Writing 'Perfect' Essays

After this term, I hope we can all agree that 'perfect' essays -- like all the other forms of 'perfectibility' we have explored -- can only be social constructions. There is certainly no Platonic ideal of a final essay out there for this module. However, there are more or less interesting, more or less achievable, and more or less analytical essay questions. Today, we will talk about how to form an exciting and generative question, how to go about researching it while playing to your own strengths as a historian, and how to produce an essay that is as interesting and readable as your favourite readings this term.

PLEASE BRING TO CLASS:

• Your topic (this can be specific -- but it can also be 'I really enjoyed the seminar on... How can I write an essay on that kind of stuff?'
• Your reflections on what kind of research you enjoy the most (Primary or secondary? Visual or textual? Films or photos, diaries or novels?)
• An idea or two about what time or place you would like to explore.
• A few thoughts of what you do best as an essayist/historian.