Writing a History Essay – The FUNNEL
Step 1: Start BROAD – you must first give background information to set the historical context
*Set the stage*
 Specific time period & location
 Specific historical events/major ideas of the time period
 Think about the who, what, when, where, why surrounding your topic.
 WHY is your topic important in the big picture of history?
Step 2: Get more SPECIFIC – bring in examples that support what your thesis will state.
Step 3: THESIS – Now you make your argument.
STEP 1: Setting the stage:
Example – The 18th century in France is most commonly known as the Age of Reason, but
it has also been called the Feminine Age despite the political, economic and social dominance
of males at the time.
STEP 2: Getting more specific:
Example – Female artists, Angelica Kaufman and
Elisabeth-Louise Vigee-Lebrun, along with socialite
Madame de Pompadour are examples of women
who made an impact on world affairs.
STEP 3: The THESIS:
Make an
ARGUMENT!
Example – During the
latter half of the 18th century,
women in France were
considered influential,
especially as they wielded
their power as salon hostess
in order to influence political
and social opinions. It was
not until the French
Revolution that the true
nature of their perceived
dominance was revealed.
Get to the
POINT!
What will you
be arguing in
the essay?
Quick Reminders:
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NEVER use first person language in a history essay such as: “I believe, my personal
opinion, etc…)
DO NOT start the essay with a question (Have you ever wondered…?)
DO NOT begin a history paper with absurdly general phrases such as: "since the
beginning of time," or "humans have always. . . ."
Get as specific as necessary as early as possible!
Every body paragraph has to have a topic sentence and relate back to the thesis.
I. Introduction – The introductory paragraph must do the following:
A. Start BROAD: Set the historical context (what was going on during this time period?)
B. Establish the problem: Quickly established the issue your paper confronts. What are we
examining? It is especially important to clearly define the limits of your exploration.
i. If you are discussing the life of Frederick Douglass, it will not suffice to establish the
setting by referring to the "days of slavery," since slavery has existed in all times all over
the world. Frederick Douglass was a slave in Maryland in the decades before the Civil
War.
C. Provide a blueprint (or "road map") for the paper: Let the reader know where you are
headed (how you plan to tackle the subject) without giving away your best ideas. If, for instance,
your paper breaks down into political, social, and cultural components, announce this to the
reader so he/she will know what to expect.
D. THESIS – the MOST IMPORTANT part of the essay: The last function of the introduction
is to present your thesis. This is so important to your paper that it merits lengthy consideration.
i. The biggest problem with student papers is that they contain no true thesis. The second
biggest problem with student papers is that the thesis is vague and ill-defined.
ii. How the thesis fits in the intro paragraph: The thesis statement is the one-sentence
version of your argument. The thesis thus presents the reader with new information. But a
good thesis will require you to introduce the concepts in it before presenting the thesis
itself.
iii. The following introductory paragraph presents a thesis that relies on concepts
which have not been properly defined and clarified:
The writer
has not set
the
historical
context!
Native Americans have always been viewed as an identical group,
despite the hundreds of different types of Native American tribes and
nations in the United States. One thing is certain, they had a hard time
fighting for their right to control and govern their own lives. Through the
years, they have clung to their heritage and refused to work and live
among the high class of Americans.
PROBLEMS:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Too short – only 3 sentences (all of which are vague).
The term “identical group” can be confusing to the reader. Using the term
“one tribe” might have clarified the issue.
The 2nd sentence is very VAGUE. If she had given a few specific examples of
that fight for control – it would help to set up a thesis.
There really isn’t a thesis statement – the last sentence attempts an argument –
but it doesn’t make sense - and what is meant by “high class of Americans”?
This essay needs a SPECIFIC focus to argue about Native Americans.
Compare the last introductory paragraph with this one:
The American Indian has suffered for centuries at the hands of the white man. Historically, the United States government
condoned the abuse, humiliation, discrimination, and ultimate genocide of these proud people as a matter of political policy in
order to pursue manifest destiny. Despite the broken treaties and years of forced assimilation, American Indians have persevered.
Through modern day casinos, the American Indian tribes have recaptured their sovereignty and created a thriving communities
and prosperous reservations.
Why is this intro paragraph better than the first one?
1.
2.
3.
4.
The historical context was set in the first sentence. It isn’t incredibly specific, but it
shows that the topic covers a long time frame.
The second sentence gives background information – giving general information about
what it was like to live as a Native American in the USA. (it wasn’t easy)
The third sentence is VERY important because it sets up the thesis statement. Despite
(the bad) – here are some gains…
The THESIS statement is very specific – claiming that casinos are the reason for
improving the lives of Natives in America today.
World War I
Setting the Stage:
 War = 1914-1918
 Causes leading to war = nationalism, militarism, imperialism, system of alliances
 Specific examples: Balkan powder keg, Balkan Wars, Anglo-German naval competition, Moroccan
crisis (colonial rivalry), Serbian nationalism, assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
 What is the prompt asking me? Do I need to define any terms? What is my argument going to be?
Prompt: Based on your understanding of the documents, How did Nations use nationalism to gain support for the
war effort? and the starting of WWI?