How to Conquer IHUM

In IHUM courses, you can expect to have at least two papers during the quarter, the second a little longer than the first. You might also write a final paper OR take a final exam that includes an essay portion. That’s a lot of writing! Here are some tips to help you succeed:

1. Make sure you understand the prompt
TF’s say that the #1 problem they see in essays is misinterpretation of the prompt – so make sure you ask your TF what the questions mean!
2. Go to Office Hours
Some of the best academic advice you’ll ever receive – TF’s have office hours a few times a week, and can even meet with you outside of their normal office hours. Bring your thesis to office hours, and they’ll tell you how to improve it. This can be especially important since different TA's look for different things when they read papers. Friends and tutors don't always know what TF's are looking for - but they certainly do!
3. Focus on your thesis
Don’t spend too much time on style, at least up front. What matters most is your thesis – TF’s want to see an original, thoroughly proven thesis (so, again, make sure you run your thesis by your TF before you write your essay!) 

• To come up with a more original thesis, ask yourself a few questions before you look at the prompt….What bothered you about the book? What interested you? What surprised you? Then, look at the prompt, and see if any of ideas that came to mind would work well in the essay questions.
• To thoroughly prove your thesis, make sure you only use textual evidence (no outside knowledge or universal claims). There is no “correct” answer to an essay prompt – your task is to prove your ideas with critical thinking and textual evidence.

4. Write in a concise, organized style that fits your subject matter
Write with precise language – IHUM TF’s don’t want to read a flowery essay. Each subject has its own style (an English paper will be written in a much different style than, say, a philosophy paper. If you’re unfamiliar with your IHUM subject, ask your TF about how to write your paper in the correct style.) 
In general, your introduction should simply consist of a few sentences to give your thesis a context. Make sure that, at the end of every body paragraph, you write a sentence that directly ties in the point of that paragraph to your thesis. Helpful hint: if you’re having trouble thinking of a conclusion, a good strategy is to think of a counter-argument to your thesis, and then disprove it in your conclusion.
5. See a Writing Tutor!
We’re FREE, available all over campus, and can help you with anything – even if you just need to discuss some ideas or would like a second pair of eyes to look over your essay for clarity. Visit hwc.stanford.edu to learn more, and sututor.stanford.edu to schedule an appointment!