Writing A History Essay

General Guidelines Make sure you are writing in the past tense throughout your entire response. History is about the past. Ensure that your contention is consistent throughout the entire response. It is important that you are using appropriate academic language when writing your response. Don’t use any slang or colloquialisms in your writing

Structure: Introduction This should be a single paragraph but will include the following elements. Background to the idea or issue that you will be discussing (the context – time, place) Provide a contention (your answer to the question or idea your are addressing) Eg. The catalyst for World War One was the intricate alliance system, though other events played a role. Give an overview of the ideas to be discussed (also known as signposting). Eg. Other factors that influenced the outbreak of war included….

Structure: Body Paragraphs Each should contain one key idea for discussion in detail. Each should link to and develop your argument. One paragraph structure your could use is TEEL Topic sentence – short sentence that introduces your argument Evidence or examples – this is your evidence or example and how it links to your topic sentence Evaluation or explanation – this is where you explain your evidence or example and how it links to your topic sentence Linking sentence – concluding sentence that links your argument back to your conclusion

Structure - Conclusion This is where your sum up your findings and re-state your conclusion. Should include: Contention Arguments Summing up sentence that makes your work sound complete.

Key History Phrases Danger Words in History (Don’t Use) Words & Phrases to Use Instead Always Generally speaking, Bad/good According to… All There is evidence to suggest that… Everyone In the view of… In all cases… It can be argued that… Everyone thought that… _______’ account suggests that… My view is… There are conflicting accounts of this event I think that… ______ presents a view which supports _________ Here is a quote…

Linking Phrases Most pieces of formal writing are organised in a similar way: Introduction, development of main ideas or arguments; conclusion. Linking words and phrases join clauses, sentences and paragraphs together. Some examples include: In addition Furthermore Also However Although On the other hand

Link to re:cite can be found on the iCentre homepage Referencing - Harvard Link to re:cite can be found on the iCentre homepage

If in doubt, reference just to be safe When to reference? Ask two key questions? Is it my own work or idea? YES – then your don’t need to reference NO – go to question 2 Is the information found in the public domain? NO – You must reference If in doubt, reference just to be safe

Harvard – In-text referencing This occurs within the essay body BOOK Author, Date of Publication, Page No Rock ‘n’ roll music developed in Australia in the 1950s as a result of significant influence from the United States music industry (Smith, 2010, p. 56). JOURNAL ARTICLE WEBSITE Author/Name of Website, Date of Publication Social movements like the Anti-Vietnam War protest movement made significant use of protest songs (Johnson, 2008)

Harvard Referencing - Bibliography Bibliography goes at the end of your essay General guidelines Always goes at the end of your essay Must start on a separate page In alphabetical order based on the surname of the author No bullet points

Harvard Referencing - Bibliography BOOK Author (Surname, First Initial.) Year of Publication, Title of Book, Publisher, Place of Publication Smith, J. 2010, Rock ‘n’ Roll in Australia, Oxford University Press, Melbourne JOURNAL ARTICLE Author (Surname, First Initial.) Year of Publication, ‘Name of Article’, Name of Journal, volume no., issue no., page numbers Smith, J. 2010, ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll in Australia’, History of Music, Vol 2, Iss 5, pp. 110-120

Harvard Referencing - Bibliography WEBSITE Author (Surname, First Initial.) / Name of Organisation Year (page created), Title of Page, date viewed, <website URL> Johnson, S. 2008, Anti-Vietnam War Protest Songs, viewed 6 September 2015, <www.anvwp.org>