Essay Tips for History Students
Essay Tips for History Students
Original
concept by
Martin Walsh
Modified by
Shaun McElroy
You know stuff!
Have it organized in
your mind by
perspective
Have researchers
committed to memory
Think strengths and
weaknesses
Thesis Statements
 Thesis Statements
– Every essay must have only one.
– A statement is not a question, but it
should address the question!
– This is the point you will make in
the essay.
– This should be the last sentence in
your introductory paragraph.
– A good thesis must be analytical,
manageable, specific and clear.
Thesis Samples
 The growth of the cognitive perspective
comes as a reaction to the behavioral school’s
ignoring the process of the mind.
 One significant criticism of the biological
perspective is that it reductionist, explaining
complex behaviors by evolutionary needs,
genetics or brain functioning.
Topic Sentences
 Once you have
extracted your thesis
from your evidence,
reexamine your
evidence piles. These
themes will be refined
into your topic
sentences.

Now Try Outlining
Th esis
Top ic S en ten ce 1
Top ic S en ten ce 2
Top ic S en ten ce 3
Now Try Outlining
Human behavior is primarily a result of environmental
conditions
Th esis
Top ic S en ten ce 1
Top ic S en ten ce 2
Skinner proved
that responses
could be
conditioned
Bandura showed
that behavior is
modeled
Top ic S en ten ce 3
Even Identical twins,
which share the same
genetic code, do not
behave similarly
Fill In the Research Holes
Do you have significant, specific, and diverse
evidence to support each topic sentence?
Do the topic sentences develop your thesis?
Writing Focused paragraphs
 The topic sentence
– Your analytical
opinion.
– Develops your thesis.
– Presents a specific
idea.
– Should be the first
sentence of your
paragraph.
 Why?
– Guide the writer.
– Guide the reader.
– Prevents your from
writing a narrative.
– May begin with simple
word clues.
• First.
• Next.
• Additionally.
• Finally
TEFAC
-it works!!!! (paragraph structure)
TEFAC--in action
Topic Sentence:
Bandura showed that behavior is modeled.
Explanation:
Bandura studied how small children tend to replicate
behavior they observed, especially when the model was
held in esteem.
TEFAC--in action
FACTS (studies and researchers):
In his landmark work with pre-school children, he
…bobo…model….
Furthermore, his studies clearly showed that
aggression modeled on cartoons would also be copied.
Application/Analysis
Bandura’s work clearly illustrates how humans tend
to copy other’s behaviors. For example, ….
Advertisers have long relied on our need to copy…
TEFAC--in action
Conclusion
Bandura’s work clearly brings modeling as an
important tool in learning. The implications are
staggering. If a child grows in an improvised
background….
Tie it to your next thesis…
The best challenge to environmental impact over genetics
comes from twins raised apart.
Supporting Details
 Facts and studies are required in any
psychology paper.
 Analysis is also a must! Take a moment to
explain to the reader how all this information
supports your topic sentence!
Connecting Your Details
 Use, know and love
common English
transition words! They
will help guide your
paper and clarify your
ideas to the reader.
Conclusions
 Take the time to tie your thoughts together
in a paragraph and a paper.
 These are called ‘conclusary sentences.”
 Also your paper must have an overall
conclusion.
You can make your examiner
crazy!!! Unless you
 include a detailed
description with studies
and/or theories and
 The name of the theorist
or researcher and
 include an evaluation of
studies and/or theories,
Your plan should look something like this:
 Introductory paragraph.
- Here outline how your essay will attempt to answer the
question.
 Description of first study/theory. Evaluation of first study/theory.
TEFAC
 Description of second study/theory. Evaluation of second
study/theory. TEFAC
 Description of last study/theory. Evaluation of last study/theory.
TEFAC
 Conclusion. Your conclusion should refer back to the
introduction and summaries the evaluation that has been done.