Unpack the question
Most weak essays answer a question that wasn't asked. Before you read or write, take the question apart:
- Command words: "evaluate," "assess" and "to what extent" ask for a judgment. "Explain" asks for causes. "Compare" asks for similarities and differences.
- Limits: note the dates, places and groups named. An essay on 1919 to 1939 shouldn't spend half its length on the First World War.
- Key terms: words such as "revolution," "empire" or "turning point" need defining in your essay. How you define them shapes your answer.
Build an arguable thesis
A thesis is one or two sentences that answer the question and could be argued against. Compare these:
| Weak | Stronger |
|---|---|
| The Industrial Revolution changed Britain in many ways. | The Industrial Revolution changed where and how British people worked faster than it changed their living standards, which rose only slowly before the 1840s. |
| There were many causes of the First World War. | The alliance system turned a regional crisis in 1914 into a general war, but the decisions of a few governments in July explain why the crisis was not contained. |
The stronger versions take a position, rank causes or set limits, and preview the essay's structure. Historians still debate both topics, which is what makes them good essay claims.
Research with a question in mind
Start with a survey or textbook chapter to get the outline, then move to specialist books and articles. Read primary sources with the four moves in mind. Keep notes in two columns: what the source says, and what you think it shows. Record full citation details as you go, including page numbers. It saves hours later.
Paragraphs that argue
Each body paragraph should advance one part of your thesis. A reliable pattern:
- Point: a topic sentence that makes a claim linked to the thesis.
- Evidence: specific facts, figures or short references to sources, with dates and names.
- Analysis: explain how the evidence supports the claim. This is where most marks are won.
- Link: connect back to the question, or forward to the next paragraph.
Organize paragraphs by argument. A narrative that retells events in order rarely answers an "evaluate" question, even when every fact in it is correct.
Deal with the counterargument
Strong essays admit what cuts against them. Give the best version of the opposing view, then explain why your reading of the evidence holds up, or how it qualifies your claim. This shows judgment, and it is the heart of the historiographical skill examiners reward.
Citing sources the historian's way
Most history departments in the United States use the notes and bibliography system of the Chicago Manual of Style. Footnotes let a reader trace every claim to its source without cluttering the text. Check your course handbook, since some instructors accept other styles. Cite paraphrases as well as quotations. If you quote a primary source, quote briefly and comment on the words you chose.
Before you hand it in
- Does the introduction answer the question in the first paragraph?
- Does every paragraph begin with a claim that a reader could dispute?
- Are dates, names and spellings accurate and consistent?
- Have you defined the key terms in the question?
- Does the conclusion restate your answer and explain its significance, without new evidence?
- Is every borrowed idea cited?
History essay FAQ
Can I use "I" in a history essay?
Many instructors accept it in moderation, especially in the introduction and conclusion. Others prefer an impersonal style. Ask, and stay consistent.
How long should an introduction be?
For a standard essay of 1,500 to 2,500 words, one paragraph is usually enough: context in a sentence or two, definitions if needed, then the thesis and a brief outline.
Is Wikipedia acceptable as a source?
It can help you get oriented and find references, but most instructors won't accept it as a cited source. Follow its footnotes to the books and articles behind it.