It can seem pretty daunting when you sit down to write a History essay, but these tips will hopefully make it a lot easier.Planning Make sure you plan your essays before you write them. In timed conditions, spend around 5 minutes at the start structuring your answer - it’ll pay off, I promise! Make sure you include an introduction, around 3 main paragraphs, then a conclusion. Consider the different factors that come into play, and explore each of them in a separate paragraph. Make sure you get time for a conclusion - this is where you summarise your argument and make a judgement on the question, so it’s really vital.Linking factorsYou get marks for prioritisation and making links between factors, so you should definitely include some in your essays. Evaluate factors against each other and make comparisons. Some phrases you could try to include are: ‘this was the most important factor because…’ ‘this was more important in the long-term’, ‘this factor triggered another factor…’.DetailsAs you go along through your course, try and learn some specific statistics and details. It looks really impressive when you can put them in your essays, and it helps you to support your arguments. Make sure you learn specialist vocabulary and tricky names: you’ve got to spell them right!Focus on the question I can’t emphasise how important this tip is. Always stay focused on the question to make sure you’re answering it properly. Use the exact wording of the question throughout your essay, even if you think it sounds like you’re repeating yourself. At the end of each paragraph, link back to the question/title to make sure what you’ve been saying is relevant.
FAQs
How do I write a really good History essay? ›
You should begin by giving the relevant Background to the topic of the question. For example, if your question asks you to give the reasons for the growth of German nationalism in 1815-1850, you should give a brief background on the situation in Germany during this time period. Next is the Factors of your introduction.
How do you answer a history essay? ›You should begin by giving the relevant Background to the topic of the question. For example, if your question asks you to give the reasons for the growth of German nationalism in 1815-1850, you should give a brief background on the situation in Germany during this time period. Next is the Factors of your introduction.
How to get a 1st in an essay? ›Your central argument – or thesis – shapes everything else about your essay. So you need to make sure it's well-thought-out. For a first-class essay, this argument shouldn't just rehash the module material. It shouldn't regurgitate one of the positions you've learned about in class.
How to argue in a history essay? ›A good argument for a historical research paper should always address how and why something happened in history. It should also put that something into context so that the argument examines any modern-day implications with respect to recent circ*mstances.
How long does it take to write a 1500 word history essay? ›On average , it can take anywhere from 6 - 8 hours to write a 1500 word research paper . However , this time frame can be shortened or extended depending on the individual 's writing process and level of expertise on the topic .
How do you write a 1000 word history essay? ›When writing a 1000 word essay, it is important to distribute your word count reasonably. Generally speaking, the introduction should take 10-15% of your total word count (100-150 words). The body paragraphs should make up 70 % (700 words), and the conclusion should be around 10-15% (100 - 150 words).
How to revise for history essay? ›Create visually appealing mind maps that highlight key concepts, events, and connections between topics. Incorporating mind maps into your study routine enhances memory recall and deepens your understanding of A-Level History content.
How do you start a sentence in a history essay? ›To write a catchy introduction for a history essay, start with a hook such as a surprising fact or provocative quote, provide some background information on the topic, and clearly state your thesis.
What is history best answer? ›History is the study of past stories of the events, peoples and countries that have brought political, social and economical changes to the society.
How do you structure a history answer? ›Sentence starters/key phrases
Explain your answer, using the source and your knowledge of the historical context. You must write a paragraph on content (what the source says or shows) and provenance (where the source has come from and what the source is) for each source.
How do you write a good AP history essay? ›
The thesis or claim must be historically defensible and establish a line of reasoning. Context: Provide context relevant to the prompt by describing a broader historical development or process. Evidence: Use specific and relevant examples as evidence to support an argument in response to the prompt.