1. HISTORICAL ESSAY WRITING
Tips on how to write an historical essay at Year 10.
Please save this ppt and read it carefully. Take notes of the Key points to remember.

2. Evidence
•Strong historical writing uses precise and specific EVIDENCE about what happened in the past. (Mixture of both primary and secondary sources).
Evidence examples to use in backing up your arguments:
. Names of people involved.
. Statistics.
. Dates of when the thing happened.
. Description of the event.
. Quotes from people involved or describing/explaining images taken from the time of the event. (Primary sources like these mentioned last are great to back up your secondary source information)

3. Historical writing Poor historical writing
•Repeats a story about the past
•Only describes ‘what’
happened – not how/why
•Includes irrelevant
information
•Generalises or uses
imprecise information
•Uses informal or emotive language
Good historical writing
•Develops interpretation of the past
•Shows analysis of ‘how’
and ‘why’
•Includes only relevant
information
•Uses a range of precise
and specific evidence
•Keeps a critical, formal and dispassionate tone

4. Instructional Verbs
Identify
Simply list what you can see or know that is most relevant to the question.
Describe
Outline
Give a concise, direct description of the most relevant features or essential
characteristics.
Compare
Develop a structured explanation of the main similarities and differences –
MUST discuss TWO concepts/sources.
Explain
Develop a structured explanation which has multiple steps, considers relevant historical reasons and factors (e.g. causes, responses, outcomes, significance).
Analyse
Develop a methodical explanation which examines multiple reasons, explains
their impact or effect, incorporates historical concepts, and uses evidence.
Discuss
Give an interpretation of the concept/issue highlighted in the question, and
support this with explanation and evidence.
Evaluate
To what extent…? How significant…?
Give a clear judgment of the concept/issue highlighted in the question, and support this with explanation and evidence.

5. Signposting
•To make it easy for a reader to follow your arguments, you should make active use of signpost language. These are words and phrases that indicate the purpose of key sentences in your response. Some are great starters for the analysis part of your main-body paragraphs.
Signalling introduction of a new point
Signalling a cause- effect relationship
Signalling analysis of significance
Signalling introduction of a quote
Firstly,
As a result…
This shows…
Depicted in Source 1 by…
Secondly,
This led to…
This reveals…
Reflects the view…
Additionally,
This caused…
This demonstrates…
Source 1 discusses the
Furthermore,
This culminated in…
Therefore…
idea that…

6. Writing an Essay Introduction
•An introduction must do three things:
0 Respond to the question: how far do you agree with the
view presented?
0 Develop a contention: what is your central argument – the
main belief you will pursue in responding to the question?
0 Outline your points: what points will you discuss, and how
will you use these to persuade your reader? The order they appear in the introductions needs to be the order in which they appear in your main body.
•. Your introduction should only be one paragraph.

7. ‘’ How did Adolf Hitler Rise to Power in Germany?
Adolf Hitler was able to both manipulate a string of difficult situations that were affecting the emotional, economic, democratic stability of Germany and its people between the 1920s and 1930s. To argue this point, this essay will firstly address how the terms of the Versailles Treaty provided Hitler with an emotional discontent to feed upon. Secondly, how the conditions of the Great Depression in creating a poor economic environment for all opened another door for Hitler’s alternative form of government to gain support. Finally, Hitler was able to use the democratic process to provide his rise to power with more ‘public’ respectability. Hitler’s was able to use the unique situation facing Germany and its people.
Contention
Outline of main points
Direct response to view in question

8. Writing Essay Body Paragraphs
The TEAL paragraph model helps you construct clear, easy-to- understand body paragraphs.
Topic Sentence
Outline where this paragraph is going. Name the topic and preview the argument you will make.
Evidence
Methodically explain your detailed knowledge. This will be the bulk
of your paragraph.
Analysis
Analyse what your facts reveal, suggest, imply or prove. Interpret and apply the facts to your argument and the essay question. Use sentence stems like ‘This suggests that…’ ‘This shows that…’ etc.
Linking Sentence
Draw your argument back to the essay question. How has this paragraph fulfilled your larger contention?

9. Topic Sentence Evidence Analysis Linking Sentence
The Versailles Treaty (June 28th 1919) that ended the Great War ( ) was hated by many Germans and gave Hitler a supporter base to feed upon . T he Treaty had four major disliked terms: Guilt for starting the war, loss of territory, payment of money to the Allies for cost of war and the large decrease of Germany’s armed forces. Many Germans were disgusted by the terms, some referred to it as a ‘Stab in the Back’. The German newspaper Deutsche Zeitung commented: “Today in the Hall of Mirrors of Versailles the disgraceful treaty is signed. Do not forget it! The German people with unceasing labour press forward to reconquer the place among nations to which it is entitled. Then will come the vengeance for the shame of 1919.” Hitler while on trial in 1923, after his failed Beer Hall Putsch, was not stopped from attacking both the Treaty and arguing for governmental change by the judge. He also received open support in court. The reference to the Treaty as a ‘Stab in the Back’ and the newspaper comments of an angry nation, not in agreement with the terms highlights how Hitler’s support base started to grow as shown by what also happened in court. Hitler was able to exploit an emotional charged nation.
Evidence
Analysis
Linking Sentence

10. General Essay Writing Tips
•Always write a plan before beginning. You WILL score more highly if you spend 3-5 minutes planning (and 3-5 minutes less writing).
•Every time you finish a paragraph, re-read the question and your plan. This will help you avoid the trap of going off topic, and will keep your arguments highly focused.
•Resist the trap of narrating (telling a story, instead of arguing). You don’t need to tell the whole story! Instead, build a highly focused and relevant argument that answers the question.

11. Summary of Essay Writing
Write a 3-4 sentence introduction, which must contain:
0 A strong and clear contention which responds to the view in the question
0 An outline of your 3-4 main supporting arguments
Write 3-4 supporting arguments in TEAL body paragraphs:
0 Topic sentence which identifies the event or theme you are discussing, and outlines an argument which supports your contention
0 Evidence which shows your knowledge and proves your argument (e.g. facts,
dates, laws)
0 Analysis which explains what that evidence means and how it proves your
contention (e.g. ‘this shows that…’)
0 Linking sentence, which explicitly connects back to the question
0 Whenever you finish a paragraph, re-read the question and review your plan. This will ensure you stay on topic and use your time well.
Write a short conclusion which, ideally, does the same things as your
introduction and ends with a firm declaration of your belief

12. Practise introduction & 1 main body paragraph
Practise introduction: (individual or pairs)
. Think about a topic that interests you. It does not have to be about history. Think of a question to answer.
. Think about your contention/argument.
. Brainstorm three points your will use to back you’re your contention.
. Write your introduction. (Follow the correct process)
Practise first main body paragraph: (Individual or pairs)
. Brainstorm the primary and secondary evidence you could use for your evidence. (Eg: If first paragraph is on Holden having the best cars. Find a quote of a winning racing driver saying that and the amount of Holden’s that have won events compared with Ford).
Think of your topic sentence. Then start writing it. Don’t forget to analyse (explain what your evidence is showing), then link to topic.