In order to write a successful history essay, you need to first understand the assignment. What is the professor or teacher looking for? What type of essay is it – analytical, argumentative, etc.? Once you understand the requirements, you can start brainstorming ideas and gathering evidence. The next step is to organize your thoughts and put together a strong thesis statement. After that, it’s all about writing a well-organized and well-written essay. In this blog post, we will go over each of these steps in more detail and provide examples along the way!
Steps to Writing a Powerful History Essay
Step one: Brainstorming & Gathering Evidence
Brainstorming and gathering evidence are the first steps to take when writing a history essay. For brainstorming, it can be helpful to create a mind map or list of all the ideas you have for the essay. Once you have your ideas down, start looking for evidence to support them. This evidence can come from primary sources like documents, letters, or speeches, or secondary sources like books or articles. When collecting evidence, be sure to take note of where it came from so you can cite it properly in your essay!
Step two: Coming up with a thesis statement
After you have your ideas and evidence gathered, it’s time to start putting together a thesis statement. A thesis statement is a sentence (or two) that states what you will be arguing in your essay. For example, if your essay is about the causes of the American Revolution, your thesis statement could be “The American Revolution was caused by a combination of economic, social, and political factors.” If you are not able to come up with strong thesis statement, you could contact any thesis writing services online to help you out.
Step three: Outlining your essay
Once you have a thesis statement, you can start outlining your essay. A typical history essay will have an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. In the introduction, you will want to introduce your topic and grab the reader’s attention. The body paragraphs are where you will develop your argument and support it with evidence. And finally, in the conclusion, you will summarize your argument and restate your thesis.
Consider These History Topics
After reading many essay writing services reviews and understanding what teachers ask for, we came up with a list of history topics that any high-schooler could benefit from. Check it out!
- The American Revolution
The American Revolution was fought from 1775-1783 between the Colonies and Great Britain. The main reason for the war was the heavy taxation that the British government placed on the Colonists. This, coupled with other grievances such as a lack of representation in Parliament, led to open rebellion. After eight years of fighting, the Colonists were victorious and gained their independence.
- The Civil War
The American Civil War was fought from 1861-1865 between the Union (Northern) states and the Confederacy (Southern) states. The primary cause of the war was slavery and states’ rights. The Confederacy wanted to keep slavery while the Union wanted it abolished. After four years of bloody fighting, the Union was victorious and slavery was abolished.
- The Women’s Suffrage Movement
The Women’s Suffrage Movement was a long and hard-fought battle that lasted for over seventy years. The main goal of the suffragettes was to gain the right to vote for women. This was finally accomplished in 1920 with the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.
- The Civil Rights Movement
The Civil Rights Movement was a struggle to end segregation and gain equality for African Americans. It began in the 1950s with boycotts and protests, and ended in the late 1960s with the passage of Civil Rights legislation. Along the way, there were many milestones, such as the desegregation of schools and the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
- The Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was fought from 1955-1975 between the Communist North and the Capitalist South. The United States became involved in an attempt to stop the spread of Communism. After a long and costly war, the Communists were victorious and unified the country.
- The Cold War
The Cold War was a period of time where the United States and the Soviet Union were in a state of heightened tension. This tension never turned into open warfare, but there were proxy wars fought, such as in Korea and Vietnam. This war finally came to an end as the Soviet Union collapsed.
- Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine was a set of laws proposed by President Harry S. Truman in the year 1947. It stated that the United States would provide economic and military aid to any country threatened by Communism. This doctrine led to American involvement in many conflicts, such as the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
- Containment
Containment was a policy set forth by the United States during the Cold War. It was the belief that Communism needed to be stopped from spreading any further. This led to American involvement in many conflicts, such as the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
Wrapping Up Now that you know the steps to take when writing a history essay, it’s time to get started! Remember to brainstorm first, gather evidence, and then put together a strong thesis statement. With these tips in mind, you’ll be well on your way to writing a successful history essay.