can pack more substance into a mere three pages if you do not waste words on empty phrases (e.g., “owing to the fact that” instead of simply “because”). Avoid colloquialisms.

For further guidance, see my general editorial remarks on papers. For more substantive guidance, you might consult Strunk’s Principles of Composition.

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In terms of how all this translates into grades:

An A paper has a clear thesis that is well supported by evidence from the primary texts, argued logically, and presented in good English. The difference between a B+ paper and a paper in the A range is that an A paper shows signs of original thinking and unique insights gleaned from a close reading of the text.

A paper with a clear thesis, basically sound writing and organization, and a good use of quotes, but with a somewhat superficial analysis, usually earns a B.

A paper without a clear thesis invariably merits a C, as does a paper with a weak thesis and little textual support and poor organization.

A paper with no thesis, little substance, and poor writing earns a D.

A D paper that is thoroughly sloppy or does not address the assignment earns an F.

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For help interpreting my marginal comments, click here.

Please do not hesitate to come see me if you do not understand a marginal notation, need suggestions for improving your writing, or would like some preliminary reactions to a draft of your essay. If you are not available to meet during my scheduled office hours, e-mail me to set up an appointment.