writing that is lively and animated and brings its subject to life. Writing that uses examples and images well, that includes a range of other voices (from the past, from the present day), that experiments with various ways of presenting material and arguments.

I. Things I want to see

(1) A point. This isn’t just a recycling of information or fact. There has to be a point you’re making – an argument, hypothesis, or perspective that you’re advancing. What is a good point? – One that is worth making (not: boy bands are super commercialized, minstrelsy is bad, etc.) – One that is subtle, complex, interesting (not: one half of an either/or choice or something obvious or something that everyone would agree with you about) – One that relies on or is inferred from material and examples rather than being an argument made in the abstract, or on no basis – One that is provisional (it’s not as though you have found the answer for all eternity, or need to – all of our points can be revised or can be mooted, speculated, or suggested)

(2) Clarity (directness of expression). Say things as clearly as you can. This is quite hard. Use words whose meanings you know. Say things as shortly as possible.

(3) An interesting essay. Don’t be boring. Be interesting! Don’t say things just for the sake of it, or just to get it down. Try to be as interesting as possible about things you think are interesting. I’d much rather that your paper was a bit weird and sprawling than boring and well ordered. The easiest way to write an interesting paper is to care about the topic enough that you yourself are interested. Boring papers are, by and large, written by people who are bored when writing them.

(4) Vivid writing. That is: writing that is lively and animated and brings its subject to life. Writing that uses examples and images well, that includes a range of other voices (from the past, from the present day), that experiments with various ways of presenting material and arguments.

(5) Concreteness. That is: showing evidence of some research, reading, and thinking. Don’t lazily just rely on a couple of examples you vaguely know, with an “argument” built around them. Demonstrate that you’ve gained some erudition and knowledge. It must also incorporate some additional research and reading into the topic, via JSTORLinks to an external site., the university library, or any other reputable scholarly or journalistic resources.

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