1. Writing A History Essay

2. 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

3. 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….

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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…

7. 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

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

9. 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

10. 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)

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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, <