Parts of Essay

I. Introduction (topic sentence containing essay’s key idea(s)

II. Body/Development (paragraph(s) discussing supporting parts, incl evidence.

III. Conclusion (reminding reader of key idea(s) established.)

Writing a History EssayWriting a History Essay

Sample Question: What was the role of geography in Mesopotamia’s cultural development?

1. Brainstorm and then organize logically the key ideas that you feel address question:

• Use a web or other visual organizer.

2. Prioritize ideas. Does any one idea seem the most important? Do you see any patterns?

3. Draft a tentative topic sentence.

Getting StartedGetting Started

Grade these Topic Sentences

Grade these Topic Sentences

Geography played a big role in the development of Mesopotamia’s culture.

Geography had both positive and negative effects on Mesopotamia’s cultural development.

Although there were some positive benefits, Mesopotamia’s geography, on balance, had a negative impact on the Fertile Crescent’s cultural and historical development.

The Development of a History Essay:

The Development of a History Essay:

Now, develop your ideas• Explain and relate to other

ideas (analysis-why important)

• Support by facts (what happened?)

and• Provide evidence (How do we

prove it?)

Question: What was the role of geography in Mesopotamia’s cultural

development?

Sample Answer (condensed):

Mesopotamia’s geography, dominated by the violent and unpredictable flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, promoted a pessimistic, even fatalistic outlook toward life. Mesopotamia’s literature, for example, the Epic of Gilgamesh, supports this view. In this epic poem, we see the fearsome effects of a terrible flood and finally we see nature (snake) triumphing over man.

Edit your DraftEdit your Draft

• Content

– Do you have a key idea(s)?

– Do you explain and support your idea(s)

• Organization

• Format

• Rewrite