The introduction in any essay should grab the attention of your reader while introducing them to the topic of discussion. Introduction paragraphs are generally no more than five to seven sentences in length. In a history essay, your introduction paragraph should serve to give your reader some historical context to your argument, while easily transitioning them to the body of your essay. Your history essay should be written with a particular audience in mind, whether it is an instructor, classmates, a journal or any other publication. With that in mind, focus your introduction on piquing the interest of this primary audience. This first sentence should set the tone for your paper and introduce the topic of discussion.

An example of a lead sentence could be, during world war ii, women were called on to step up and fill the roles of men in the workplace. Include three to five more sentences that expand on the sentence you posed at the beginning of your introduction. These could include more facts or statistics if your paper is expository, or evidence that support your side of a debate if your paper is argumentative. These sentences should fluidly lead your reader to the thesis, or the main idea of your history essay. Your essay will be doomed from the start if it does not express a concise and specific idea that functions as an outline for your paper to follow. This thesis should be conveyed in the final sentence of your introduction, while preparing your reader for the body of the essay. For example, this paper will address the incidents leading up the civil war and how the use of the railroad contributed to union victory.

Key essay terms analyze → ask ‘how and why’ compare, contrast → always do both compare and contrast evaluate → make an opinion while weighing up the strengths and weaknesses ib history exams → get information. Explain to what extent… , how far do you agree… → address the question ‘to a large extent…’, ‘to a small extent…’ ib history exams → understand and address the demands of the question how to write a history essay what is the question asking → you must be clear on this so that you fully address the actual question and do not just write generally around of the topic. You’ll have to address this question throughout your essay and come back to it in your conclusion. introduction → address the question clearly and indicate the direction that your argument will take. Define key term/concepts that are in the question, as your understanding of these words will determine the direction of your essay main body → each paragraph should address a new point make it clear what the topic of the paragraph is.

2011 Hsc Standard English Paper

Ensure each paragraph refers directly to the question use the wording of the question if possible. Link your paragraphs so that each one is part of a developing argument building up to your conclusion. Look back at the main thrust of your arguments and evidence in the essay and give a conclusion based on what you have said: this should be a direct answer to the question. do not put no information in the conclusion. notes taken by kevin: tips to write a good essay 1, don’t use pronouns.

Tricks that you should do to persuade examiners: 1, introduction: clear thesis that strongly addresses the answer. 6, first sentence of each paragraph should be a statement, and have your opinion. list of dos and don’ts for essays common mistakes don’t use pronouns intelligentsias and peasants did something. Don’t make the examiner guess kiss keep it simple stupid don’t use big fancy words you don’t know how to use, spell, or know what it means no first person i ….

Tricks that examiners do first paragraph, looking for a strong thesis that answers the question. Addressing the question explicitly address the question – answer what you’re being asked – if you don’t do this you’re in big trouble what does the thesis statement do? the purpose: it tells the examiner what you plan to prove. Get information and do something with it/sth interesting with it sex statement evidence explain you are writing for only one purpose. You are writing to convince irrelevant don’t use irrelevant information, those that don’t address the question explicitly the last sentence of a paragraph should wrap it all up… and therefore….

So what?? you wrote a whole paragraph about things, facts, and so you gave the narrative but you also have to explicitly tie it to your purpose. Narrative telling a story – just telling facts – first sentence should say one point that’s proving your thesis. Because of x he deserves the title tsar the liberator this is not a fact or a narrative.