Basic structure

Introduction• Outline context, historians’ views, argument, factors

Main sections• Aim to discuss at least three issues• Include facts, analysis, historiography and evaluation

** Use at least one primary source

Conclusion• Summarise main points and clearly answer the exact

question; give evidence to support conclusion

Writing the Introduction

• Address the question at the outset (it may help to refer to the wording of the question)

• Give background details to put the essay into context (aim for 4/5 sentences)

• Outline the main historian opinions/themes in the issue

• Introduce a line of argument (your ultimate conclusion), making sure you link to your exact question

• Identify the key issues/factors that will be discussed in the main body of your essay (give a short description for each)

Writing the Main sections

Aim to discuss at least three factors. In each you should:

• Introduce the factor with a topic sentence that links to question

• Include evidence which describes the factor under discussion

• Analyse the evidence throughout – explain the relevance of your facts to the overall question you are answering

• Analysis includes: arguments for and against the importance of each factor, links between different factors, etc.

• Show awareness of historical debate (try to compare, and don’t just give “quotes”, explain why the historian thinks this)

• Include an overall evaluation of the factor, linking back to the question (mini-conclusion)

Writing a Conclusion

Writing a good conclusion is essential. Your conclusion should:

• Re-state your question

• Summarise and rank the main points of your discussion, in relation to the question

• If you have written mini-conclusions at the end of each section of your essay, then the first requirement is fairly straightforward

• Come to an definitive answer about the exact question you were originally set

• Give evidence to support your overall judgement• It is absolutely vital that your conclusion makes very specific reference

to the question

Helpful tips

• Use sophisticated language e.g. Although; Arguably; Additionally; Essentially; Moreover; Therefore; Furthermore; However; Significantly; Despite; Clearly; It might be argued…; It has been suggested…; It is debatable whether…; This view has been challenged by…; Many historians believe

• Try to avoid using first person phrases e.g. ‘I think that…’; ‘In my opinion…’

• Never use abbreviations unless it is appropriate to do so e.g. SS, NSDAP

What do you think?

• The most important thing is to ensure that this is yourdissertation

• Markers want to know what youthink (and why) – that’s why Analysis and Evaluation are so important

• Don’t overload your essay with historians’ views or detail without an explanation of its relevance