Learning the Art of Historical Writing
I came into the TCR camp with a rough idea and left with a paper I never thought I would have been able to write.
My interest in history began when I was examining the old charters and treaties in history class-it was interesting to interpret the different ways legal language altered the course of our history. This curiosity led me to my research topic- the Nuremberg Trials. I wanted to research how those post WWII trials sentenced some of the most egregious committers of crimes in Nazi Germany and how those trials continue to shape how the world prosecutes crimes against humanity. I wanted to go deeper into this research, so I was fortunate enough to stumble across the TCR History camp.
The skills that the TCR camp equipped me with were invaluable. Their guidance helped me improve on substance- one of the most transformative parts of my experience was the one-on-one conferences with TCR instructors. I was fortunate enough to work with experts who helped me advance my research topic beyond what I originally envisioned. They introduced me to events pre-Nuremberg trials so that I would be able to provide adequate context to provide a holistic analysis on international law. What sets TCR apart is that they manage to tailor their feedback to each specific student, making sure to help them fill in gaps of their own story while nurturing their unique voices.
The TCR also re-shaped how I view writing overall. Previously, I had the habit of just writing as much as I can to meet the word count set by my teachers. My instructors instead, taught me that every single word in a history paper has meaning. They pushed me to write with precision, ensuring that each argument was well-supported, and every source served a purpose. What I thought would be a struggle of writing a paper near 9000 words that I would have to fill with a lot of fluff to meet, turned into an exercise in precision, focusing on both quality and quantity.
The guidance of the TCR camp not only enriched my understanding of history research, but it also helped me find my own unique writing style and unique voice. I truly felt myself shift from a high schooler to a historian, which I would forever be grateful to the TCR for.
From Jessica W.
2025 Winter Weekend Camp