Essay Question:
Should the Trojan War be studied as a topic for Ancient History?
INTRODUCTION
Guide: 150 words
 Begin with ‘While some people believe that the Trojan War is fantasy
and has no place in the History curriculum, others claim that it can be a
valuable topic for developing historical knowledge and skills.’
 Write a sentence that acknowledges that there are arguments for and against
an ‘actual’ Trojan War.
 Briefly outline arguments against studying the Trojan War in History.
 Briefly outline arguments for studying the Trojan War in History.
 Briefly state your central argument (this should indicate the direction of
your essay).
1st PARAGRAPH
Guide: 200 words
 Write a Topic Sentence to introduce your discussion of one of the arguments
for studying the Trojan War.
 Explain the strengths of this argument and use evidence to support your
explanation.
 Outline a second argument for studying the Trojan War.
 Explain the strengths of this argument and use evidence to support your
explanation.
 Write a sentence/ sentences at the end that links your explanations of the
arguments for studying the Trojan War back to the question. This
sentence(s) should confirm/ develop your central argument.
2nd PARAGRAPH
Guide: 200 words
 Write a Topic Sentence linking paragraph 1 to paragraph 2. Use this topic
sentence to introduce a third argument in favour of studying the Trojan War.
 Explain the strengths of this argument for studying the Trojan War and use
evidence to support your explanation.
 Write a sentence outlining that not all historians agree that an actual Trojan
War took place, and those that do have differing opinions as to the basic
truth of the story.
 Introduce an argument against an actual Trojan War having taken place and
explain the strengths of this argument using evidence to support your
explanation.
 Write a sentence/ sentences at the end that links your explanations of the
arguments against an historical Trojan War back to the question. This
sentence(s) should confirm/ develop your central argument.
3rd PARAGRAPH
Guide: 200 words
 Write a Topic Sentence linking paragraph 2 to paragraph 3. Use this topic
sentence to introduce a second argument against studying the Trojan War.
 Explain the strengths of this argument and use evidence to support your
explanation.
 Write a sentence(s) explaining that while there is some evidence for an
actual Trojan War, there is no evidence that cannot be disputed.
 Write a sentence/ sentences at the end that links your explanations of the
arguments for and against studying the Trojan War back to the question.
This sentence(s) should confirm/ develop your central argument.
CONCLUSION
Guide: 150 words
 Re-state the arguments for and against studying the Trojan War (discussed
in Paragraphs 1 to 3).
 Emphasize that the question of whether or not an actual Trojan War took
place is unable to be conclusively decided by the current evidence.
 Re-state your central argument.