Essay Writing for History Classes

• Basic Format of ALL essays:– Introduction/Thesis Paragraph: Tell the reader

what you are going to prove.– Body Paragraphs: Prove it!– Conclusion Paragraph: Tell the reader what

you proved.

Introduction/Thesis Paragraph• All Thesis statements MUST have the

following elements:– Answers the Question completely– Establishes Categories/Topics for Analysis

• Analysis= an explanation of how/why something is

– Takes a Position

• Thesis statements in this class should, but doesn’t need to be, at the beginning of the paper. Follow your statement with brief examples that defend your thesis.

Body Paragraph(s)

• The topics for your body paragraph(s) are the topics stated in your thesis statement.

• Body Paragraph format:– Topic Sentence= Tell the reader what you are proving

in this paragraph. This IS the transition from the previous paragraph

– Facts and Evidence: Provide specific facts/events and explain how they prove the topic sentence = Prove It!

– Clincher Sentence- Reword your topic sentence = Tell the reader what you proved.

Conclusion Paragraph• Reword your thesis statement.• Combine your clincher sentences to show what

you have proven in the essay.• NO NEW INFORMATION IN THIS

PARAGRAPH!!!– If the information is important enough to be in the

paper, it needs to be in the body.

• Avoid statement such as “In conclusion,” “As you can see,” or any other type of transition sentence to your conclusion paragraph.– With this format, the reader can obviously tell that it is

your conclusion. This type of statement implies that the reader is an idiot.