READ CAREFULLY:

For this blog post as well as response post, we will return to having ALL groups respond to the same prompt. Feel free to keep the due dates as listed.

Reflect on how you feel you’ve grown this semester as a writer. How has your confidence grown over the semester? How will you you use your growing skills moving forward? Now that you are aware that each discipline has not only different modes of writing but also differences in things like structure, language, and reference, how will this knowledge help you throughout your college career? How do you see this knowledge helping you moving into your career?

This is an opportunity to do some reflective writing prior to the final, so please take your time and write thoughtfully for this blog post.

BONUS:

Respond to a fellow classmates post and earn credit for a post you missed.

After reading Chapter 7, “Reading and Writing in the Humanities,” I realized how different writing in this field really is. It’s not just about giving information or following a strict formula ,it is about connecting ideas in a meaningful way. The structure still matters, but it feels more natural and flexible. Instead of sticking to a set pattern, the writing builds on thoughts and emotions, helping readers understand why something matters, not just what it means. I like that humanities writing lets you explore ideas and think deeply rather than just presenting facts.

The language in humanities writing also stood out to me. It’s expressive, emotional, and sounds more in depth. Writers use tone, imagery, and reflection to pull you in and make you feel connected to their ideas. In the student sample paper, I noticed how the writer’s voice came through; it didn’t sound stiff or too formal. It was thoughtful but still human, and that made it easier to follow and connect to. It reminded me that strong writing doesn’t have to sound robotic to sound intelligent.

When it comes to references, I really liked how they were used to support ideas rather than being self explanatory. It felt like the writer was joining a bigger conversation instead of depending on other people’s words to sound credible. That made the writing feel more natural.

What I still find hard is figuring out how much of my own opinion to include. I love that humanities writing gives space for your voice, but it’s hard to know where to draw the line between personal and analytical. Still, that’s what makes it so interesting, t pushes you to think for yourself and write with depth and meaning. I think that’s something I want to keep working on, finding that balance between being relatable and being academic, because that’s where the best writing really exists.

Hello Readers,

Today I will be talking about Chapter 7 reading and writing in humanities and the common element structures among other topics in my post. Structure is often clear and in line when it follows a thesis statement or the main body paragraph and conclusion. Because it should be helping present the evidence and allow the reader to analyze the read or material and later on present a logical argument across either side. And in chapter 7 I could tell the writer had a lot of structure in the piece about writing in the humanities. In the journal the writer used language so that the reader could understand in a simple way what point they were trying to get across in the writing. And at some point they used a very formal tone with certain pieces but not with the whole article itself. But it does make it to where the reader can easily understand the ideas and thought process and the ideas that have presented themselves. And when I was looking at the reference area they had properly cited all the sources and that makes it very credible because they have a source to prove their evidence. With them citing everything correctly they attribute the source correctly and it avoids them being accused of plagiarism in their writing when they have the sources to back it. I believe all three of these elements are what make it very important for everything to tie together for the reader to understand where they are coming from and give credit to where they found proof or evidence backing up their writing. And the way the writer brought the information together caught my attention and made me focus and interested in the topic at hand without adding extra words or something that doesn’t belong. They found a way to pull me into the reading so they know how to catch the reader’s attention and that itself is a big point in writing you must put your readers in.  

After reading Academic Writing: Chapter 7, “Reading and Writing in the Humanities,” I realized just how much the humanities rely on language and structure to create meaning and interpretation rather than just listing facts or data. One of the main things that stood out to me was how writing in the humanities focuses on analysis, interpretation, and argument. Instead of simply summarizing information, the writer explores deeper meanings, often focusing on how or why something matters. The structure usually follows a flexible but logical flow — an introduction that presents a claim or interpretation, body paragraphs that analyze evidence (like quotes or scenes), and a conclusion that ties everything together by explaining the significance.
Language in the humanities is also very distinctive. The text mentions how writers often use interpretive, descriptive, and figurative language to express ideas. For example, instead of saying “the character is sad,” a writer might describe how the author uses imagery, tone, or symbolism to convey emotion. Humanities writing tends to value voice, tone, and nuance, meaning the writer’s perspective matters just as much as the evidence they present. The references in these essays are also more textual and contextual, instead of citing experiments or statistics, writers reference primary sources like literature, art, or historical documents and secondary sources like scholarly interpretations. When I read the student sample paper, I noticed that it did a good job following these conventions. The student used clear topic sentences and analysis of quotes to support their interpretation. I also liked that the paper showed an awareness of tone and word choice, which made it feel engaging instead of robotic. However, I did find a few things lacking — the conclusion didn’t fully explain why the analysis mattered, and a few transitions between paragraphs felt rushed. The paper could have benefited from a stronger sense of closure and a more polished flow between ideas. Overall, though, it showed a strong grasp of what humanities writing looks and sounds like.

In Chapter 7 of Academic Writing, the authors explain that reading and writing in the humanities tend to focus more on interpretation and meaning rather than facts or data. Writing in this field is about analyzing ideas, texts, and artwork, and explaining how they create meaning. The chapter helped me see that writing in the humanities is less about giving one “right” answer and more about building an argument that makes sense based on the evidence you find. One important part of structure in humanities writing is the thesis statement. According to AW, “a thesis in the humanities should make an arguable claim about meaning” (p. 176). The chapter also notes that essays in the humanities typically follow a flexible structure, consisting of an introduction, body paragraphs that develop ideas with examples, and a conclusion that reflects on the argument. It’s less formulaic than a science lab report or history essay. When it comes to references, AW explains that humanities writers often use MLA format and focus on textual evidence (p. 185). This means quoting or paraphrasing the author’s exact words and explaining their meaning. The chapter gives the example: “As Woolf writes, ‘A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction’ (Woolf 4).” Then the writer would analyze that quote instead of just dropping it in. The explanation part is key—it shows that you understand the quote’s purpose in your argument. Looking at the student sample paper in the chapter, you can see these techniques in action. The student has a clear thesis and uses quotes from the story to support their ideas. The paper also stays focused and uses analytical language. However, some paragraphs feel more like summaries than analyses, and a few quotes could benefit from more explanation. I think adding more interpretation and smoother transitions would strengthen the paper. Overall, Chapter 7 helped me understand that writing in the humanities is about making an argument through interpretation and analysis. It’s not just about what a text says, but about why it matters and how the author creates meaning.

In my fifth week here, I’ve already foreseen the benefits of research. Especially being that I am a psychology major, which leads to lots of research, that I know will benefit me in the long run. Psychology is constantly changing, so I have to make sure my sources are as up to date as possible, relevant, and reliable. Finding the correct information and citing it properly has definitely been something I’ve enjoyed building.
The type of research that interests me the most would have to be behavior studies. I have always been fascinated by how people think, react, and respond in their environments or controlled environments. Research like this often means finding studies directly based on behavior, in my case at least. Working on this assignment has definitely helped me grasp the idea of those needed skills.

Though I have learned a lot more, I know I still struggle in some areas. I think my biggest issue at the moment is probably fully comprehending the whole idea in my sources, while still meshing it all together. Depending on the introduction or abstract, there can be a lot of ideas to try to piece together as one. So at times I do have to put in more time to digest it, to really get to the main point I want to convey. This is something I want to improve on.

However, I do feel more comfortable using research to backup my own ideas. Learning how the evidence can make my points better, though I am still working it out. Identifying primary and secondary sources ca still be a little tricky for me, but it really just depends on the situation.

I probably feel most confident in paraphrasing. Putting the information into my own words and not taking credit is pretty good for me. I think this part is good because it definitely shows my understanding of what I am reading. As a whole, I think I am progressing way more from the beginning, but I know there is definitely room for improvement.

Dear Future Abby,

           Transferring here as a sophomore took away one year of being a part of the Longwood community. I am still new to everything and am trying my best to branch out, but I hope you took advantage of the shorter time you had and put yourself out there. Longwood, as you know, offers an abundance of clubs and organizations. Seeing as a major part of your heart belongs to caring for animals, maybe you joined the STEP program where you train dogs to become service pets. You might have also found clubs related to your interests in debate and political themes, possibly researching into the different classes that incorporate those ideas as well. I am currently in a game club, do I stick with it every year of college? I also received a bid from the ABY Sorority the other day and accepted it. I am hopeful that you made friends with all of the sisters, current and new, and helped expand the sorority itself. Though it might be a bit of a reach, I hope the road eventually leads you to becoming an important member of the sorority and possibly one that can make actual change happen.

         When it comes to your academic successes, I hope you maintained a 3.2 GPA or higher, simply because I understand that some classes will be difficult and it is okay to not get a 100% on every assignment. I believe that you majored in English flawlessly and you took classes out of your comfort zone. There are moments in which I think that English is not the right fit for me, but I know you persuaded me to stick with it and kept me going. You should also have your next steps lined up so that you are not fearful of your future, or at least I hope you do. Right now, it is impossible for me to imagine the direction you are heading, but I know that your experience at Longwood was life changing. Even with the shortened amount of time we have here, I believe it did not deter you from making changes with yourself and the community around you. 

Sincerely,

Your past self

Citations:

Alpha Beta Psi. (2025). Alpha Beta Psi. Lancer Link.

https://lancerlink.longwood.edu/organization/alphabetapsi 

STEP. (2025). Service-Dog and Education Program at Longwood University. Lancer Link.

https://lancerlink.longwood.edu/organization/step