Essay Writing
Junior History
Skills
Year 10
Year 9
Year 8
Summary Essay Plan
Class Essay
Referenced Essay.
Summary Essay Plan
Class Essay
Referenced Essay.
 |
How to construct your History Essay |
Summary Essay Plan Class Essay Referenced Essay.
For starters
read your background
prepare your hypothesis
this will be your major theme
then organise your three research questions
Everything in Essays comes in threes.
3 parts - Introduction, Body, Conclusion
Each section then neatly divides again into three parts, too
Follow the guide below for simple essay structure.
INTRODUCTION
On the down hill run!
1. State your hypothesis
2. Set in time, space, define any important word in major theme
3. State the three points you are going to discuss. (scope)
BODY
3 paragraphs
Each research question has its own paragraph
Warming to your theme!
For each paragraph:
1. Start with a topic sentence telling reader the theme of your research question.
2. Make three points to respond to your research question, supporting each point with facts, evidence, quote. Order points - least important first, to most important last
3. Conclude with a sentence which wraps up by relating the paragraph back to your major theme
CONCLUSION
Select three key words or phrases which neatly describe the theme of each research question
DON'T introduce new ideas!
1. Introduce conclusion with your major finding
2. Use your three keywords to relate all your minor ideas to major theme
3. Finish with an overall evaluation
Find a good quote which says what you want to say but does it better!Summary Essay Plan Class Essay Referenced Essay.
Class Essay
To what extent were the year 10 History class of 1999 good students?
An unreferenced in-class effort by a Year 10 History class.
"Year 10 History of 1999 was a vintage year" (David Houston, Head of Faculty.) This cohort of historians year excelled in all aspects of historical study, especially in research, assignment writing and examination achievement.
Firstly, the Year 10 history class of 1999 were excellent researchers. They used CD Roms, the School Library and their handouts to obtain essential facts. Some 20% of them visited State Library for extra material. On some occasions, certain students discovered new primary evidence which could be placed into the College archives. Their wide ranging quest in the pursuit of information ensured their recognition as a dedicated group of researchers.
Assignment writing reached new heights with this enthusiastic group of historians. They were assiduous in seeking obscure themes. Their overall presentation was imaginative and most achieved an A grade in this criterion throughout the year. Their linguistic skills were impressive, since they wrote with sophistication and flair. These skills combined to make this History group the most effective at project writing during the 90’s at Terrace.
The outstanding achievement of this group in examinations was noted by leading teachers at the time. "These boys are incredible." (Mrs Barry, History Teacher 1999). The group excelled in document studies, showing outstanding talent in analysis and evaluation. Content tests consistently reinforced their ability, with 80% of the class achieving A’s. Essay writing was unusually perceptive and incisive. Their continuing excellence at examinations made this group eminent within their peers at the college.
The Year 10 History class of 1999 were pre-eminent among the whole year group. Their project preparation, written skills and examination results placed them among the all-time great achievers of Terrace. As their teacher Mrs Barry said: "Never in my long life span as a teacher have I taught such a dedicated group of historically minded young me. "
Back to top
Referenced Essay
This is a sample of an essay written by Chris, a year 10 student.
|
How important was religion to people in the Middle Ages? Hypthesis: The Church played a very
significant role in the lives of all social classes during the
Middle Ages as it dominated the environment, education and everyday
lives. |
|
|
INTRODUCTION
|
|
|
FIRST PARAGRAPH
WRAPS UP by relating back to main theme |
|
| SECOND PARAGRAPH |
During the Middle Ages, the Church and Monasteries controlled education. Few people other than monks and priests could read and write, so churchmen were the main educators. The monks ran schools for the wealthy, and copied all the Bibles and books. The sisters ran schools for the less wealthy. In addition, the Universities were controlled and run by religious orders. For example, the Universities of Paris, Bologna, Oxford and Cambridge were all staffed by Monks and Friars. Finally, the Church's courts even had the power to prevent scientists, such as Galileo, from publishing discoveries which contradicted accepted religious beliefs. (Morris and Martin, 197, pp 153 - 155) In this way, the Church had power over the way of the learning and thinking of everyone, both rich and poor
|
|
THIRD PARAGRAPH |
Religion affected the everyday lives of all, disregarding social status. People were afraid of eternal damnation in Hell, so they attended Mass regularly, went on Pilgrimages and did penance to make sure of a place in Heaven. Fines and punishments were imposed on those who did not follow Church laws and teaching. Secondly, the church provided social welfare for the less fortunate. The monasteries provided hospitals which looked after those of all classes who were sick and dying. They also fed and housed the down and out. Most importantly, everyone - rich and poor alike - had to pay a tenth of their income - the tithe - as tax to the Church. (Chewter et alia, 1984: 321 - 322). As a result, the Church's power influenced the daily lives of everyone - regardless of class.
|
|
CONCLUSION
|
All in all, from birth to death, the life of every person was dominated by religion during the Middle Ages in Europe. The Church had an impact on the landscape of every town and village through its land ownership, buildings and wealth, it influenced people's way of thinking through its control of education and touched the lives of all through religious practices, welfare services and taxes. Religion played such an important part in everyone's life at this time that the Church and Monasteries: "had become the strongest body in the whole of Europe.(Morris and Martin, 1996, p148) |
