How to Write a Successful Statement of Purpose (SOP) in Humanities

1. How to Write a Successful Statement of Purpose (SOP) in Humanities Advancement to Graduate Education Conference The Office of Graduate Studies California State University, Northridge 7 September 2019 Dr. Danielle Spratt | danielle.spratt@csun.edu

2. Your Mantra Be Specific show the expertise you already have! Be Consistentwriting sample, SOP, Diversity Statement should cohere Be Clear for both specialists and non-specialists

3. What Is a Statement of Purpose? A Statement of Purpose typically describes you as a current and future scholar by articulating your research program; for SOPs at the MA level, you might include how you envision the graduate program assisting your career trajectory. Typically, at the PhD level, a SOP does not include many personal details or pedagogical interests/goals (you can reference salient details, but those are mostly for Diversity or Personal Statements)

4. How is a SOP Different from Other Statements? Personal statements and diversity statements typically emphasize the relationship between your personal history (including any hardships you overcame) and your field of study and other career and particularly teaching-related goals (e.g., teaching at a community college that serves first-gen students). These statements explain how you bring unique, diverse experiencesand perspectives to a grad program.

5. Models SOP Examples Diversity Statement Examples

6. SOP Formula 1 An introduction that frames your specific field of interest (not “nineteenth century women’s literature” but “nineteenth-century transpacific narratives of trade in women writers”) 2 Your knowledge of the field/important scholarship 3 Your background that’s helped you understand the field 4 How you envision developing your project (and related interests) 5 Why you want to attend THIS PARTICULAR SCHOOL and work with THESE PARTICULAR SCHOLARS.

7. Diversity Statement Formula 1An arresting anecdote that connects your love of literary study to a detail from your life 2Background/obstacles that you have overcome 3What you’ve done/are doing to contribute to diverse learning and scholarly approaches 4Your vision for becoming an active, diverse scholar and teacher

8. Workshop! - Anecdote that frames your literary interest: - Articulation of your specific area(s) of interest: - Who are the important critics/what are the most significant texts that describe your field (and/or how did coursework help you discover these): - What sorts of things do you want to do/study as you move into graduate-level work: - Which faculty members? Why this school?

9. Questions Contact info: danielle.spratt@csun.edu Office hours: dsprattofficehours.youcanbook.me Thanks and good luck!