How to:How to:Write Historical Write Historical

EssaysEssays

Amy Elmore AP US HistoryAmy Elmore AP US History

Essential ComponentsEssential Components

• Introductory Introductory ParagraphParagraph• Thesis StatementThesis Statement• Body ParagraphsBody Paragraphs• Concluding ParagraphConcluding Paragraph

Introductory ParagraphIntroductory Paragraph

• Establish the Establish the Time and PlaceTime and Place of the of the Essay.Essay.

• Provide Provide background knowledge background knowledge to to establish context for the Readers.establish context for the Readers.

• Just Just IntroduceIntroduce the topic. the topic.• Do Not begin to argue the points of Do Not begin to argue the points of

your essay.your essay.• End with your End with your ThesisThesis statement. statement.

Thesis StatementThesis Statement

• Location: Location: Last Sentence of Last Sentence of Introductory paragraph.Introductory paragraph.

• Answers Question… Do not get Answers Question… Do not get cute or flowerycute or flowery

• Contains Contains Categories of AnalysisCategories of Analysis– These are the reasons that you These are the reasons that you

explain to prove the point of your explain to prove the point of your essay.essay.

Body ParagraphsBody Paragraphs

• Each Each Category of Analysis Category of Analysis is a is a topic of a body paragraph.topic of a body paragraph.

• Take each part to the Take each part to the argumentargument and explain it completely using and explain it completely using the following:the following:– VocabularyVocabulary– Specific ExamplesSpecific Examples– Information for primary source Information for primary source

readingsreadings

Concluding ParagraphConcluding Paragraph

• Start with a Start with a “concluding phrase”“concluding phrase”• RestateRestate your thesis differently your thesis differently• Put your essay in historical Put your essay in historical

contextcontext– Was this the end of Was this the end of

trend/movement?trend/movement?– Was this the beginning of a Was this the beginning of a

trend/movement?trend/movement?– Answer the Question Answer the Question “So what?”“So what?”

Other Tips to RememberOther Tips to Remember

• Value Value clarity and conciseness clarity and conciseness over over cuteness.cuteness.

• Write consistently in the Write consistently in the past tensepast tense• Do not reference current events or the Do not reference current events or the

present unless the question asks you to present unless the question asks you to do so.do so.

• Never use Never use 11stst person point of view person point of view..• Write as if reader is intelligent by Write as if reader is intelligent by

uninformeduninformed– Identify all Identify all peoplepeople and and organizationsorganizations– Incorporate meaning and significance of Incorporate meaning and significance of

vocabularyvocabulary and and eventsevents..

Practice QuestionPractice Question

• Many British North American Many British North American colonies in the 1600s were colonies in the 1600s were founded in order to achieve founded in order to achieve complete religious freedom. By complete religious freedom. By using two examples each, using two examples each, explain how British colonies explain how British colonies represented this idea of religious represented this idea of religious toleration but also limited it as toleration but also limited it as well.well.

Step 1: Intro ParagraphStep 1: Intro Paragraph

• Brainstorm all that you know about Brainstorm all that you know about this topic.this topic.

• Introductory Paragraph:Introductory Paragraph:– Establish Establish Time and PlaceTime and Place: : – Discussion of Discussion of ContextContext (Some (Some

Suggestions)Suggestions)• Protestant ReformationProtestant Reformation• SeparatistsSeparatists• PuritansPuritans• DutchificationDutchification• ““City on a hill”City on a hill”• John WinthropJohn Winthrop• Covenant TheologyCovenant Theology

Step 2: Thesis Statement

• Make sure that it answers the Make sure that it answers the question.question.

• Use of Use of although/howeveralthough/however evidence of analysisevidence of analysis

• Develop your Develop your Categories of Categories of AnalysisAnalysis– Examples that you plan to use to Examples that you plan to use to

prove your answerprove your answer

Step 2: Thesis Statement

• One suggested thesis statement:One suggested thesis statement:– ““Although colonies such as Plymouth Although colonies such as Plymouth

and Massachusetts Bay were founded and Massachusetts Bay were founded to achieve religious freedom, this to achieve religious freedom, this concept was protected in other concept was protected in other colonies such as colonies such as Maryland and Maryland and PennsylvaniaPennsylvania, however the treatment , however the treatment of dissenters such as of dissenters such as Anne Hutchison Anne Hutchison and Roger Williamsand Roger Williams proved the limits proved the limits to colonial understanding of religious to colonial understanding of religious toleration.” (toleration.” (Categories of Analysis or Categories of Analysis or C of AsC of As))

Step 3: Body ParagraphsStep 3: Body Paragraphs

• Body Paragraph #1Body Paragraph #1– Topic: (Topic: (C of AC of A) Maryland and ) Maryland and

Pennsylvania support religious Pennsylvania support religious freedomfreedom

– MarylandMaryland• Lord Baltimore, Catholic Haven, Maryland Lord Baltimore, Catholic Haven, Maryland

Act of TolerationAct of Toleration

– PennsylvaniaPennsylvania• William Penn, Quakers, beliefs of William Penn, Quakers, beliefs of

Quakers, religious toleration of all faiths, Quakers, religious toleration of all faiths, relations with Native Americans, “Holy relations with Native Americans, “Holy Experiment”, Blue LawsExperiment”, Blue Laws..

Step 3: Body ParagraphsStep 3: Body Paragraphs

• Topic (Topic (C of AC of A): Anne Hutchison and ): Anne Hutchison and roger Williamsroger Williams– Dissent in MBC resulted in expulsionDissent in MBC resulted in expulsion– Anne HutchisonAnne Hutchison

• Antinomianism, trial, banishment, death Antinomianism, trial, banishment, death used to support covenant theologyused to support covenant theology

– Roger WilliamsRoger Williams• Dissent, banishment, founding of Rhode Dissent, banishment, founding of Rhode

Island, complete religious toleration in RI, Island, complete religious toleration in RI, referred to as “sewer” by MBCreferred to as “sewer” by MBC

Step 4: ConclusionStep 4: Conclusion

• Begin with Begin with concluding phraseconcluding phrase• Restate Restate thesisthesis differently differently• Establish historical context or Establish historical context or

relevance (“relevance (“So whatSo what?”)?”)– This is evidence of established basis This is evidence of established basis

for religious freedom in America.for religious freedom in America.– Continued in the foundation of Continued in the foundation of

American government and American government and principles in the 1principles in the 1stst amendment amendment protections in the U.S. Constitution.protections in the U.S. Constitution.