A Guide to Writing the Best History Essay or Paper

Last Updated: 02 February 2024

At first glance, writing a good history essay can seem difficult because it is a chance to dive into the past and talk about stories that have shaped our modern world. However, writing the paper is a piece of cake for nerds. It takes following the right approach to craft a masterpiece.

This guide will reveal the secrets to writing a history paper like a nerd that impresses your readers. If you want to pay someone to write your history essay, contact us, and we will give you one of our best writers here at GradeCrest.

The 7 Steps for Writing a History Paper

Whether writing a history research paper or a synthesis essay, understanding and following these steps can make you successful.

Step 1: Understand the History Paper Format

Understanding the given assignment by reading the prompt is essential to the prewriting process. An essay prompt is an essential tool that gives you a complete understanding of the history and what is expected of you. It will give you specific information on what is required and a recommendation of what to include in the essay. In addition, the prompt will identify the type of history paper to write.

For instance, you could be asked to demonstrate that you can present a historical argument. Or to explain or discuss the major differences between colonial New England and colonial Virginia. Accompanying these questions will be information such as the sources to use, length of the paper, due date, supporting information, and the paper's goal.

Thus, by understanding these requirements and instructions, you can allow yourself to write a concise and logical paper.

Step 2: Choose a History Paper Topic

If your teacher did not offer any topic or suggest a list of topics for the paper, you may be asked to choose your own. While this can be exciting, it is the most challenging step and the most important part of writing a history paper. However, the biggest question is, how do I choose a good topic for a history essay?

  1. The most important element here is choosing a topic that interests you. If you approach the assignment with the mentality that it is just an assignment as part of your coursework, you will fail. So, begin by choosing interesting history subjects, specific periods, and scenarios that interest you.
  2. Then, narrow the search by considering whether you wish to focus on a singular event, an individual, or a specific historical era. Additionally, consider the sources that interest you, such as political speeches, videos, personal correspondence, scientific treatises, etc.
  3. Narrow down the topic to something more specific that you can focus on. For example, if your interest is in the Industrial Revolution, a more specific topic for your history essay could be The Impact of the Industrial Revolution in Europe.

Once you know your topic, review the works on your subject of interest and familiarise yourself with the facts, ideas, and arguments. Go through textbooks, online journals, historical encyclopedias, and other sources.

Identify the types of evidence that are relevant to write an informative essay. This is also an essential part of choosing a good history paper. You must ensure that the evidence is readily available. So, determine whether you can access the resources to answer your research question. Ensure you find both primary and secondary sources.

Take note of the topic you choose; the older the topic, the harder it will be to access the primary sources. Sometimes, you could find digitized sources on these topics, but relying on them could be tricky. However, there could be contemporary sources for the information you seek.

Step 3: Develop a Historical Thesis Statement

Every history essay must have a well-written thesis statement that guides the focus of your paper. You will try to prove this through clear arguments and credible evidence. So, you must take time to develop a good statement.

As you learn to write a thesis statement for a research paper, note that a good thesis statement comprises two main parts: the claim and supporting facts.

The following is an example of a good thesis statement in history: The Industrial Revolution in Europe had a profound and transformative impact on society, economy, and culture, leading to significant advancements in technology, urbanization, and social change.

The above thesis statements set the stages for an explorative essay on the significant impact of the Industrial Revolution. So, in your essay, you should talk about how it affected economies, labor practices, and living conditions leading up to what is now referred to as the modern world.

Use the following tips to help generate a clear thesis statement for your history essay:

Remember that the statement must be specific, arguable, and explanatory.

Step 4: Research

Now that you have a solid thesis statement, you need to find evidence to back it up through in-depth research. You could have achieved most of this during the initial research, but you must find additional information to strengthen your work.

As mentioned, you must review both primary and secondary sources. Primary sources are texts, videos, or information from those with first-hand knowledge of the events. On the other hand, secondary sources are those written by historians who review material on the original events.

Go through every source to find all the information that will help strengthen your arguments. Since the research process can be difficult, some tips can simplify things.

Ensure you only use scholarly databases and websites that offer quality academic material. Avoid crowd-sourced websites like Wikipedia, as they can have unreliable information.

You should also take notes when researching to help facilitate the recollection process. Group the sourced ideas logically, ensuring you organize them from general to specific.

Please note that, at best, sources only provide raw materials that you use to form a historical argument. Thus, you must read these sources closely and ask critical questions like:

Step 5: Generate a Clear Structure for Your History Essay

Structuring your history essay is essential to the planning process that ensures organization and clear communication of ideas. A poorly organized paper will leave you and the readers needing clarification about what you are discussing. Remember, the point of your history paper is to argue a point, not just describe an event from the past,

A history essay comprises three main paragraphs: an introduction, a body paragraph, and a conclusion.

1. An introduction- This paragraph introduces the topic and provides background information to help readers understand what you will discuss. Your introduction should also contain your thesis statement, which will be the paper's focus. It must have the following structure:

Learn how to start a history essay the right way without boring the readers to death. Begin with a captivating hook, such as fascinating quotes and shocking statistics. Remember to keep this hook relevant to the topic under discussion.

2. Body paragraphs- this is where you dive into the topic and provide supporting evidence backing up your thesis. Each paragraph should have a clear and logical flow of ideas that leads back to the main point. The body paragraphs could have three to five paragraphs, each discussing a different idea about your topic.

Take note that a good paragraph contains the following format:

Remember that the body of your essay is where the focus of your claim should be. Develop your arguments and know where and when to use relevant evidence to support your claims.

3. Conclusion- This is the last paragraph that concludes your essay and reminds readers why you wrote the essay. It should also reinforce the central idea.

Step 6: Begin Writing

With a clear outline, you can begin writing your history essay like a nerd. Ensure every idea flows fluently, as this is the basis of a history essay. Take a moment to think of how your ideas are transitioning from one paragraph to the next. Show your readers where the essay flows and how each idea builds from one to the next.

Ensure you keep the end product, the essay you will submit, in mind. Your essay must have footnotes and a bibliography section. So, include relevant information and evidence as you write.

Step 7: Revise and Edit Your History Essay

After writing, it is important to take a moment and review your work before submitting it. Check incorrect and irrelevant information as well as grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors. Ask yourself the following:

The above checklist will ensure you have written your essay like an expert.

Problems to Avoid When Writing a History Essay

Writing a history paper requires careful consideration and presentation of facts. Here are some common pitfalls you should avoid to ensure your work is flawless.

The Bottom Line

A history essay is an exciting opportunity for you to show your readers how knowledgeable you are about past events. It involves understanding the main topic through thorough research, careful planning, and logical discussion of your claims backed by concrete evidence. Following the above guidelines, we hope you can construct a compelling history essay answering the main topic.

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Writing essays is a great way to express ourselves and show how well we have mastered concepts. However, as a student, you might have all the knowledge and no time. Sometimes, the morale is not there. No matter what, you can always count on our online essay-writing website to complete your history essay on time. Place your order and work with a professional writer you can access as they work on your essays. For the record, we do even the most urgent essays that are due soon.