Essay WritingEssay Writing

The WHAP Way!The WHAP Way!

History Essay WritingHistory Essay Writing

NOT the same as “creative writing” classNOT the same as “creative writing” class

NOT the same as “journalism”– but closerNOT the same as “journalism”– but closer

MUST address the prompt and give MUST address the prompt and give historical evidencehistorical evidence

A LITTLE bit like a formulaA LITTLE bit like a formula Memorize the basic structureMemorize the basic structure Plug in your facts and analysisPlug in your facts and analysis And Voila!And Voila!

Break it Down!Break it Down!

WHAP Essay Writing FormulaWHAP Essay Writing Formula 5-6 paragraphs5-6 paragraphs NOT fancy, NOT wordyNOT fancy, NOT wordy

DO NOT grab a thesaurus DO NOT grab a thesaurus

NOT your opinion, stick to the factsNOT your opinion, stick to the facts Get the job done!Get the job done!

DBQCCOTCOMP

DBQCCOTCOMP

IntroductionIntroduction

First paragraphFirst paragraph

Contains thesis statementContains thesis statement

Provides some background details to “set Provides some background details to “set the scene”the scene”

1. Thesis

1. Thesis

Huh? What’s a Thesis?Huh? What’s a Thesis?

The major point or argument of your paperThe major point or argument of your paper

MUST be in the introduction paragraphMUST be in the introduction paragraph Drives your essayDrives your essay

Start withStart with Although Although aa is important, is important, bb is more significant is more significant

because…because…

May be two consecutive sentencesMay be two consecutive sentences NOT a split thesisNOT a split thesis

Thesis #1Thesis #1

There were lots of changes in the Indian There were lots of changes in the Indian Ocean trade from 650 to 1450. However, Ocean trade from 650 to 1450. However, many things stayed the same.many things stayed the same.

OK?OK?

Not OK?Not OK?

Not OK! (not going to get a thesis point!)Not OK! (not going to get a thesis point!)

Thesis #2Thesis #2

Indian Ocean trade was very important. A lot of Indian Ocean trade was very important. A lot of traders made money selling stuff. They spread traders made money selling stuff. They spread Islam and even invented Swahili so they could Islam and even invented Swahili so they could talk to each other. Some things stayed the same talk to each other. Some things stayed the same like selling tea and spices.like selling tea and spices.

OK?OK?

Not OK?Not OK?

Not OK! (No time period! No thesis point!)Not OK! (No time period! No thesis point!)

Thesis #3Thesis #3

During the period of 650 to 1450, changes During the period of 650 to 1450, changes in the Indian Ocean trade included new in the Indian Ocean trade included new technology like rudders and lateen sails; technology like rudders and lateen sails; however, traded goods, like silk and however, traded goods, like silk and spices, remained constant. spices, remained constant.

OK?OK?Not OK?Not OK?OK! (pretty good, actually!)OK! (pretty good, actually!)

Your Turn!Your Turn!

Practice writing a thesis statement.Practice writing a thesis statement. Use the sentence strips provided.Use the sentence strips provided. Discuss your thesis. Why is it good? Bad?Discuss your thesis. Why is it good? Bad?

Paragraphs 2-5Paragraphs 2-5Contains good transition sentencesContains good transition sentences However, therefore, as an exampleHowever, therefore, as an example

Explains the facts WITH analysisExplains the facts WITH analysis Two or three per paragraphTwo or three per paragraph

Analysis (why does what you have written Analysis (why does what you have written matter?matter? Due to, because, since, as a resultDue to, because, since, as a result

Gives the impact or significance of the factGives the impact or significance of the fact What changed?What changed? Who was affected and why?Who was affected and why?

ConclusionConclusion

Re-states the thesis without exact wordingRe-states the thesis without exact wording

Briefly summarizes your argumentBriefly summarizes your argument

And you’re done!And you’re done!

See? You can do it!See? You can do it!

THOU SHALT NOT...THOU SHALT NOT...Start or end with:Start or end with: ““These are some of the reasons why...”These are some of the reasons why...” ““There were many differences and There were many differences and

similarities...”similarities...”

Use:Use: I, me, you, we, usI, me, you, we, us ““IMHO”IMHO” B/C, W/O, cuz B/C, W/O, cuz Any number instead of spelling (“to” NOT 2)Any number instead of spelling (“to” NOT 2) Text message or email styleText message or email style

Three Types of EssaysThree Types of Essays

Compare and Contrast (Comp)Compare and Contrast (Comp)

Change and Continuity Over Time (CCOT)Change and Continuity Over Time (CCOT)

Document Based Question (DBQ)Document Based Question (DBQ)

Compare and ContrastCompare and ContrastALWAYS do bothALWAYS do both How were x and y the same?How were x and y the same? How were x and y different?How were x and y different?

Must be clear in your thesisMust be clear in your thesis

OK to not be even so long as BOTH are OK to not be even so long as BOTH are discusseddiscussed

Change and ContinuityChange and ContinuityALWAYS discuss bothALWAYS discuss bothHow did x change over time?How did x change over time?How did x stay the same over time?How did x stay the same over time?

Must be clear in your thesisMust be clear in your thesis

OK to not be even so long as BOTH are OK to not be even so long as BOTH are discusseddiscussed

DBQDBQUse ALL documentsUse ALL documentsMay misunderstand 1 (only 1!)May misunderstand 1 (only 1!)

Analyze the documentsAnalyze the documents

Group the documentsGroup the documents

POV at least 4 documentsPOV at least 4 documents

Must have additional document and WHYMust have additional document and WHYMust be reasonableMust be reasonableNo letters from preliterate societies!No letters from preliterate societies!

Does not need outside historical information, but Does not need outside historical information, but APUSH does.. So get ready for next year APUSH does.. So get ready for next year

Additional DocumentsAdditional Documents

What kinds of things are documents?What kinds of things are documents?

Letters and diariesLetters and diaries

Accounting, sales, and tax recordsAccounting, sales, and tax records

Newspapers, magazines, booksNewspapers, magazines, books

Government documentsGovernment documents

PhotographsPhotographs

Statistical and Demographic DataStatistical and Demographic Data