Writing in the Humanities

Humanities Writing Conventions

Key Characteristics

• Argument-driven: Every paper defends a thesis through textual analysis and interpretation


• Evidence from texts: Close reading of primary sources (literature, art, historical documents)


• Interpretive: Multiple valid readings exist; your job is to argue for yours convincingly


• Prose-heavy: Extended paragraphs, limited use of lists and bullet points

Close Reading

Humanities writing often involves close reading—careful analysis of specific passages, considering word choice, imagery, structure, and context to build interpretive arguments.

Citation Style

MLA is standard for literature and languages. Chicago (notes-bibliography) is common in history. Include page numbers for specific textual references.