How to Write a Social Studies
Essay
Mrs.Page
Rule #1
FORGET
EVERYTHING
YOU LEARNED
IN JUNIOR HIGH
Rule #2
PROOFREAD
EVERYTHING
YOU WRITE!!
Rule #3
NEVER USE:
I, my, I am, you, or
any form of “This
essay is going to
be about…”
Rule #4
ALWAYS WRITE AS
NEATLY AS
POSSIBLE AND BE
AS SPECIFIC AS
POSSIBLE
Rule #5
NEVER EVER
PLAGERIZE BY
USING THE
“THEME”OR THE
“HISTORICAL
CONTEXT”!!!!!!
Rule #6
ALWAYS CITE
YOUR
DOCUMENTS IN
YOUR DBQs
Rule #7
NEVER MAKE UP
INFORMATION OR
TRY TO “BS” TO
MAKE YOUR
ESSAY LONGER
Rule #8
ALWAYS USE
HISTORICALLY
ACCURATE INFO
AND GIVE
DETAILED
NAMES,DATES,
AND PLACES
WHERE YOU CAN
THEMATIC ESSAYS
A Thematic Essay is similar to many other
types of essays required in school. However, it
also has specific requirements. First of all, it is
called Thematic because it identifies a theme
from Social Studies (for example- ‘Change’). It
also presents some kind of general statement
about that theme (for example- ‘The
contributions and achievements of ancient
civilizations have helped to influence and
change the world.’) Then it requires you to
complete a specific task in your essay response.
DBQ essays
DBQ Essays are composed of two
sections. In the first part, documents are
provided for you to read, analyze, and then
answer questions about each one.
ALWAYS USE COMPLETE SENTENCES
WHEN ANSWERING SCAFFOLDING
QUESTIONS! In the second part, you are
provided with a specific task which must be
addressed in an essay response. The
essay MUST use evidence from the
documents to complete the task.
Whether you are writing a
Thematic or a DBQ essay in
Social Studies, you will always
follow the same essay format.
Your essay will always include:
an introduction, body
paragraphs, and a conclusion.
Introduction Paragraph
MUST include at least THREE sentences
• MOTIVATOR – Gets reader’s attention in an
interesting way that is relevant to the topic you
will discuss. (This is also known as you topic
sentence.)
• THESIS – Clearly states the main idea you will
support/prove. In this essay, it will be your
controlling idea. (What is the purpose of writing
this essay?)
• BLUEPRINT – Specifies HOW you will support
your thesis: you will identify the examples you
are going to use in your essay
Body Paragraphs
• Each begins with a topic sentence
• Links ideas together smoothly with transitional words
and phrases.
• Each ends with a concluding sentence that sums up your
evidence and re-states its effect.
• DBQ Essays: Use specific facts from one more than half
of the documents in part one to answer the task
throughout body paragraphs as well as including specific
examples of outside information.
• Thematic Essays: Fully answers ALL aspects of the
task using historically accurate information that is
relevant to the task and theme throughout body
paragraphs
conclusion
• Re-states your thesis
• Makes a conclusion based upon the
evidence presented – a FINAL comment
or evaluative statement
• Should be 3-5 sentences long