Prof. Fountain's History Writing Guide

Each academic discipline has its own conventions and standards for writing papers. Most of the “rules” below should apply to all History writing, though some professors may make different allowances or demands. Unless instructed otherwise, these requirements hold for all assignments.
• Please note: this varies slightly in organization from the written (pdf) version, but contains much of the same information. The pdf version available on your course web page is always the most current, authoritative version.
 
 
You are probably quite good at describing what happened, and that is a fine skill to possess. However, in order to succeed in deeper, more meaningful work, you will need to move beyond mere description.

This is at the core of all historical writing (see A and C). Your writing should demonstrate comprehensive understanding rather than serving to express your feelings. I do not care about your feelings. Welcome to college.

This should be simple. I know your English literature professor thinks books are "living documents," but we will have to let them live in that dream world while we deal in reality.

History is about people. Why individuals thought and acted as they did, and what effects and outcomes this had are at the heart of any historical considerations.

I know this one is difficult, but it may be the single most effective change you can make to your writing. This is not a matter of making your words prettier, but it is essential to writing in a historical mode.

This illustration may or may not work for you, but it has helped explain the goals and aims of historical writing to thousands of students.

Guess what! You need to be more sophisticated than you were in the 2nd, 8th, or perhaps even 12th grade. You should use professional-grade sources for your collegiate-level work.

Nothing says lazy like a paper filled only with other people's ideas and words instead of your own. Use quotes when they are useful, not as substitutions for your own arguments and explanations.

Be professional and avoid potential pitfalls and outright errors.
Adhere to the conventions set out here. This may mean you have to learn something about your word processing program.

Nothing says lazy and dishonest like a paper full of other people's ideas and words disguised as your own. Though the line between cheating and misunderstanding may be slightly different between disciplines, the rules are simple.

History uses Chicago-style footnotes in part to cite a wider variety of materials more specifically than is the tradition in some disciplines. Your professor is oddly passionate about this subject and he frankly does not care if you like APA, MLA or some other subpar style.

For footnote examples and formats, click here.

Stop pretending your computer is a typewriter. Make use of the functions in your word processing program.

Nothing says lazy and self-delusional like a paper full of errors that should have been avoided, or good points almost made.

Perhaps this is actually the most important part. You can do all the rest, but if it does not get to my desk, you cannot receive credit.

This is often the most overlooked step in students' learning. In order for this process to be worthwhile, please take the time to digest the comments and grading so that you may improve next time.

It is in your best interest to learn as much as you can, and to make use of your resources - no matter what level you have achieved, there are likely still improvements in your writing awaiting you.
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