We must first be asking ourselves, what is the best history essays? No two people are likely to unanimously agree, if not in the sense that the quality of the essay lies in the eyes and represents the mental state – of the reader. What follows will not be a philosophical discussion but gives you practical advice on how to write an essay to receive top marks.
Relevance
Witnesses in court agree to speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing else. Students of all subjects in history should swear an identical oath to answer questions in completeness, to answer the questions and nothing else than the question. This is the most important rule. You could write beautifully and present a compelling argument with lots of convincing evidence however if you’re not relevant, then you might as well be playing at a cymbal. That’s why you should think mindfully about what you’re being asked to respond to. Make sure you avoid the unforgiving error of less experienced students who fail to in the end, fail to answer the test the examiners ought to have asked – however, they didn’t. Be patient, take your time, and look attentively at the language of the question, then make certain in your own mind that you’ve understood all its terms.
For instance, if there is a question about why Hitler became the leader it is important to clarify what the process of his rise to power consisted of. Was there an event that demonstrates his attainment of authority? If you’re quick in grabbing his appointment as Chancellor examine carefully what actual powers this position granted him.Read about https://ventsmagazine.com/2022/07/29/best-history-essay-writer-how-to-find-the-best-one/ At website Was the passing of the Enabling Act more important? Was it the time when the ascendancy to power actually begin? Will you need to mention Hitler’s birth and early childhood, or the high inflation of the early 1920s? If you determine which years are relevant – and consequently which ones aren’t it is a a very good start. Next, you’ll have to consider the various reasons behind the rise of his popularity.
When you’re asked to write about the accomplishments of a certain person Do not write the first thing that comes to mind. Make a list of possible achievements. In so doing, you are automatically confronted with the issue of defining’success’. What exactly is success? Is it the achievement of one’s goals? Is it objective (a factual issue) (a matter of fact) or subjective (a thing of opinion)? Does it matter if we look at whether there are long-term or short-term gains? If a person is blessed with an extraordinary amount of luck, is this still a successful event? The struggle of definition can help identify a list of your successes. You can then elaborate on the reasons behind them, by tracing their roots as well as identifying how and when they took place. Is there a common factor in the successes? If so, it may be the basis of your explanation.
The key word in the above passages of text is “to be thought of”. This is different from daydreaming or reminiscing simply speculating. Thinking isn’t an easy activity, and many of us attempt to keep it out of our minds most of the time. Unfortunately, there’s no substitute to achieve the highest grade. Think as hard as possible about meaning in the question. Also think about the issues it raises and the possible ways to tackle it. You need to consider and think hard – and then you need to rethink the question, trying to find holes in your thinking. Eventually you will almost certainly become confused. But don’t fret: confusion is usually an essential step towards the pursuit of clarity. If you’re completely confused and need to take a break, you can take a break. If you come back at the same question it could be because the problems have resolved themselves. If not give yourself some time. There is a chance that positive ideas pop into your conscious mind at unexpected instances.
The Vital First Paragraph
Every single part of an essay is essential, but the first paragraph is essential. This is the first chance you’ll get to impress or disappoint an examiner, and your first impressions can make a difference. So, try to write an engaging first sentence. (‘Start with the earthquake and gradually build to a crescendo, said the film maker Cecil B. De Mille.) Importantly, you be able to demonstrate your understanding of question set. You provide your carefully considered definitions of the essential terms. Here you establish the relevant time-frame and questions – in other words, you define the specifics of the question. You will also split the question into more manageable segments, or smaller issues, on each of them you’ll compose the length of a paragraph. It is your job to formulate an argument or at times, speak out alternative arguments, which you will substantiate later in the essay. Hence the first paragraph – or perhaps you’ll spread this section of the introduction over two paragraphs is the most important element for a well-written essay.
On reading a good first sentence, examiners will be profoundly reassured that the writer is on the correct track, that is, they are relevant as well as analytical and thorough. They’ll surely feel a sign of relief that there is a single student in the least who isn’t falling for two of the most frequent mistakes. First, you should avoid the question completely. The second option is to write narratives of events usually starting with the birth of a person – with an attempt at answering the question in the final paragraph.
Middle Paragraphs
Philip Larkin once said that the modern novel consists of starting, a confusionand an ending. It’s, alas the case with several history papers. But if you’ve crafted an effective introduction section by dividing the whole question into distinct and manageable sections the essay won’t get lost in the shuffle; it will be clear and coherent.
It should be evident, in the middle of your paragraphs, the type of question you’re responding to. Indeed , it’s a test of an essay. The reader will be able to be able to guess the answer even if you don’t mention it. You should therefore consider starting each middle paragraph will a generalisation that is relevant to the issue. Then you can develop this concept and support it with evidence. It is important to provide a careful selection of proof (i.e. quotes and facts) to justify the argument you’re presenting. You have a small amount of time or space to think about the level of detail you will need. Background issues that are not crucial can be covered with the broad brush, however your top priorities require more exaggeration. (Do not be one of those uninformed applicants who unintentionally “go to town” on the outskirts of their field and ignore important ones.)
The regulations typically state that, during the A2 year, students must be familiar with the main historical interpretations by historians. Do not ignore this advice. On the other hand be careful not to take historiography to the extreme, such that the past itself can be virtually ignored. In particular, do not fall into the fallacy that all you need are sources of historical opinion. In many essays, students offer a generalisation only to back it up with their own opinion of an historian . However, since they’ve constructed this generalisation from their own opinion and the reasoning is circumscribed, meaningless and uninspiring. Furthermore, it assumes that historians are perfect and omniscient gods. Without a solid argument in support of your beliefs like historians do, generalisations are just an assertion. Middle paragraphs are where you can look for the actual substance of an essay. you ignore this at your risk.
The Final Paragraph
If you’ve been discussing something in the body of an essay, you need to drive into that argument in the closing paragraph. If you’ve looked at a variety of alternative propositions, now is the time to clarify which is the correct one. In the middle of the paragraph, you can be compared to a barrister trying to argue a case. Then, in the last paragraph, you’re the judge summing up and making a decision.