Writing Modern History Essays

[wendym]

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if you really, really want a good essay you HAVE to include
a VARIETY of perspectives on the issue. ie dont tell the story from the just the government's perspective, add civilians, opposition etc. Oh, dont ever recount unless it's just a quick, brief part that you need. ANALYSE & EVALUATE!
You've got to give a strong opinion on the issue and back it up with quotes.
I've also found that with many MH essays you can divide sections into
economic, social & political, that's an easy way of structuring an essay if you ever get asked on the impact/effect of something.

[wendus]

depends what the quesiton is, but yes generally do not tell narrative AT ALL. focus solely on analysis. historical debate also isn't really that important, but mentioning it in like half a sentence can boost your marks a bit. add heaps of quotes - make sure they're relevant! and lastly, have a strong voice in your essay. that'd convince the markers you know what you're talking about, and you should! GL!

[cem]

Originally Posted by wendus

depends what the quesiton is, but yes generally do not tell narrative AT ALL. focus solely on analysis. historical debate also isn't really that important, but mentioning it in like half a sentence can boost your marks a bit. add heaps of quotes - make sure they're relevant! and lastly, have a strong voice in your essay. that'd convince the markers you know what you're talking about, and you should! GL!

As a marker I would like to point out that there should be some narrative - e.g. if asked to assess the importance of the depression to the rise of the Nazis, a brief (1 exam booklet page only) narrative of the events of the Depression years to set up the essay is needed. It tells the marker that you actually know what you are talking about and the sequence of events.

Having set the context of the question through narrative then begin taking the events and issues and assess each one, making a clear judgement about its importance to the topic.

Refer each point made back to the question, making a judgement as you go.
Give a range of perspectives of the events, issues e.g. the Nazi view, the governments, Hindenburgs and more recent interpretions by one or two of those who have spent time researching the different points of views.

In your conclusion again refer back to the question and make a clear judgement about the issue being discusses (and yes you can say this was important but that wasn't).

Introductions and conclusions are really important for the markers as the introduction is what the marker reads first and gets their interest and the conclusion is what is read last and therefore reminds them of the argument just made.


The timing for marking is 12 per hour, which means, on average, 5 minutes per essay so make it worthwhile to impress the marker and make them want to give you marks.

[swathard]

alright, thank you very much everyone!! greatly appreciated. i will account for what everyone has said, but i am kinda becoming nervous about my choice to accelerate, because ive heard a lot of people saying that im going to be "disadvantaged" because i havent done the prelim course and all that..

do you think i would be disadvantaged, or do you think that if i work hard in the hsc year (without having done the prelim) i stil have the potential to gain a band 6, which is what im aiming for?

[alongcamedonna]

If you think you're great with writing history essays, then please please HELP me!! Yes, I am in desperate need of your HELP, as i think i am FAILING in Modern History.

So pls pls tell me starting from basic, what makes a 10/10 History essay? E.g. structure.

Any help will do! =DD

THANKS. THANKS. xD

[binary star]

Use quotes from historians. As for the structure, well there really isnt a specific style, just write all you know, and do it eloquently.

[cem]

1. Introduce your response by making a statement that sums up your approach to the question and then give a brief outline of the argument that you are going to follow.

2. For each point mentioned in the opening paragraph write a detailed paragraph linking back to the question and the paragraphs that have gone before. Support your argument with evidence and the occasional historian's idea (no need to quote historians if you actually know what their basic premise is). Also show that you know that their are opposing views.

3. Write a clear conclusion that sums up your argument, tying the paragraphs back to the question.


Many many kids start with the question but lose the thread and forget all about the question so by referring back to it it helps keep you on track.

[Kujah]

Fluency and structure, along with links to your essay question. Remember, can the marker SEE your point?

S - Statement
E - Explain it
E- Example

[annabackwards]

Basically as what everyone has said before, keep it in a simple essay structure.

That is:

Introduction, Body and Conclusion.

You may or may not need a concluding sentence like in english essays- i generally don't include them because it link throughout my paragraphs.

[Empyrean444]

Think the end of each paragraph back to your main thesis - this is very important. Each paragraph should be an integral component of the argument.

Try to avoid short paragraphs - too short=not enough analysis.

[jennieTalia]

Originally Posted by alongcamedonna

If you think you're great with writing history essays, then please please HELP me!! Yes, I am in desperate need of your HELP, as i think i am FAILING in Modern History.

So pls pls tell me starting from basic, what makes a 10/10 History essay? E.g. structure.

Any help will do! =DD

THANKS. THANKS. xD

It depends on the question obviously.
If you know your key words, then you know how to answer something.
E.g. what does EXPLAIN mean? ASSESS? EVALUATE? And so forth. Knowing these will show you how to approach an essay.

Apart from the APE idea (Argument, Point, Evidence) and the Introduction, Body and Conclusion already suggested it is a good idea to have a look at the TYPE of evidence you are using. Look for a range of sources. Quotes, and statistics etc.

If you are still a beginner it can be better to try and BALANCE an essay, particularly one that asks for your own judgement. Try a point for and against, debate with yourself.

After each paragraph go back and make sure it answers the question, even answer the question itself in the last sentence of every one or two paragraphs to ensure you're on the right track.

USE any sources they give you as well as your own.

Avoid: Telling a story, or writing a shopping list.
For example:
Then the Titanic went into the water, cracking at the middle and sinking down until it hit the bottom in two parts- storytelling
The Titanic had cracked filaments, flooded subdecks, implosion on impact, geographically separated halves and collapsed beams. -Shopping list.
The Titanic had cracked filaments, which suggest that the weight of the upper deck caused the ship to break into two pieces, this is also inferred by the geographical positioning of the two parts of the ship some metres away from each other.- CORRECT.

Vocab- use words other than just suggest. Use emphasizes, was the catalyst for, indicates, highlights, outlines, underlines etc.

Brainstorm out all the different parts you want to mention before hand.

xoxo

[-may-cat-]

sunshine and rainbows

EDIT: im sorry, im just tired, but my point could be helpful for essays on Germans?

[sdcloud69]

blowing your history teacher.

[raiyan]

If mr devlin devlin says so.

[darktwinz]

Originally Posted by alongcamedonna

If you think you're great with writing history essays, then please please HELP me!! Yes, I am in desperate need of your HELP, as i think i am FAILING in Modern History.

So pls pls tell me starting from basic, what makes a 10/10 History essay? E.g. structure.

Any help will do! =DD

THANKS. THANKS. xD

I know that everyone is saying have structure. But the best way to get marks is actually answering the question - it automatically gives you structure. For example if the question asks What caused the fall of the Weimar Republic? Brainstorm the answer like - the resentment of the public for signing the Versailles Treaty - the disillusionment of the middle class with the hyper - inflation which was the primary supporter.

Using a paragraph to explain each point gives you structure.

Remember to reuse the words in the question!!! Using it often ensures that you're actually focusing on answering the question.
Or else like me, you'll find that you're wandering.

For example -
Another reason for the fall of the Republic blah blah...

Goood luck!!!!