Understanding complex theories in the Humanities | Essay Tips

[@Tom_Nicholas]

Have you got any tips for understanding tough bits of theory? If so, do feel free to add to the conversation! And, if you enjoyed this particular video then you can check out the rest of my Essay Tips series here: kzbin.info/aero/PLIVcDWpMT7KfEYHOg54Lk6Wy-cyhkR84Z

[@bambooteablogming6705]

Hi Tom! Just want to say that I really like your videos and looking forward to more videos from you ;) I am a Political Studies undergrad and these content on essay tips and organizing is really useful!

[@Tom_Nicholas]

Heya, ahh, so glad you've found them handy. Do let me know if there's anything particular you want me to cover, suggestions are always welcome. Hope your studies are going well!

[@karamazovkid71]

I concur with all 5 points with some expansion. I study with links to Wikipedia and Wiktionary open. This way I can conceptualize the author's words in the context (Wikipedia) or sense (Wiktionary) he/she is using them. When I come to something I do not understand I have more confidence in my ability to understand than I do in some jack-ass professor's ability to explain. What I do is rewrite what I think the prof is trying to say. It is amazing how often not understanding is just a matter of the prof getting his grammar or syntax confused. The best part of being self-educated is that I have no one to tell me I passed the course. So I only finish with a topic when I have satisfied myself I fully understand. Since that never happens I am continuously building theory upon theory into a more interconnected view of reality which gives me great pleasure as I uncover new connections.

[@lilmissmalone]

Thank God! A humanities PhD student on KZbin! 😭❤️❤️❤️ #MyTribe

[@palmo9823]

Undergrad is great, I read someone else's interpretation of Foucault, I get 55%, I spend the rest of my life telling other people to read Foucault

[@jesusguevara3059]

Hey!, me, as an anthropology student really needed a PhD in humanities student, your videos are incredibly amazing, don’t stop making them

[@gus1552]

Hey, greetings from Brazil!! I'm about to start studying literature/linguistics at college, and this video - and all the others of your channel - have been very helpful for me. Thankss!!

[@Tom_Nicholas]

Heya Gus, so glad you've found my videos helpful. Best of luck at college!

[@mikeymacaque]

Sorry for spamming, but I just found your channel tonight and I think you provide amazing tips for people in the humanities. I have an entire section on my bookshelf dedicated to the little Oxford Short Introduction Books! I have also found that reading textbooks meant for advanced undergraduates alongside original texts helps me feel more confident in understanding a piece. I'm a Performance Studies PhD student, and it wasn't until I read a Performance Studies textbook meant for undergrads that I truly began to understand Victor Turner, for instance. Your channel is the content that I've been yearning for on KZbin, and I can't wait to assign your work in a class some day!

[@Tom_Nicholas]

No problems at all, always great to have chats in the comments, it's one of my favourite parts of doing this! I love that series, it's a really great way to get an overview of a topic. I'm planning on doing another video in this vein shortly and am keen to make the case for that kind of survey knowledge being just as important or valuable as having in-depth knowledge of certain topics. I've found teaching really helped me gain a much better understanding of some topics too. Hope the PhD's going well!

[@BoredCat333]

Thank you!! More essay tips please. I’m an undergraduate. Can you explain the levels of academia; what is the difference between undergraduate, masters student, doctorate and phd. What is an assistant teacher, do they become professors after certain period of time? What’s the hierarchy and what is the process of becoming a Professor Doctor?

[@Tom_Nicholas]

Undergraduate, Masters and PhD (also sometimes called a doctorate) are all levels of qualification. So, usually, one would complete a Undergraduate before advancing onto a Masters and then a PhD. Job titles such as Assistant Lecturer, Associate Lecturer, Senior Lecturer etc all tend to depend quite heavily upon the particular institution and will vary quite widely. There's no certainty of becoming a Professor (at least I don't think so), it's a title which comes with particular jobs. Hope that helps a little and best of luck with your studies!

[@brahimilyes681]

The most helpful youtuber I found in this regard 👏👏 Keep up the good work, lad.

[@SparkFromWithin]

I thought there was some equivalent of Complex Systems in the humanities and it was called Complex Theories and that is what this video was about, but despite not being what I expected it was enjoyable and useful. Thanks.

[@SharloNoir]

Hey Tom, really likiing your videos! The way you speak is full of energy, its motivating! and a good way of explaining! In the beginning you mentioned that graphic introduction book to aesthetics. do you remember the title of this book? I study art, so Im very interested, as I never seem to have gotten a grip of it all! id be so very glad !

[@Tom_Nicholas]

I'm glad you've been finding them useful! I've linked that book below, I found it really, really useful. Best of luck with your studies! books.google.co.uk/books/about/Introducing_Aesthetics.html?id=FKSNRAAACAAJ&redir_esc=y

[@SharloNoir]

thank you so much! ill order it soon !

[@ahlem9185]

Hey, your explanation is quite useful. Thank you very much. I am a PhD student in humanities as well and I am currently working on gender theory. I would be delighted to hear from you concerning this subject matter Best of luck

[@Gravelsis]

Tom, you are incredible eloquent. Love to listen to your sessions.

[@taylorlerman1805]

thank you so much for all the tips & info you provide us with! Keep up the amazing work!

[@Tom_Nicholas]

No worries Taylor, glad you found it helpful!

[@michaelatashjian2904]

Wow, thank you so much, Tom! I have been referring to the Introducing Semiotics and Introducing Linguistics graphic guides while sweating over my reading assignments. I feel encouraged and reassured after watching this helpful video.

[@Tom_Nicholas]

Haha, yes, they're great overviews and really accessible either as an introduction or as a quick refresher. Never be ashamed to find the best way of learning to fit your needs!

[@merylwong9726]

Can you tell me the name of the book that you mentioned in this video, which is about aesthetics? Thanks a lot~~

[@Spideysenses67]

What was this introduction to aesthetics book that was very cartoony? Sounds like exactly the kind of thing I need.

[@ideaaddict923]

No. 1: Don't assume it is as complex as the words used to describe it. Try and convert it to simple words. No. 2: Check to see if the author borrows terms from other fields which aren't used correctly. No. 3: Reproduce the theory as an argument with premises and a conclusion. If you cannot do 1, 2 or 3, you may be reading something from a different field.

[@lfe2830]

Very true

[@shahada9654]

Your videos are amazing.. I am on the process of starting my PHD proposal... can you please give us an example of what your are saying in the video. How I can look/ search for the simplified introductory texts? Thank you

[@Tom_Nicholas]

I generally find that a good search for "[Topic] Introduction" does the trick. Keep an eye on what publisher any suggestions which pop up are published by. Obviously that's not a definite guarantee (and there are likely smaller publishers that will have introductory texts which are good) but I tend to err on the side of caution and ensure I pick one from a publisher that is relatively well renowned.

[@heedrinaadeka8481]

Hello. Can you pls provide the name of that book on aesthetics with the graphics? it sounds super helpful. if possible, could you also give me the publisher's name (eg. Oxford or Cambridge short introductions) which produces introductory texts with graphics to simplify concepts?

[@joshbogdanowicz4007]

Drop the link to the aesthetic picture book, Tom. Please:)

[@frunkybooii]

Legend bro, great vids. ✌

[@blackcat1642]

Really good tips

[@kandiharshini2846]

Thanks a lot Tom

[@Faraaz00723]

Hi there. Can you make a video on how to paraphrase an article?

[@Rolando_Cueva]

The first 20 seconds sounded very British.

[@mariayousaf5091]

keep it up

[@thermersnuser]

I go to you when i dont understand the concept instant

[@chiefouko]

Hey Tom. Do you watch The Big Bang Theory? I think you are a version of a cool Sheldon 🤣🤣