HOW TO WRITE A HISTORY ESSAY*

*WITHOUT GOING CRAZY*

FIRST STEP: THE RESEARCH

YOUR RESEARCH MUST INCLUDE AT LEAST ONE BOOK

ALL THE SOURCES YOU CONSULTED MUST APPEAR IN YOUR BIBLIOGRAPHY

YOUR BIBLIOGRAPHY MUST HAVE A MINIMUM OF FIVE SOURCES

THE MORE VARIETY YOU HAVE THE BETTER YOUR THINKING/INQUIRY MARK WILL BE

IntroductionIntroductionThesis Statements

After you have brainstormed and you have some main

ideas of what you would like to write in your essay, you can

begin thinking about writing a thesis statement.

What’s a thesis statement????

DefinitionDefinition

Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is a complete sentencethat contains one main idea. This idea controlsthe content of the entire essay. A thesisstatement that contains sub-arguments also helps areader know how the essay will be organized. Look at the introductory paragraph below. Seeif you can identify the thesis statement andsub-arguments.

When I was young, I always knew that I wanted to become a teacher someday. When I played, I would often gather my dolls together and pretend to teach them how to draw or how to read a book. As I grew older, my desire to become a history teacher became clearer as I did some volunteer teaching overseas and in Canada. As I look back on my reasons for becoming a teacher, there are three reasons that stand out. These consist of my love for history, my natural interest in how people learn, and my desire to help other people .

DefinitionDefinitionThesis Statement(Informal Essay)

The thesis statement contains the main idea that controls the content of the essay.

Sub-arguments in the thesis or nearby help the reader know how the essay will be organized

Psychologists have argued for decades about how a person’s character is formed. Numerous psychologists believe that one’s birth order (i.e. place in the family as the youngest, oldest, or middle child) has the greatest influence. Birth order can have a significant impact in the formation of a child’s character. Birth order can strongly affect one’s relationship with parents, relationships with others, and how one views responsibility as an adult.

Thesis StatementThesis StatementAnother Example

The thesis statement contains the main idea that controls the content of the essay.

Sub-arguments in the thesis or nearby help the reader know how the essay will be organized

Key FeaturesKey FeaturesMain Idea in a Complete Thesis

The sport of cross-country running.

Who would want to be a teacher?

This is not a complete sentence.

The sport of cross-country running allows peopleto get in better shape and achieve goals such as

completing marathons.

Being a teacher is a great profession for those who like to work with students and be creative.

This is a question, not a statement.

Thesis Statement

Thesis Statement

A Complete Thesis SentenceA Complete Thesis SentenceAnother Example

The problem of pollution in big cities.

Why should marijuana be legalized?

This is not a complete sentence.

The problem of pollution in major cities can bealleviated by limiting the number of cars allowed todrive on city streets and creating more efficient publictransportation systems.

Marijuana should be legalized because it is not anymore addictive than tobacco and it can providenumerous medicinal benefits for those suffering fromterminal illnesses.

This is a question, not a statement.

Thesis Statement

Thesis Statement

Key FeaturesKey FeaturesSub-arguments

The large influx of people to California has had major effects on the state.

No sub-arguments are named in this thesis statement.

The large influx of people to California has had major effects on the ability of the state to provide housing, electricity, and jobs for all residents.

This statement names three sub-arguments. Can you find all of the subtopics?

sub-argument #1

Sub-argument #2

sub-argument #3

In thesis statements, you should avoid using

statements like, “This essay will discuss…” or“I’m going to write about…”. Try to write athesis statement that captures your reader’sattention without announcing your main topicand stating the obvious. Look at the examplesbelow.

Key FeaturesKey FeaturesDon’t State the Obvious

Key FeaturesKey FeaturesDon’t State the Obvious

In this essay, I am going to discuss the effects of long-term drug abuse.

Long-term drug use can have disastrous effects on one’s marriage, career, and health.

NEXT: THESIS ACTIVITY

• PLEASE REFERENCE YOUR ACTIVITY SHEET

WHAT IS THE BEST THESIS?1. My opinion is that Japanese Canadians were discriminated against and

despised very much just because they looked different and mainly because they weren’t at the top of the preferred list.

2. Overall, Japanese Canadians were unjustly treated during WWII due to the enactment of the War Measures Act. This Act unfairly discriminated against the Japanese as it limited their freedoms and rights, created public resentment against them and destroyed many of their communities.

3. The internment of Japanese Canadians occurred between 1941-1949.

4. The implementation of the War Measures Act in WWII was unjust against Japanese Canadians because they lost all their property.

The Introductory ParagraphThe Introductory ParagraphThe Paragraph that HooksThe Paragraph that Hooks

Your ReaderYour Reader

Introductio

n

--------

--------

--

--------

----

An IntroductionAn IntroductionA Closer Look

Let’s look at the introduction and see how the sentences

become more and more specific leading to the thesis statement.

There are a number of frightening disease epidemics occurring in the the world today, but one of the most frightening is the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

Among the most serious of these sexually transmitted diseases is HIV which leads to AIDS, a fatal disease.

HIV is especially problematic among homeless people.

This particular population is difficult to treat due to a number of barriers such as limited access

to health care, mistrust of health care

professionals, and a lack of awareness of the

disease, itself.

GeneralStatements

MoreSpecific

Very Specific:Thesis

Statement

Example #2Example #2A Closer Look

Look at the example below to see how the sentences in theintroduction become more and more specific leading to thethesis statement.

Overpopulation and finding ways to reduce it are big concerns of many

developing nations today. One nation that is concerned about this issue is India.

One of the biggest causes of overpopulation in India is the high infant

mortality rate.

Parents often have more children because they are fearful that if

some children die, there will not be enough children to take care

of them in their old age.

India is taking some important steps in dealing with this

problem. Some of the steps the Indian government is

taking are providing birth control for women, improving

pre-natal care, and educating women on the benefits

of having fewer children.

GeneralStatements

MoreSpecific

VerySpecific:Thesis

Statement

AND THEN….BODY

PARAGRAPHS

DON’T HAVE TO LIMIT TO THREE

EACH MUST HAVE A TOPIC SENTENCE

A TOPIC SENTENCE IS A MINI THESIS – SO CAN’T BE A FACT – MUST BE AN ARGUMENT!

TRY TO INCLUDE A CONCLUDING SENTENCE

USE TRANSITION WORDS IN THE TOPIC AND CONCLUDING SENTENCES

Body ParagraphsBody ParagraphsPurpose

The body paragraphs in your essay supportthe main idea in your thesis statement bybreaking it down into smaller ideas or subtopics. Ideas in your paragraphs should relate back tothe thesis statement.

Essay

Introduction &

Thesis Statement

Body Paragraph 1

_____________

Body Paragraph 2

_____________

Body Paragraph 3

_____________

Body Paragraph 4

_____________

Body Paragraph 5

_____________

Concluding Concluding SentenceSentence

Useful Expressions

It is sometimes helpful to have a concluding expressionin your last sentence to signal the end of your paragraph.Some common expressions used in concluding sentencesare listed below.

It is clear that,

These examples show that…

As a result,

In summary,

Finally,

Consequently,

SUPPORT (QUOTED EVIDENCE)

YOU MUST USE QUOTED EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT YOUR

ARGUMENTS IN ORDER TO MAKE YOUR ESSAY CREDIBLE.

NOW PLEASE REFER TO YOUR ACTIVITY SHEET!

(THANK YOU)

FORMAT FOR QUOTED EVIDENCE

• SAMPLE #1:Furthermore, the Treaty of Versailles left

Germans with feelings of resentment and anger towards the rest of Europe. Germany felt extremely angry that all the blame for WWI had been placed on its shoulders.

“The unwise thing about Versailles was that it annoyed the Germans yet did not render them too weak to retaliate.” (“How the Treaty”) This was dangerous because it left Germany feeling like they had nothing to

lose and everything to gain.

Introduce support point (P)

Use evidence to prove point(E)

Provide your own analysis/ explanation of evidence (E)

FORMAT FOR QUOTED EVIDENCE• Sample #2:

Above all, the Treaty led to the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime. As historian Peter Allen points out, “the Treaty led to low morale and quality of life among the German population.” (24) As Germans starved and lost their jobs, they were in desperate need of a hero. Hitler’s power of persuasion and clever use of propaganda posters gave him a firm grip on German people. “Nazi propaganda exploited the unhappiness caused by unemployment, grievances of Versailles and memories of inflation.” (Webster 45) Hence, the Treaty of Versailles is a major cause of the support Hitler was able to gain for his party.

P

E

E

HOW THE SOURCES WOULD APPEAR IN THE BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Allen, Peter. Witness History Series: The Origins of World War II. Boston: Wayland Limited, 1991.

• "How the Treaty Caused the War." CBC Archives. 2006. CBC. 22 Apr. 2008 <www.cbc.ca/treatyofversailles>.

• Webster, Dan. “The Failure of the Treaty of Versailles”. The Globe and Mail. 13 April 1950.

• USE EASYBIB.COM FOR FORMAT!

I. Introduction- Thesis Statement: A job interview can often make or break your chances of getting your dream job. There are several things that can be done in an interview to increase the possibility of success such as dressing properly, answering interview questions thoroughly, and asking good questions at the end of the interview.

II. Body Paragraph #1:

Topic Sentence: The way one dresses can have a big impact on an interview panel’s first impressions of you.

A. Men and women should consider wearing dark suits.

B. Conservative dress will show the interview panel the

candidate is serious.

C. Don’t carry too many things into the interview. A notebook, pens,

and/or laptop computer should be carried in a briefcase.

D. Hair and nails should be clean and neat.

III. Body Paragraph #2:

Topic Sentence: An interview is an opportunity

for potential employers to get to know the candidate better, so it is important that questions are answered honestly and completely.

A. Ask interviewers to repeat difficult questions.

B. Take some time to think about the questions.

C. A notebook to write down key words in interview questions is sometimes helpful.

IV. Body Paragraph #3:

Topic Sentence: By preparing some thoughtful questions for the end of the interview, a candidate can show the panel that s/he is prepared for the interview and wants the job.

A. Research the job and/or company before the interview.

B. The interview is an opportunity to get to know the potential employer. Ask questions about company goals, mission, expectations of employees.C. Do not ask questions about

benefits or salary during the interview. Get this information before you apply for the job.

IV.Conclusion: Do not underestimate the importance of a good interview.

NEXT: OutlineNEXT: Outline

What should I include in my concluding paragraph?

• The first sentence of the concluding paragraph is a clear, specific re-statement of thesis. • The conclusion should do more than simply re-state the argument. • It also suggests why the argument is important in the bigger scheme of things, or suggests avenues for further research, or raises a bigger question.

The ConclusionThe ConclusionMaking Your Last Paragraph CountMaking Your Last Paragraph Count

The End

Example of a Concluding Paragraph

For instance, an essay on whether Hitler was a genius could end with this:Adolf Hitler undoubtedly made some tactically genius moves leading up to and in the beginning stages of WWII. He manipulated many great leaders of the world, convinced a whole nation to do his bidding and support his unthinkable crimes and almost took over all of Europe before the Allies were ready to fight back. It is essential to analyse how Hitler was able to do all of this. It highlights the possibility that another dictator could rise up and threaten world peace once again. Historians must study and understand Hitler in order to prevent another maniac from rising to such a level of power.

YOUR WRITING IS TOO BAD TO

PRINT – PLEASE TRY AGAIN!!

LASTLY TO AVOID THIS UNFORTUNATE EVENT, ENSURE YOU HAVE THE FOLLOWING DETAILS IN ORDER…

THE TITLE PAGE SHOULD LOOK LIKE THIS

Never Again: The Story of the Holocaust[Interesting Title]

Your NameMy Name

Date

FINALLY…Bibliography• Your paper should end with a bibliography, which is started on a new page, and

labelled "Bibliography" at top. (The page of the bibliography generally is left un-numbered.) The bibliography includes all works consulted, not merely those works cited in your paper.

Line spacing • The text of your paper should be double-spaced. Typeface• For the typeface, use a simple font, like Courier 10, Roman, or Times. Clarity and

ease of reading are the goals; avoid fancy and difficult-to-read fonts. A note on page length: • If you lack room, simply allow the paper to exceed the length requirements rather

than expanding margins, reducing typefaces, etc. On the other hand, if the paper is too short, avoid tricks like increasing the point size of the typeface, or increasing the margins.

Page numbers • The first page need not be numbered. On the following pages, page numbers are

placed on the upper-right corner of the page. Computerized spelling and grammar checkers • These are great, but do not rely on them too much. You are expected to edit and

correct your paper yourself.

• Rough notes showing this process will be evaluated and included in your final mark.