The medium of history and classics as intellectual disciplines is the written word. Successful students in these fields must be able not only to read but write well. That is, they must be able to receive and impart words with precise meaning. Sloppiness of expression is as detrimental to any historical study as faulty equations are to physics. This guide is designed to help you avoid some of the more obvious pitfalls of misstatement into which students often fall. A GUIDE TO WRITING IN HISTORY AND CLASSICS. Essay man utah. Many people assume that professional writers don't need to rewrite; the words just fall into place. On the contrary, careful writers can't stop fiddling. . . . Students, I realize, don't share my love of rewriting. They think of it as punishment: extra homework or extra infield practice." William Zinsser, 1998.