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
Introduction
Thesis 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????
Definition
Thesis Statement
A thesis statement is a complete sentence
that contains one main idea. This idea controls
the content of the entire essay. A thesis
statement that contains sub-arguments also helps a
reader know how the essay will be organized.
Look at the introductory paragraph below. See
if you can identify the thesis statement and
sub-arguments.
Definition
Thesis Statement(Informal Essay)
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 .
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
Thesis Statement
Another Example
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.
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 Features
Main Idea in a Complete Thesis
The sport of cross-country running.
This is not a complete
sentence.
The sport of cross-country running allows people
to get in better shape and achieve goals such as
completing marathons.
Who would want to be a teacher?
Thesis
Statement
This is a question, not a
statement.
Being a teacher is a great profession for those
who like to work with students and be
creative.
Thesis
Statement
A Complete Thesis Sentence
Another Example
The problem of pollution in big cities.
This is not a complete
sentence.
The problem of pollution in major cities can be
alleviated by limiting the number of cars allowed to
drive on city streets and creating more efficient public
transportation systems.
Why should marijuana be legalized?
Thesis
Statement
This is a question, not a
statement.
Marijuana should be legalized because it is not any
more addictive than tobacco and it can provide
numerous medicinal benefits for those suffering from
terminal illnesses.
Thesis
Statement
Key Features
Sub-arguments
The large influx of people to California has had major effects on the state.
No sub-arguments are named in this thesis statement.
Subargument #2
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.
sub-argument
#1
This statement names three subarguments. Can you find all of the
subtopics?
sub-argument
#3
Key Features
Don’t State the Obvious
In thesis statements, you should avoid using
statements like, “This essay will discuss…” or
“I’m going to write about…”. Try to write a
thesis statement that captures your reader’s
attention without announcing your main topic
and stating the obvious. Look at the examples
below.
Key Features
Don’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 Paragraph
The Paragraph that Hooks
Your Reader
An Introduction
A 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.
General
Statements
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.
Very Specific:
Thesis
Statement
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.
More
Specific
Example #2
A Closer Look
Look at the example below to see how the sentences in the
introduction become more and more specific leading to the
thesis 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.
General
Statements One of the biggest causes of overpopulation in India is the high infant
mortality rate.
More
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.
Very
Specific:
Thesis
Statement
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.
Specific
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 Paragraphs
Purpose
The body paragraphs in your essay support
the main idea in your thesis statement by
breaking it down into smaller ideas or subtopics.
Ideas in your paragraphs should relate back to
the thesis statement.
Essay
Introduction &
Thesis Statement
Body Paragraph 3
_____________
Body Paragraph 1
Body Paragraph 4
_____________
_____________
Body Paragraph 2
Body Paragraph 5
_____________
_____________
Concluding Sentence
Useful Expressions
It is sometimes helpful to have a concluding expression
in your last sentence to signal the end of your paragraph.
Some common expressions used in concluding sentences
are listed below.

It is clear that,

Finally,

In summary,

Consequently,

As a result,

These examples show that…
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
Introduce
anger towards the rest of Europe. Germany
support
felt extremely angry that all the blame for
point (P)
WWI had been placed on its shoulders. “The
Use evidence unwise thing about Versailles was that it
to prove
annoyed the Germans yet did not render
point(E)
them too weak to retaliate.” (“How the
Treaty”) This was dangerous because it left
Provide your
Germany feeling like they had nothing to lose
own analysis/
and everything to gain.
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
P
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,
E
grievances of Versailles and memories of inflation.”
E
(Webster 45) Hence, the Treaty of Versailles is a
major cause of the support Hitler was able to gain for
his party.
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!
NEXT: Outline
I.
II.
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.
Body Paragraph #1:
Topic Sentence: The way one dresses can have
a big impact on an interview panel’s first
impressions of you.
III.
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.
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.
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 restate 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 Conclusion
Making Your Last Paragraph Count
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 Name
My 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 unnumbered.) 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.