Social Studies 20
Suggestions for Completing the Essay
Use your time wisely
Budget your time so that you are able to complete everything required. Be sure to:
 read the material thoroughly
 think about what is asked of you before you respond
 plan your essay
 proof-read and edit your finished writing
Plan your writing
Planning is important in creating a well-written essay. Find out which planning method works best for you. Consider
the following planning options:
 a complex point-form outline
 comparison charts/concept webs
 lists of examples/evidence
When you plan, ask yourself:
 Why is this issue important?
 Why is this issue complex?
 What is my position on this issue?
 What are some important arguments I can use to support my position?
 What examples can I use to strengthen my argumentation?
Remember that even though planning is important, you need to allow enough time for the actual writing of your
essay.
Organize and develop your writing
In your writing, present evidence of careful thinking. Do not just retell the story of a historical event or outline the
philosophies of a historical figure—instead, write with a purpose. Your essay should:
 have a clear thesis statement on the issue
 show that you understand the issue and its significance
 argue your position in an orderly and logical fashion, using supporting evidence
 use appropriate historical or current evidence and examples to develop and support your position
Proofread your work
Your writing will be marked for what you say as well as how clearly and correctly you say it. Ask yourself these
questions as you proofread your work:
 Are my arguments consistent, or do they contradict one another?
 Did I support my arguments with thorough explanations and examples?
 Did I use historically correct examples that are relevant to my position?
 Is my writing organized and easy to understand?
 Did I use correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar?
 Did I use vocabulary correctly and accurately?
 Have I used specific information, words, and examples?
 Will my essay convince the reader that my position is valid?
Correct your work
If you think of changes that will improve your essay, make them. The markers expect to see careful corrections and
revisions.
Argumentative Thesis Statements
In an argumentative paper, you are making a claim about a topic and justifying this
claim with reasons and evidence. This claim could be an opinion, a policy proposal, an
evaluation, a cause-and-effect statement, or an interpretation. However, this claim
must be a statement that people could possibly disagree with, because the goal of
your paper is to convince your audience that your claim is true based on your
presentation of your reasons and evidence. An argumentative thesis statement will
tell your audience:
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your claim or assertion
the reasons/evidence that support this claim
the order in which you will be presenting your reasons and evidence
Example: Barn owls' nests should not be eliminated from barns because barn owls
help farmers by eliminating insect and rodent pests.
A reader who encountered this thesis would expect to be presented with an argument
and evidence that farmers should not get rid of barn owls when they find them
nesting in their barns.
Questions to ask yourself when writing an argumentative thesis statement:
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What is my claim or assertion?
What are the reasons I have to support my claim or assertion?
In what order should I present my reasons?