Modern history essay stucture help! (1 Viewer)

gleeek

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When writing an argument for modern history, is one allowed to write an introductory paragraph (maybe including a historiography) , before stating their thesis?

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alyssa21

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A thesis should always be in the introduction to the essay: the introduction should be your response to the question, which naturally, should include your thesis. So you need to show the marker what your argument is straight away, then following through that with various arguments (i.e. your paragraphs).

If you're referring to individual structure of paragraphs, your topic sentence should address your thesis (or the question itself). This topic sentence defines what you're arguing in the specific paragraph, and should contain a clear link to the question. I personally like to only use historiography in the middle, or at the end, of a paragraph- historiography should also be used to support YOUR own argument; not MAKING the argument for you. Your thesis/idea should take precedence, followed by a demonstration that historians agree with you. In other words, show that the historian agrees with you, rather than you agreeing with the historian!
 

enoilgam

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A thesis should always be in the introduction to the essay: the introduction should be your response to the question, which naturally, should include your thesis. So you need to show the marker what your argument is straight away, then following through that with various arguments (i.e. your paragraphs).

If you're referring to individual structure of paragraphs, your topic sentence should address your thesis (or the question itself). This topic sentence defines what you're arguing in the specific paragraph, and should contain a clear link to the question. I personally like to only use historiography in the middle, or at the end, of a paragraph- historiography should also be used to support YOUR own argument; not MAKING the argument for you. Your thesis/idea should take precedence, followed by a demonstration that historians agree with you. In other words, show that the historian agrees with you, rather than you agreeing with the historian!
This 100%. Dont play around in the intro. Get to your thesis quickly and clearly.
 

cem

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In addition to using historians to support your argument don't be afraid to argue against historians that don't agree with you and others. That shows that you are fully aware that there is conflict e.g. when doing the personality be prepared to question the motives and background of the historians writing about your personality but also don't go overboard with hisotrians.

I have read Part b responses where the student thinks that all they have to do is set out the different historians arguments - but ignore the question that is asked.

Always address the question in both your introduction and conclusion and regularly link your response back to the question indicating how the points you are making support your argument.
 

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