The document outlines the basic structure and components of a history essay, including an introduction, three main body sections, and a conclusion. It provides guidance on what to include in each section, such as outlining the context, factors, and historian views in the introduction, discussing at least three issues with facts, analysis, and sources in the main sections, and answering the question and providing supporting evidence in the conclusion. Tips are also provided on writing style and avoiding first person phrases.

2. Basic structure
Abstract/Introduction
• Outline context, factors, historian views, conclusion
Main sections
• Aim to discuss at least three issues (in chapters)
• Include facts, analysis, historiography and evaluation
** Analyse at least one primary source
Conclusion
• Summarise main points and clearly answer the exact
question; give evidence to support conclusion

3. Writing the Abstract/Introduction
• Introduce your question as well as defining any key terms,
including identifying historical context
• Describe the main factors you will discuss, including identifying
any sub-issues. Also, explain why you did/did not choose factors.
• Summarise and prioritise the main interpretations (historian
views) on your chosen issues
• Clearly state the overall line of argument (conclusion) that you
will argue throughout your essay
• Describe your research method(s). This includes research types,
how/why you selected data. Also, state referencing technique.

4. Writing the Main sections
Aim to discuss at least three factors. In each you should:
• Introduce the factor with a topic sentence that links to question
• Include evidence which describes the factor under discussion
• Analyse the evidence throughout – explain the relevance of
your facts to the overall question you are answering
• Analysis includes: arguments for and against the importance
of each factor, links between different factors, etc.
• Show awareness of historical debate (try to compare; and don’t
just give “quotes”, explain why the historian thinks this)
• Include an overall evaluation of the factor, linking back to the
question (mini-conclusion)

5. Writing a Conclusion
Writing a good conclusion is essential. Your conclusion should:
• Re-state your question
• Give an definitive answer about the exact question you were
originally set
• Give evidence to support your overall judgement
• It is absolutely vital that your conclusion makes very specific reference
to the question
• Summarise and compare the main points of your discussion, in
relation to the question and your line of argument
• If you have written mini-conclusions at the end of each section of your
essay, then the first requirement is fairly straightforward

6. Helpful tips
• Use sophisticated language
e.g. Although; Arguably; Additionally; Essentially; Moreover;
Therefore; Furthermore; However; Significantly; Despite;
Clearly; It might be argued…; It has been suggested…; It is
debatable whether…; This view has been challenged by…;
Many historians believe
• Try to avoid using first person phrases
e.g. ‘I think that…’; ‘In my opinion…’
• Never use abbreviations
unless it is appropriate to do so e.g. SS, NSDAP

7. What do you think?
• The most important thing is to
ensure that this is your
dissertation
• Markers want to know what you
think (and why) – that’s why
Analysis and Evaluation are so
important
• Don’t overload your essay with
historians’ views or detail without
an explanation of its relevance