Transcript Writing a History Essay

Writing a History Essay
Parts of Essay
I.
Introduction (topic sentence
containing essay’s key idea(s)
II. Body/Development
(paragraph(s) discussing
supporting parts.
III. Conclusion (reminding reader
of key idea(s) established.)
Getting Started
1. Brainstorm and then organize logically the
key ideas that you feel address question:
• Use a web or other visual organizer.
2. Prioritize ideas. Does any one idea seem
the most important? Do you see any
patterns?
3. Draft a tentative topic sentence.
Sample Question:
What was the role of geography in Mesopotamia’s
cultural development?
Grade these
Topic Sentences
Geography played a big role in the
development of Mesopotamia’s
culture.
Geography had both positive and
negative effects on Mesopotamia’s
cultural development.
Although there were some positive
benefits, Mesopotamia’s
geography, on balance, had a
negative impact on the Fertile
Crescent’s cultural and historical
development.
The Development of a
History Essay:
Now, develop your ideas
• Explain and relate to other
ideas (analysis-why important)
• Support by facts (what
happened?)
and
• Provide evidence (How do we
prove it?)
Question: What was the role of
geography in Mesopotamia’s cultural
development?
Sample Answer (condensed):
Mesopotamia’s geography,
dominated by the violent and
unpredictable flooding of the
Tigris and Euphrates rivers,
promoted a pessimistic, even
fatalistic outlook toward life.
Mesopotamia’s literature, for
example, the Epic of
Gilgamesh, supports this view.
In this epic poem, we see the
fearsome effects of a terrible
flood and finally we see nature
(snake) triumphing over man.
Edit your Draft
• Content
– Do you have a key idea(s)?
– Do you explain and support your
idea(s)
• Organization
• Format
• Rewrite