Guidelines for History Essays
So you’re stuck on how to write your history essay. Use this basic outline or the graphic
organizer to help you get your thoughts organized. This is by no means the only way to
construct an essay, but it may be helpful in getting you started.
I. Introduction
Attention getter (claim)
Claim one: support building to your thesis
Claim two: support building to your thesis
Claim three: support building to your thesis
Thesis statement
II. Claim one
Claim: supporting your thesis
Example (evidence): an example of your claim
Explanation: what does your example mean?
Relation to thesis: how does your example support your thesis?
Link to next paragraph
III. Claim two
Claim
Example (evidence): an example of your claim
Explanation: what does your example mean?
Relation to thesis: how does your example support your thesis?
Link to next paragraph
IV. Claim three
Claim
Example (evidence): an example of your claim
Explanation: what does your example mean?
Relation to thesis: how does your example support your thesis?
Link to next paragraph
V. Conclusion
Reworded thesis
Claim one summary
Claim two summary
Claim three summary
Personal statement
Kolarik 9/2006
Kolarik 9/2006