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10 Top Steps to Earn Top marks in your history essays
Crafting a history essay feels complicated because of having to deal with names, dates, and interpretations. As an aspiring historian, this is not a reason to fear. Our essay writing service is here to help you. This comprehensive guide provides strategies to craft compelling and insightful essays that will deepen your understanding of history and earn you top marks.
Understand the History Question: Foundation of History Essay
Before starting to conduct any research, analyze the essay prompt meticulously. Understand the core question: What do the instructions require you to do? Identify the keyword and understand the scope of the paper.
It is crucial you first acknowledge the purpose of any history essay, which is to formulate and defend an argument about a question or problem in the history.
There are several categories that history essay questions can fall into. The categories include:
- Causation essay. These focus on “why? The question requires you to explore factors that led to a specific event. Why did the event happen? Do not just list the causes. Analyze the relative significance and interplay of each cause. Such questions flow as follows: “Analyze the factors that contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire.”
- Compare and contrast essay. This essay examines similarities and differences. The involved questions will ask you to explore the similarities and differences between historical events, periods, or figures. Do not just list the similarities and differences. Rather, analyze their significance and what they reveal vis-à-vis the broader historical context. For instance, an example of questions seeking this essay is “Compare and contrast the leadership of Abraham Lincoln and Franklin D. Roosevelt when faced with challenges that defined their presidencies.”
- Evaluation essay. The essay requires you to evaluate the significance of a development, event, or figure. In such essays, assess the “so what” of the subject. It can require you to tackle questions such as, What were the short-term and long-term consequences of the French Revolution? How did it shape subsequent governments in Europe? An example of a prompt would be, “Evaluate the significance of the French Revolution on subsequent European politics.”
- Interpretation/argumentation essay. This category requires you to analyze your interpretation or create an argument as a thesis. The essay prompt requires you to develop your own interpretation of a past development and use evidence to support your claim. Critical thinking and active engagement with historical debates and perspectives apply in this kind of essay. For instance, “Analyze the causes of the First World War.”
To clearly understand the question, break it down into smaller and manageable parts. This will help you to have a road map that your essay will follow.
Research, Research, Research – Key to Unearthing the Evidence
Writing any history essay requires robust research. Most common essay writing guidelines apply in history essays. In writing history essays, there are different sources of evidence that you can use. The variety of sources include:
Primary sources: These are direct artefacts from the past. These include speeches, letters, photographs, diaries, maps, material objects, census records, official documents, and oral histories. Using these sources requires the writer to understand their context, author’s perspective, intended audience, and potential biases. For instance, you would interpret a king’s decree differently from an account made in a peasant’s diary even if both cover the same matter.
When analyzing the king’s decree, do not just summarize it. Evaluate: who wrote it? When? To whom? What was the author’s perspective? What biases might be in the decree? How does the decree align with or contradict the prevailing historical interpretation of the period? Repeat the same evaluation for all primary sources.
Secondary sources. These are interpretations of the past made by scholars and historians. These are likely to be in journal articles, books, reports, and essays. Critical evaluation of secondary sources is necessary before using them. Determine the following: Who authored it? What are the author’s credentials? Is the work peer-reviewed? How credible is the peer-review process? Did the author present a balanced perspective? What theoretical framework does the author follow?
Online databases: You can use academic databases such as Google Scholar, JSTOR, and EBSCOhost to find reputable secondary sources when writing a history essay. Take caution when relying on websites as sources. The sites should focus on scholarly content with clear authorship and citations.
In using online databases, use keywords to search for articles. Keyword combinations help filter data. You should combine keywords using Boolean operators such as “OR” and “AND.” For instance, the following combinations can be used: (peace-keeping, humanitarian assistance, OR peace-keeping mission) AND (influencing factors OR selection factors).
How to Gather Credible Sources
There are no fixed rules about what is credible or not. However, there are tips to use in analyzing and evaluating sources. First, check whether the source is from reputable peer-reviewed journals and academic book publishers. Second, check for possible bias or conflicts of interest with the organization’s goals or mission. Third, check whether the author has the expertise, training, or background knowledge in the areas he or she is writing.
Be ready to spend considerable time looking for sources. Spending time on this upfront will save you a great deal of time and frustration later on.
Locate possible sources related to your writing topic or essay prompt. You will need to look for sources in your college library or on the internet. Most institutions offer access to databases where you can locate academic journals.
After locating your sources, ensure they contain information relevant to your essay prompt. In the case of books, check their table of contents and scan a few chapters. In the case of journal articles, read the abstracts and scan the headings, sub-headings, and final paragraphs. Spending time on this will also save you considerable time later.
Importantly, never rely on a single source or a single type of source in writing your history essay. Multiple sources and perspectives help get a clear and accurate picture of a topic. This also applies as curriculum planners, researchers, and academic researchers use multiple sources rather than a single article or study.
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Developing a compelling thesis – The heart and soul of your essay
You should craft a thesis statement early in the writing process. The statement represents your central argument that your essay will put across. You should not give a statement of fact. Rather, it should be your interpretation of the evidence. A strong thesis should be:
- Clear and concise – The statement should directly answer the essay prompt in an easily understandable manner.
- Historically grounded – You should base the statement on research and analysis of credible sources.
- Arguable and specific – The claim should be debatable but supported with evidence.
The statement, “The industrial Revolution was important.” does not qualify as an applicable thesis statement. This statement is not arguable.
An example of a strong thesis statement reads, “The Industrial Revolution fundamentally reshaped the society by creating a new urban working class, exacerbating social inequalities, and leading to new forms of political activism in the British society.
Importantly, know that a thesis is different from a topic. A thesis should be an observation or analysis of a topic. A topic is just an area or subject. A thesis is your position on that subject.
from a topic to a thesis statement
| Topic | Thesis | Thesis statement |
Definition | The subject of an essay | The main idea of an essay | A written sentence that articulates the thesis |
Example | Voting requirements | The essay explains the idea about voting requirements | Voters should have to accurately describe what they are voting for before they can be allowed to vote. |
Example | Leisure in modern society | The essay shows people in modern society has less leisure | Contrary to popular belief, people in modern society are working more but having less leisure, with the consequence that the distinction between leisure and work becomes increasingly blurred. |
These examples of topics, thesis, and thesis statements show that topics are similar to labels indicating areas selected for study. You must narrow them down to something specific to bring out some particular view. If successful in doing so, you have moved from a topic to a thesis.
The thesis statement should include one main idea and show the overall structure of the paper by mentioning what is in the essay and the order in which points will be discussed.
Create a Well-Structured Argument-based Outline
Try organizing your material with an argument-based outline. An example of an argument-based outline is as follows:
Main claim: The most significant change in modern US immigration policy, the 1980 Immigration Act that codified increased openness to refugees, resulted from the Cold War.
Subclaim 1: The 1980 act altered the direction of the 20th-century immigration policy
Evidence for subclaim 1: The act recognized asylum as a legitimate reason to allow entrance and established a path to citizenship for refugees. This was different from previous legislation limiting immigration and not considering refugee status.
Reasoning for subclaim 1: The 1980 act was a shift towards increased openness under certain conditions, which differed from traditional quotas.
Subclaim 2: The 1980 act was passed after realizing that the unintentional influx of Asian refugees freeing communism strengthened the US position in the Cold War
Evidence for subclaim 2: The unanticipated Asian immigrants were mostly fleeing communism.
Reasoning for subclaim 2: The United States looked open and fair by welcoming people who fled communism. The communist countries where people flee looked bad.
Reasoning linking the subclaims to main claim: The US need to assert the superiority of capitalist values over those of the communist world was the biggest thing that led to the 1980 policy change.
Counterarguments: Why didn’t the same logic apply during WWII? Wasn’t the civil rights movement also significant?
Response to counterargument: Americans associated Jews with communism during the war period and thought Jewish immigrants would be politically radical. There is a consistent theme in basing immigration policy on fear of communism.
Qualified main claim: The 1980 Immigration Act resulted from both the Cold War and civil rights-era pressures to uphold democratic values and the US worries regarding communism.
Developing your argument – Build your case
You should present your argument in a logical and persuasive manner if you want a well-structured essay. Consider the following in building your case:
a. An introduction that sets the stage for your essay
Start the paper by introducing the historical context, explain the topic briefly, and end the introduction section with your thesis statement.
b. Develop your point in body paragraphs.
Each paragraph should convey a specific point that directly supports your thesis statement. Start each paragraph with a topic statement connecting back to the thesis. The following sentences should provide evidence from your research. Then, analyze how the evidence proved your point. It is crucial to interpret the evidence.
c. Respond to counterarguments – address opposing views.
A critical way academic writers address limits in their evidence is by considering counterarguments. Some scholars do so by mentioning authors with different interpretations. At times, they raise and respond to objections that the reader might have. Counterarguments strengthen the writer’s argument by enhancing its accuracy. Compare the following statements:
Statement 1: History is the most important discipline.
Statement 2: Although all disciplines offer valuable approaches to critical thinking, history is probably the most useful if seeking to understand change over time.
The first statement uses more forceful language. It assumes no one could disagree. However, it is not convincing. The presence of the verbal hedge “probably” om the second sentence takes other perspective into account and limits the claim.
There are different ways to consider counterarguments. It could be explicit where you note conflicting views. You could also explicitly put the reader into the “conversation” as these examples show:
- If we argued X, it is possible that Y. However, it is equally true that Z.
- One might counter the claim by asking whether X. However, as Y shows …
- One could question X on the grounds that Y. While this may be the case, it is equally worth considering that Z.
You should have paragraphs covering opposing views. Responding to them demonstrates that you have nuanced insights into the topic. A persuasive history essay should acknowledge counterarguments and explain why the claim made in the essay is more persuasive.
Conclusion – Draw the threads together
Use the conclusion section to highlight your main points. Start by restating your thesis in a new way. Present your concluding view by highlighting the broader implications of the argument you made in the essay.
Rely on evidence to Support Your Argument
Any historical argument should be grounded in evidence. In writing history essays, it is vital to consider how to include evidence in the paper. The options available include:
Direct quotations – You should sparingly and strategically use quotations to support your points in the essay. Be mindful of the language and content of the quote.
Paraphrasing – This approach involves summarizing ideas from secondary sources but presenting them in your own words. You should always cite the used source.
Examples – Using examples can significantly help you illustrate your points. Use specific historical examples that you believe will make your arguments more concrete. Do not just mention them. Explain what an example or statistic means in the context of your argument. Show how it proves the point you raise in the thesis statement.
Be Clear and Concise – Communicate Effectively
Your writing should be clear and concise to communicate effectively. Writing history essays adheres with scholarly writing guidelines. Ensure the following:
- Write in a formal scholarly style. Personal opinions do not belong to academic writing. There may be nothing wrong with your view, but it does not serve the purpose of scholarship. Opinions do not answer questions of general interest.
- Avoid jargon and use precise language. Academic writing is about conveying ideas in ways that readers can fully understand. Prove that you did the reading by avoiding being vague. For instance, using the sentence:
“Hitler committed a lot of terrible things to millions of people, and the Germans supported him.”
You can see how the claim “A lot of terrible things” is vague in describing Hitler’s crimes. It does not tell what the crimes were. Similarly, mentioning “Germans” is inaccurate. Not all Germans were actually involved. In trying to simplify, the sentence uses vague and misleading statements. The best way to show the significance of what happened would be to be specific and include details that fully capture what happened. For instance:
“Hitler chose to exterminate Jews as the solution to the so-called Jewish Problem. He set up a network of death camps where Jews were deported from 1933 to 1945. The number of German citizens who supported or participated in the Holocaust remains unclear because the level of participation differed and because perpetrators and even just bystanders were likely to deny their role in these events. However, if one can consider all those who actively supported the Nazi Party, helped operate the camps, railroad networks, and ghettos, and spread the propaganda that tried to justify the mass murder of the Jewish population, they would already be in the millions.”
Notice how this claim is specific. Naming specific actions, people, and places matter. You will also not struggle to make the required word count.
- Maintain reader engagement by varying sentence structure.
Cite sources meticulously – Give credit where it is due
The key to upholding academic integrity is to cite sources properly. You should use a consistent citation style. Include a bibliography page. Ensuring accuracy in citing sources helps readers to verify them.
Use one citation style consistently throughout your essay. Turabian or Chicago style is the default choice in history courses. However, MLA is also common in short assignments using a few sources. Consult your instructor on the applicable style.
Revise and Edit – Polish your prose
Once done with your draft, carefully revise and edit your content. Do the following:
- Ensure the content flows logically and is coherent
- Check and address grammar, spelling, stylistic, and punctuation errors
- Verify used citations and references
- Request your colleague to read your history essay and provide feedback
You can also use the following checklist after writing history essays:
In wrapping up
Writing history essays is a process of discovery. You should be ready to revise and refine your ideas as you research and write the paper. Critically engage with the past, explore various interpretations, and craft your informed perspective. Following these guidelines will help you to write a successful essay. The guidelines also strengthen your understanding of history and the relevance of a past development to the present.
Need help with your assignment? ScholarlyWritings history essay writing service can help you with a custom paper right now!
References
Antonova, K. P. (2020). The essential guide to writing history essays. Oxford University Press.
Hamilton College. (n.d.). Writing a good history paper. https://www.hamilton.edu/academics/centers/writing/writing-resources/writing-a-good-history-paper
Monash University. (n.d.). Arts: History essay. https://www.monash.edu/student-academic-success/excel-at-writing/annotated-assessment-samples/arts/arts-history-essay