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How to Write a Conclusion For a History Essay Step-by-Step

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A historical essay is a short piece of writing that answers a question or addresses a topic.  It shows a student’s historical knowledge and ability to express themselves. The conclusion is a final summary that explains why the topic is significant. A well-written conclusion ends a historical essay on a strong note. It often is what the reader remembers the most.  

What Is A History Essay?

An essay is a short piece of writing that answers a question (“Who are the funniest presidents ”) discusses a subject (“What is Japanese feudalism ”), or addresses a topic (“ Causes and Effects of the Industrial Revolution ”).  A historical essay specifically addresses historical matters.

These essays are used to judge a student’s progress in understanding history. They also are used to teach and analyze a student’s ability to write and express their knowledge.  A person can know their stuff and still have problems expressing their knowledge.  

Skillful communication is an essential tool.  When you write your conclusion to a historical essay remember that both the information and how you express it are both very important.  

Final Chance To Impress 

The conclusion of a historical essay is the final paragraph.  

This is important.  It is the final thing that the reader reads.  It provides a final impression that can be the thing that is remembered the most.  It is one last chance to impress.

Conclusion Is A Summary 

The conclusion is a summary of your argument or topic.  This is an example of the importance of crisp writing.  The summary provides the reader with a final brief chance (do not ramble!) to know what you are trying to say.  Try not to be boring.  Do not write in the first person (“I”).

The summary does two basic things.  If your historical essay has a specific thesis, a question that you have to answer, you summarize your answer.  And, you summarize the main points of your essay.  In both cases, you do not just repeat what you said before.  

Conclusion Says Why It All Matters 

The conclusion should not provide new information to make your case.  That is what the body of the essay is for.  The conclusion does say why your topic matters.  

It provides the historical implications or significance of your topic.  It offers a final chance for the reader to think about the subject of your historical essay.  End on a strong note!  

Step-By-Step Guide To Writing A Conclusion 

Step 1:  restate your thesis statement.

A “thesis” is a fancy way of saying what you are trying to convince the reader is true.  It is your argument.  For instance, you might have to argue that Catherine the Great truly was impressive. You would start a conclusion with a one-sentence summary of your basic viewpoint.

For these reasons, Catherine the Great was an impressive monarch given the restraints she had to live under.  

If the historical essay does not answer a specific question, the opening statement can summarize the subject of the essay itself:

Donata Badoer , a Venetian noblewoman, married Marco Polo in 1300.  

The restatement sentence does not provide an explanation.  It simply summarizes your basic conclusion.  Note that the thesis sentence might have a qualifier, something that must be true for the argument to work.  Catherine was great “given the restraints” of the times.  

The restatement sentence also can include various words that signal to the reader that the essay is coming to a close. These “summary words” include: in summary, as a result, on the whole, for these reasons, this proves, overall, therefore, this study reveals, and the evidence shows.  

The appropriate words tend to be a matter of personal taste and judgment. They sometimes can be left out (“for these reasons” is a bit redundant) but are popular flourishes.  

Step 2: Restate Your Key Points 

This part of the conclusion summarizes the key points of your historical essay.  

Remember, you are not supposed to be introducing anything new. This is also not a long explanation of the topic.  You already did that.  

The restatement can be as short as one sentence.  It should not be much longer than two to three sentences.  This is a conclusion paragraph, not a separate chapter.

Catherine the Great rose from humble beginnings to lead a great empire, providing many benefits such as supporting women’s education, improving the country’s image, and promoting vaccination.  

Note that you are summarizing your main points without being vague (not just “many benefits” or “people say” but specific examples).  The reader has a crisp summary of your argument.

Step 3: Final Statement and Thoughts 

The conclusion ends with a statement on why this all matters.  

The reader learns how the topic fits into a wider historical context .  How did the topic affect the future, including the current day? Is there an unanswered question or something that can be a helpful subject of research?  The reader is left thinking and intrigued.  

For instance, a historical essay on new weapons in World War I can end thusly:

Those who fought in World I did manage to retain their humanity but the new weapons foreshadowed even more deadly battles and weapons in the future.

Again, the conclusion is a brief summary.  This final thought should be a sentence or two long.  

This section especially provides you some room to provide a bit of a personal touch.  A quotation or suggestion for further research can be added.  The reader is left wanting to learn more.  

Conclusion About Conclusions 

The conclusion of a historical essay ties everything together.  It reminds the reader what your argument is and why it matters.  A well-written conclusion is not just a cherry on top of the sundae.  It leaves the reader with a content feeling that they did not waste their time reading your essay.  They won’t be confused or bored.  They will be left content and intrigued for more.

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History Essay: Student Guidelines for an A+ Paper

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When students attend history classes, they need to write many historical essays through their courses. Basically, this article provides a guideline on how to write a history essay, teaching students and anyone passionate about a unique text what is most important. As such, guidelines begin by defining what is a history essay, its purpose, meaning, format, and prompts, showing an outline and template of such a paper and giving its practical example. Moroever, students can learn technical aspects of writing a historical essay, emphasizing 4 basic steps: preparation, stage setup, writing an initial draft, and wrap-up. Finally, a presented article provides 20 tips for writing a high-standard history essay, as well as what to include and what to avoid when writing such a paper.

General Aspects

Reading and writing are interrelated academic exercises because they develop each other. When students develop a habit of reading different types of essays , they induce their mental faculties of intellect, memory, reason, imagination, and intuition, which are vital in constructing logical academic papers, like essays, reports, and research papers. This guideline on how to write a history essay that offers critical insights into how students can create a high-standard text. Basically, an article begins by defining what is a history essay, its purpose, meaning, and format, a list of prompts students can choose from to write such a composition, some technical steps for creating a document, 20 tips for producing a high-quality paper, what to include, and what to avoid. Moroever, guidelines provide an outline and template for writing a historical essay and a practical example. Therefore, reading this guideline is helpful to students because it not only educates them about what is essential but also gives a practical example of how to start writing a history essay. In turn, to cite a history essay, people follow a citation style required (e.g., APA, MLA, Harvard, or Chicago/Turabian), ensuring all sources used are properly credited both in-text and on a reference page.

What Is a History Essay and Its Purpose

According to its definition, a history essay is a scholarly piece of writing that explores and analyzes historical events, figures, or periods with a primary aim of providing a deeper and complex understanding of past times. For example, the main purpose of writing a history essay is to engage with historical content critically, demonstrating an understanding of cause and effect, continuity and change, and broader implications of historical events (McCoy, 2023). Basically, this type of paper requires students to evaluate primary and secondary sources, critically examine evidence, and present an argument based on factual data. Further on, an entire writing encourages critical thinking, helping students to understand different perspectives, recognize historical patterns, and connect the past with the present (Schrag, 2021). By doing so, these compositions foster a complex comprehension of how historical events have shaped contemporary society, politics, and culture. Moreover, through a writing process, students develop their research, analytical, and writing skills, essential tools for any academic discipline (Collins & Stearns, 2020). In terms of pages and words, the length of a history essay depends on academic levels, course requirements, and assigned topics, while general writing guidelines are:

High School

  • Length: 1-4 pages
  • Word Count: 250-1,000 words
  • Comment: High school history essays are typically shorter and focus on developing basic analytical and writing skills, often based on textbook readings or simple research.
  • Length: 2-6 pages
  • Word Count : 500-1,500 words
  • Comment: College-level history essays require more in-depth research and analysis, often incorporating multiple sources, including primary and secondary materials.

University (Undergraduate)

  • Length: 4-8 pages
  • Word Count: 1,000-2,000 words
  • Comment: University-level history essays require students to engage deeply with historical material, construct well-supported arguments, and critically analyze academic sources.
  • Length: 6-10 pages
  • Word Count: 1,500-2,500 words
  • Comment: Master’s-level history essays involve more complex research, often requiring original analysis or interpretation of historical sources and a higher level of scholarly engagement.
  • Length: 8-12+ pages (or more for dissertation chapters)
  • Word Count: 2,000-3,000+ words (or more for dissertation chapters, while entire dissertations may exceed 80,000 words)
  • Comment: Ph.D. history essays are extensive, often forming parts of dissertations, requiring original research, critical thought, and a deep understanding of historiography.

How to Write a History Essay With Tips and Examples

SectionContent
TitleCovers a concise and informative title, reflecting a main topic or argument of a history essay.
IntroductionIntroduces a chosen topic and provides context.
Outlines an entire structure of a paper.
States a central thesis or main argument.
BackgroundProvides relevant historical background or context necessary to understand a presented topic.
Introduces key terms or concepts.
Body ParagraphsEach body paragraph must focus on a specific and single aspect of an argument.
Presents evidence from primary and secondary sources.
Analyzes the evidence and connects it to a thesis.
Includes in-text citations where necessary.
CounterargumentsAcknowledges opposing viewpoints or alternative interpretations of a historical event.
Refutes or discusses some limitations of these counterarguments.
ConclusionRestates a central thesis in light of the evidence discussed.
Summarizes key arguments made throughout a historical analysis.
Discusses a broader significance or implications of the findings.
List of ReferencesLists all sources, including primary and secondary ones, cited in a history essay.
Follows a specific citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Harvard, or Chicago/Turabian), depending on instructor’s guidelines.

Note: Some writing sections of a history essay can be added, deleted, or combined with each other, specific assignments, instructors, and institutional guidelines. For example, a standard research history essay format organizes a paper into sections, typically including an introduction with a thesis, body paragraphs presenting evidence and analysis, and a conclusion summarizing a central argument and its broader significance (Schrag, 2021). Basically, as a prompt for writing an essay in 500 words, history is a study of past events, societies, and civilizations, focusing on understanding how they shaped the present and continue to influence the future. Further on, an actual importance of a history essay lies in its ability to deepen people’s understanding of past events, analyze their impact on present times, and develop critical thinking skills by evaluating evidence and constructing well-supported arguments (McCoy, 2023). As such, a history research essay is a detailed written analysis that examines a historical topic or question, using primary and secondary sources to support a thesis and providing a critical interpretation of evidence. In turn, to start a research history essay, people begin with an engaging hook that introduces an assigned topic, provide necessary background information, and clearly state their thesis or main argument.

Defining Features

From a simple definition, a history essay is a text that gives a historical account of an issue or topic, such as colonialism, slavery, constitutionalism, human rights activism, or feminism. For example, as a prompt for organizing a paper in 300 words, a history essay is a written piece that analyzes and interprets past events, individuals, or periods using evidence from primary and secondary sources to support a thesis, demonstrating critical thinking and understanding of a unique historical context (Collins & Stearns, 2020). In writing, such a composition differs from other types of works, including analytical, compare and contrast, argumentative, cause and effect essays or reports and research papers. Further on, students write such types of essays when their instructors require them to examine an origin and evolution of an idea with current and future implications (Jones, 2016). Ideally, authors interrogate their ideas from different historical perspectives and credible sources to understand how some events began, how they have progressed, the people or entities involved in their developments, and how they affect society currently and may influence it in the future. Moreover, a history essay about a theory would mean that students need to mention a theorist behind it, its application over time, and any developments, such as incorporating new concepts by contemporary scholars (McCoy, 2023). In turn, some examples of sentence starters for beginning a history essay are:

  • Throughout a historical analysis, [event/period] has been regarded as a turning point in shaping a course of [specify].
  • An actual significance of [event/figure] in [time period] can be understood through its impact on [name sub-themes].
  • In [year/time period], [event] marked a pivotal moment in a whole history of [region/nation], as it [describe].
  • The roots of [historical event/conflict] can be traced back to [indicate time periods].
  • By examining key causes and consequences of [event], people can better understand how it influenced [answer what].
  • A hot debate surrounding [historical figure/event] centers on a question of whether [write a question].
  • A unique era of [period] was defined by a series of significant changes in [society/politics/economy], particularly [count them].
  • A [time period/event] represents a critical juncture in history, when [society/nation] underwent profound transformations in [describe fields].
  • Historians have long debated an impact of [event], with some of them arguing that it was caused by [write causes].
  • An entire legacy of [figure/event] continues to shape a modern understanding of [related topic], as it demonstrated [answer in what way].

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Typically, instructors specify essay topics for students in any writing assignment. However, sometimes, students may have to select a topic individually. For example, students should choose history essay topics that are easy to write about, meaning one can easily access materials helpful in creating them, such as books, articles, and videos (Schrag, 2021). In writing, the best way to accomplish this task is to read history course content and additional materials to develop and incubate ideas that become rich sources of topics. As such, the following topics are ideal for writing a good historical analysis because they suggest giving a historical account of an idea.

  • Racial Dynamics in the Harlem Renaissance: A Detailed Study
  • The Impact of the Printing Press on Renaissance Europe
  • Examination of Manifest Destiny’s Influence on Territorial Expansion
  • History of Cryptography and Its Modern Applications
  • Exploring Key Factors That Led to the American Revolutionary War
  • Discussing an Entire Development of the United States as a Republic
  • Examining Sentiments That Have Shaped an Abortion Debate
  • Explaining How the Republican and Democratic Parties Differ From a Philosophical Perspective
  • Discussing the Shift of U.S. Foreign Policy From Isolationism to Interventionism
  • Covering the Circumstances That Contributed to the End of the Cold War
  • Discussing Religion in the Aztec Era
  • Understanding a Role of City-States in Ancient Greece
  • Exploring Cultural Aspects of Immigration

Outline and Template

Title: Unique Topic

I. Introduction

  • Hook: Use a quote, historical fact, or question to capture a reader’s attention and trigger their interest to continue reading.
  • Brief background: Tell readers about an assigned topic by addressing issues central to this theme that help to contextualize a historical discussion.
  • Thesis statement: Write a short sentence to tell readers a history essay’s primary objective or ultimate agenda.

Use all body paragraphs with the following:

  • A topic sentence that introduces a single idea about an assigned historical theme that supports a central claim of an essay.
  • Incorporate evidence from reliable sources or primary sources that help to back up a single historical idea.
  • Comment on evidence cited and how it helps readers to understand an assigned topic.
  • End with a concluding sentence with a transition or bridge sentence that enhances a logical progression to a next paragraph or section.

Note: A specific number of body paragraphs depends on a volume of work, essay structure, college essay length, and assignment requirements. For example, to write a history essay quickly, people focus on outlining a clear thesis, organizing their main points with supporting evidence, and typing words and sentences efficiently by sticking to their structure, avoiding distractions, and reviewing only for major errors (Collins & Stearns, 2020). In principle, for writing a 1,000-word history essay (4 double spaced pages or 2 single spaced pages), there should be 3-5 body paragraphs, meaning 100-200 words per 1 body paragraph. In turn, first and last paragraphs (introduction and conclusion) of a history essay must be only 5-10% of a whole word count.

III. Conclusion

  • Restate a central thesis in different words.
  • Provide a summary of the main ideas discussed in topic sentences.
  • Give a final remark about an assigned topic that leaves readers with a lasting impression after reading a history essay.

List of References

  • Cite all primary and secondary sources in accordance with a required citation style, such as APA, MLA, Harvard, or Chicago/Turabian.

History Essay Example

Topic: Discussing the Shift of U.S. Foreign Policy From Isolationism to Interventionism

Introduction

American foreign policy is the most significant in world history for good and bad reasons. The early 20th century saw the United States adopt an isolationist foreign policy under the administration of President Herbert Hoover. The reason behind this stance was the prosperity and high standard of living the country experienced, making it meaningless to meddle in the affairs of Europe. However, the spread of fascism in Europe disturbed this illusion of safety and compelled the country to shift its foreign policy from isolationism to interventionism.

Body Paragraphs

Isolationism

The U.S. maintained isolationism in its foreign policy in the early 20th century because, while the nation was developing economically, some issues required internal politicking. As such, the country was increasingly insensitive to the threat of fascism in European democracies. Even if its allies were in trouble created by Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, the U.S. determined to avoid all conflicts at all costs (Kupchan, 2022). Ideally, American politicians saw no prospect of European troubles reaching their motherland if the country was not involved. Nonetheless, Americans feared that the instability in Europe could spread to their land. In turn, optimistically naïve politicians began initiatives to protect the country from the threat of war. For example, Frank B. Kellogg created the Kellogg-Briand Pact, which saw 15 countries agree to protect America from the threat of war (Kupchan, 2022). Consequently, the Nine Power Treaty affirmed China’s territorial integrity through the Open Door policy. However, Japan’s invasion of Manchuria in 1931 marked the end of the policy. Therefore, while the U.S. was keen to keep the world stable, events were moving too fast to remain aloof and optimistic (Kupchan, 2022). The takeover of free countries one by one by the Nazi war machine triggered panic among Americans who realized the folly of optimism in a world under crisis. Besides, politicians began clamoring for the country’s involvement in foreign affairs between 1930 and 1941, when the focus shifted from isolationism to interventionism.

Reasons for Moving to Interventionism

The 1940s were instrumental to U.S. foreign policy because the country finally realized that it could no longer be unconcerned about what was happening in Europe. For example, Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, the faces of fascism, were wreaking havoc in the region to create fear among Americans that this idea may reach their shores in no time (Nichols, 2022). As a country with a history with Britain, the U.S. could no longer assume that Britain’s fate was irrelevant. Therefore, support for Britain marked the first sign of the shift of U.S. foreign policy from isolationism to interventionism (Friedrichs & Tama, 2022). However, this shift was minimal because it was based on material support for Britain. It took the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941, for the U.S. to embrace interventionism fully as Americans anger propelled the country’s immediate revenge against Japan.

Adopting Interventionism

The administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt propelled the U.S. to full interventionism when it agreed to dispatch American troops to aid European allies in repelling fascist forces. For example, the president’s famous “Quarantine Speech” called for ending isolationism because it was dangerous to a free world. In 1940, the U.S. deployed 50 World War I destroyers to Britain, which offered eight defense bases in its colonies in South America and other regions strategic to a global conflict (Gordon, 2021). The U.S. Congress repealed the Neutrality Acts, officially ending isolationism as a foreign policy stance in favor of interventionism. The new perspective saw the country sell weapons to Britain on a ‘cash-and-carry’ basis to avoid the Nazi war machine attacking American ships (Kupchan, 2022). America’s dedication to the new policy compelled President Roosevelt to establish the lend-lease system that provided billions of dollars to Britain in American military equipment. The League of Nations gave the U.S. a stage to demonstrate its involvement in foreign affairs because its provisions affirmed people’s right to peace and security (Kupchan, 2022). As such, the Pearl Harbor attack gave the U.S. every reason to attack Japan.

The instability in Europe triggered the shift from an isolationist position to an interventionist stance in the U.S. foreign policy. As fascism spread in Europe and the Nazi war machine overran democracies in this part of the world, the U.S. feared that being aloof to these events was dangerous to its citizens and future. As such, politicians and Congress took measures to ensure the country’s involvement in foreign affairs, specifically to end the threat that Hitler and Mussolini presented to the peace and security of free nations.

Friedrichs, G. M., & Tama, J. (2022). Polarization and US foreign policy: Key debates and new findings. International Politics , 59 (5), 767–785. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41311-022-00381-0

Gordon, P. H. (2021). Losing the Long Game: The false promise of regime change in the Middle East . St. Martin’s.

Kupchan, C. (2022). Isolationism: A history of America’s efforts to shield itself from the world . Oxford University Press.

Nichols, C. M. (2022). Isolationism: A history of America’s efforts to shield itself from the world. Journal of American History , 109 (3), 643–644. https://doi.org/10.1093/jahist/jaac357

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Steps on How to Write a Great History Essay

Writing a well-organized history essay is a technical process involving four main steps: preparation, stage setup, writing a first draft of a paper, and wrap-up. For example, to write a history research essay, people start by analyzing an assigned topic, developing a clear thesis, organizing evidence to support their argument, and structuring a paper with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion while ensuring proper citations (McCoy, 2023). In writing, students should approach each step fully armed with essential details to make the paper meet quality expectations. Moreover, these details include a topic, background information, thesis statement, topic sentences, evidence, and transitions (Schrag, 2021). In principle, each writing element must appear in a right section. Therefore, the most crucial factor for students is knowing a basic structure of a history essay because it helps to shape their writing mindset.

Step 1: Preparation

a first step in writing a history essay is preparation, which involves several tasks. Basically, a first aspect is to define a specific topic if instructions are not provided. For example, the best approach to selecting a particular topic is using ideas one has generated and incubated over time (Collins & Stearns, 2020). In writing, various topics must reflect course content, meaning people should not define their themes without historical context. Further on, a second task is to organize ideas following a correct paper’s basic writing structure, meaning one must determine where each idea falls: introduction, body, or conclusion (Calder & Williams, 2021). In this respect, creating a well-organized essay outline is a third task in a preparation stage. Lastly, students should consider an intended audience and a history essay’s purpose, such as assessment or publication (Van Driel et al., 2022). Besides, these details determine if one should use simple or technical language in writing. As a result, preparation is where students undertake activities that make it easy to turn ideas into starting a history essay.

Step 2: Stage Setup

Setting a stage is the second step in writing a history essay. For example, students should research to find evidence to back up their claims about their topics (Collins & Stearns, 2020). When doing research, people should make notes of ideas, concepts, statistics, and interesting facts to incorporate into a historical paper. Further on, a next task is to match these details with an essay’s outline, meaning each writing element must appear in a right section (McCoy, 2023). Since evidence appears in a main section of a history essay, one should ensure all body paragraphs are sufficient for the ideas, concepts, data, and facts from the research process. In turn, the best way to collect evidence is to research credible materials, like government reports and primary resources, from key figures involved in a historical development of an idea (Schrag, 2021). As such, libraries and online archives are good places to search for evidence.

Step 3: Writing an Initial Draft

Writing an initial draft is a third step in writing a history essay. For example, to write a historical essay, people need to research an assigned topic, formulate a clear thesis, structure their argument with evidence from primary and secondary sources, and present their analysis in an organized format, concluding with a real significance of their findings (Collins & Stearns, 2020). As such, students should focus on organizing their ideas into writing an entire text. Further on, people can search for more information from secondary sources if some ideas are insufficient (McCoy, 2023). However, if there are too many ideas, one should delete some of them and their corresponding sources. In writing, a paper’s outline will change whether one adds or deletes some history course sources (Schrag, 2021). Moreover, students must ensure this change does not affect their ability to communicate their ideas logically. In essence, writing a first draft allows people to construct a paper following a history essay’s outline correctly.

Writing an Introduction Paragraph for a History Essay

When writing an introduction paragraph, students must know key expectations. For example, a first thing is to develop a hook, a statement with a quote, data, question, or other interesting fact that grabs a readers’ attention and triggers their interest to continue reading a history essay (Collins & Stearns, 2020). Further on, a next aspect is to provide a brief background to contextualize an assigned topic and make readers aware of some of the issues central to a main theme. Moreover, a next activity is to conclude a section with a clear historical thesis, which means a short sentence communicating an author’s claim and serving a paper’s primary purpose or main agenda (McCoy, 2023). When writing an introduction section, students should know their goal in history is to contextualize a central topic and state a claim demonstrating their thoughts.

Writing Body Paragraphs for a History Essay

A body part of a history essay is the most comprehensive section because it provides substantial details about a specific topic. For example, it is standard for students to construct several body paragraphs depending on a paper’s length and key ideas they wish to use to back up their claim (Schrag, 2021). In writing, a first detail in each body paragraph of such an essay is a topic sentence with an idea that links a section to a central thesis. Then, a following detail is evidence that establishes a single idea and demonstrates evidence-based writing (Collins & Stearns, 2020). In this case, students should use a sandwich rule in each body paragraph, meaning they must comment on evidence cited before proceeding to another historical idea. Furthermore, authors should provide a concluding sentence with a transition to allow a logical progression to a next paragraph or section (McCoy, 2023). Hence, students should understand that a body of a history essay is where they must convince a target audience that they know an assigned topic well to make a valid claim.

Writing a Conclusion Paragraph for a History Essay

A conclusion paragraph is the part of a history essay that marks an end of writing a paper. For example, students should restate a central thesis from an introduction part using different words, summarize main ideas discussed in body paragraphs, and give a final remark that leaves a lasting impression on an audience (Schrag, 2021). Moreover, they must refrain from introducing new ideas in this last section because it would be useless and affect a paper’s quality. In writing, this part of a history essay aims to reiterate key ideas covered in body paragraphs and provide authors’ final remarks about their understanding of a particular topic.

Step 4: Wrap-Up

Wrapping up a final paper isa last step in writing a history essay. Because a central focus is to perfect an initial draft, students should read and reread their compositions to identify and eliminate mistakes (Collins & Stearns, 2020). Therefore, principal writing activities that should define this step are revising a working essay to fix inconsistencies, such as ideas and sentences that do not make sense. Further on, another task is editing a history essay to correct grammatical mistakes like missing punctuation and formatting mistakes like incorrect citations (McCoy, 2023). Then, people need to confirm their outlines by ensuring all the essential writing elements of introduction, body, and conclusion parts are included. In turn, people should focus on a hook, background, and history thesis statement for an introduction; topic sentences, evidence, and transitions or bridge sentences for body paragraphs; and rewording and restating a central thesis statement, providing a summary of main ideas, and including a final remark for a conclusion (Pears & Shields, 2022). Lastly, one should confirm a correct formatting style (APA, MLA, Harvard, or Chicago/Turabian):

📕 APA Format

If a history essay adopts an APA formatting style, students should provide in-text citations and create a ‘References’ page at the end of a paper to list all the sources used. In turn, in-text citations have two formats:

  • A first one has an author’s surname and a source’s publication year in asentence and a page number at the end of a sentence. An example is:

According to Müller and Mildenberger (2021), college students prefer online classes over physical lecture halls because of convenience and flexibility (p. 6).

  • A second format is all the details at the end of a sentence. An example is:

Evidence shows convenience and flexibility make college students prefer online classes over physical lecture halls (Müller & Mildenberger, 2021, p. 6).

  • Reference entry example for this article should read:

Müller, C., & Mildenberger, T. (2021). Replacing classroom learning with online learning: A systematic review. Educational Research Review , 34 , 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2021.100394

📕 MLA Format

If a history essay follows an MLA formatting style, students should use in-text citations and create a ‘Works Cited’ page to capture all the sources. In this case, in-text citations come in two forms: some details in the sentence and all the details at the end of a sentence.

  • An example of a first form is:

Müller and Mildenberger argue that most students in higher learning institutions prefer online over physical learning because of convenience and flexibility (6).

  • A second form is:

Scholars suggest most students in colleges and universities prefer online classes over classroom attendance because of convenience and flexibility (Müller and Mildenberger 6).

  • Works Cited entry example for this article would read:

Müller, Claude, and Thoralf Mildenberger. “Replacing Classroom Learning With Online Learning: A Systematic Review.” Educational Research Review, vol. 34, 2021, pp. 1-16, doi:10.1016/j.edurev.2021.100394.

📕 Harvard Format

If students adopt a Harvard formatting style for writing a history essay, they should provide in-text citations and create a ‘References List’ at the end of a document.

  • A first format of in-text citations is having some details about a source in a sentence:

Müller and Mildenberger (2021) found that students in colleges and universities prefer to study online than attend physical classrooms (p. 6).

  • A second format captures all the details about a source at the end:

Research shows most college and university students prefer online classes over classroom learning (Müller & Mildenberger 2021, p. 6).

  • References List entry example for this source would read:

Müller, C & Mildenberger, T 2021, ‘Replacing classroom learning with online learning: A systematic review,’ Educational Research Review , vol. 34, pp. 1-16, DOI:10.1016/j.edurev.2021.100394.

📕 Chicago/Turabian Format

If a history essay follows a Chicago/Turabian formatting style, students should use in-text citations and create a ‘Bibliography’ page at the end of a document to list all the sources. In-text citations appear as footnotes and can have an author’s name in a sentence. In writing, a uniqueness of this formatting style is that the details in footnotes reflect all the information on a Bibliography page with minor alterations.

  • In-text citation within a text:

Today, people prefer online classes rather than attending physical places. 1

  • Example of a footnote for writing a history essay:

1. Claude Müller and Thoralf Mildenberger, “Replacing Classroom Learning With Online Learning: A Systematic Review.” Educational Research Review 34, (2021): p. 6, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2021.100394

  • Bibliography entry should read:

Müller, Claude, and Thoralf Mildenberger. “Replacing Classroom Learning With Online Learning: A Systematic Review.” Educational Research Review 34, (2021): pp. 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2021.100394

Since writing a history essay is a technical process that requires students to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of a basic outline and essential details, it is helpful to learn some tips. These recommendations include identifying a primary purpose of a historical assignment, defining a specific topic, formulating a clear thesis that states a claim, knowing where to get academic sources that provide evidence supporting a single claim, creating a correct outline and populating each section with ideas, ensuring an introduction paragraph has all essential details (a hook, background information, and thesis), understanding that all body paragraphs have topic sentences, evidence, and concluding sentences with a transition or a bridge sentence, and finalizing writing a history essay with a conclusion paragraph that summarizes a paper and does not introduce new ideas.

10 Things to Do:

  • defining a specific topic that requires one to provide a historical account of an idea or topic;
  • researching an assigned topic widely to generate ideas and collect evidence;
  • creating a well-organized outline that meets a basic structure of an introduction, body, and conclusion;
  • formulating body paragraphs with topic sentences, evidence, and transitions;
  • adopting a sandwich rule to demonstrate evidence-based history writing;
  • writing a historical essay without grammar or format mistakes;
  • providing a conclusion that concludes a paper;
  • following one format style (APA, MLA, Harvard, or Chicago/Turabian);
  • citing all evidence;
  • proofreading a history essay.

10 Things Not to Do:

  • including a long, complex history topic;
  • having an introduction that does not create a context;
  • providing an unclear thesis or stating a biased claim;
  • writing an extensive introduction;
  • adding too many headings and subheadings;
  • starting body paragraphs without topic sentences that communicate a single idea;
  • failing to incorporate evidence in a history essay;
  • using outdated evidence;
  • creating illogical sentences;
  • focusing on too many ideas in one paragraph.

What to Include

ElementDescription
Historical ContextBackground information that helps to explain unique settings, events, or figures under discussion.
Primary SourcesOriginal documents or artifacts from a specific time period being studied, providing firsthand evidence.
Secondary SourcesScholarly analyses and interpretations offering context and additional viewpoints.
Critical AnalysisExamination of evidence, showing how it supports a central argument and reveals deeper insights.
ChronologyA timeline or sequence of events to show how historical developments unfolded.
Cause and EffectAnalysis of some reasons behind events and their outcomes, connecting them to an argument.
Comparative AnalysisComparison of different events, periods, or figures to draw meaningful connections.
Historiographical DebateDiscussion of how different historians have interpreted the same event, period, or figure, highlighting changes in historical perspectives over time.
Bias in SourcesAn examination of potential biases in primary or secondary sources, considering how a given perspective of an author or creator may have influenced an entire content.
Ethical ConsiderationsAnalysis of moral or ethical issues raised by historical events, decisions, or figures and how they are viewed today.

Common Mistakes

  • Lack of a Clear Thesis: Failing to present a central argument or clear point makes a history essay directionless.
  • Insufficient Evidence: Relying on generalizations without supporting evidence weakens a central argument.
  • Ignoring a Historical Context: Not providing background or context limits an entire understanding of events or figures.
  • Overreliance on Secondary Sources: Relying too heavily on interpretations from other historians without engaging primary sources limits originality in writing.
  • Plagiarism or Poor Citation: Not properly crediting sources can lead to accusations of plagiarism in writing and reduce a history essay’s credibility.
  • Misinterpreting Historical Events: Misrepresenting or simplifying complex events distorts an entire analysis.
  • Writing in a Present Tense: Using a present tense to describe past events creates confusion, while a past tense should be followed.
  • Poor Structure and Organization: A disorganized composition can make arguments unclear and hard to follow.
  • Overgeneralizing or Making Assumptions: Assuming certain facts without evidence or making broad generalizations weakens an argument.
  • Neglecting Counterarguments: Failing to address opposing views or alternative perspectives makes a history essay one-sided in writing.

A history essay explains and analyzes historical events, requiring writing a clear thesis, strong evidence, and critical analysis. Basically, this type of paper should include primary and secondary sources, focus on historical context, and maintain a logical argument. Further on, preparation involves defining a topic, gathering evidence, and structuring a history essay. Moreover, an entire writing involves drafting an introduction, body, and conclusion while ensuring clarity and coherence. Essentially, proofreading is key to eliminating errors. As a result, effective writing provides a balanced argument, consider different perspectives, and follow academic citation standards, such as APA, MLA, Harvard, or Chicago/Turabian. In turn, key writing takeaways include:

  • Define a short and clear history topic.
  • Use direct quotes or paraphrase information to defend a central claim in a thesis statement.
  • Give a historical account of a chosen topic and not an analysis of events.
  • Use strong topic sentences that express ideas central to a historical thesis.
  • Incorporate credible sources, such as speeches, research articles, and government records, to cite evidence.
  • Correctly use a proper citation format (APA, MLA, Harvard, or Chicago/Turabian).
  • Read and reread a final draft of a history essay to eliminate all grammar and format mistakes.
  • Proofread a final paper to ensure it is logical.

Calder, L., & Williams, R. (2021). Must history students write history essays? Journal of American History , 107 (4), 926–941. https://doi.org/10.1093/jahist/jaaa464

Collins, M., & Stearns, P. N. (2020). Why study history? Cambridge University Press.

Jones, A. N. (2016). A (theory and pedagogy) essay on the (history) essay. Arts and Humanities in Higher Education , 17 (2), 222–240. https://doi.org/10.1177/1474022216645260

McCoy, F. N. (2023). Researching and writing in history: A practical handbook for students . University of California Press.

Pears, R., & Shields, G. J. (2022). Cite them right: The essential referencing guide (12th ed.). A&C Black.

Schrag, Z. M. (2021). The Princeton guide to historical research . Princeton University Press.

Van Driel, J., van Drie, J., & van Boxtel, C. (2022). Writing about historical significance: The effects of a reading-to-write instruction. International Journal of Educational Research , 112 , 11–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2022.101924

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historical essay conclusion example

Writing a history essay

history essay

An essay is a piece of sustained writing in response to a question, topic or issue. Essays are commonly used for assessing and evaluating student progress in history. History essays test a range of skills including historical understanding, interpretation and analysis, planning, research and writing.

To write an effective essay, students should examine the question, understand its focus and requirements, acquire information and evidence through research, then construct a clear and well-organised response. Writing a good history essay should be rigorous and challenging, even for stronger students. As with other skills, essay writing develops and improves over time. Each essay you complete helps you become more competent and confident in exercising these skills.

Study the question

This is an obvious tip but one sadly neglected by some students. The first step to writing a good essay, whatever the subject or topic, is to give plenty of thought to the question.

An essay question will set some kind of task or challenge. It might ask you to explain the causes and/or effects of a particular event or situation. It might ask if you agree or disagree with a statement. It might ask you to describe and analyse the causes and/or effects of a particular action or event. Or it might ask you to evaluate the relative significance of a person, group or event.

You should begin by reading the essay question several times. Underline, highlight or annotate keywords or terms in the text of the question. Think about what it requires you to do. Who or what does it want you to concentrate on? Does it state or imply a particular timeframe? What problem or issue does it want you to address?

Begin with a plan

Every essay should begin with a written plan. Start constructing a plan as soon as you have received your essay question and given it some thought.

Prepare for research by brainstorming and jotting down your thoughts and ideas. What are your initial responses or thoughts about the question? What topics, events, people or issues are connected with the question? Do any additional questions or issues flow from the question? What topics or events do you need to learn more about? What historians or sources might be useful?

If you encounter a mental ‘brick wall’ or are uncertain about how to approach the question, don’t hesitate to discuss it with someone else. Consult your teacher, a capable classmate or someone you trust. Bear in mind too that once you start researching, your plan may change as you locate new information.

Start researching

After studying the question and developing an initial plan, start to gather information and evidence.

Most will start by reading an overview of the topic or issue, usually in some reliable secondary sources. This will refresh or build your existing understanding of the topic and provide a basis for further questions or investigation.

Your research should take shape from here, guided by the essay question and your own planning. Identify terms or concepts you do not know and find out what they mean. As you locate information, ask yourself if it is relevant or useful for addressing the question. Be creative with your research, looking in a variety of places.

If you have difficulty locating information, seek advice from your teacher or someone you trust.

Develop a contention

All good history essays have a clear and strong contention. A contention is the main idea or argument of your essay. It serves both as an answer to the question and the focal point of your writing.

Ideally, you should be able to express your contention as a single sentence. For example, the following contention might form the basis of an essay question on the rise of the Nazis:

Q. Why did the Nazi Party win 37 per cent of the vote in July 1932? A. The Nazi Party’s electoral success of 1932 was a result of economic suffering caused by the Great Depression, public dissatisfaction with the Weimar Republic’s democratic political system and mainstream parties, and Nazi propaganda that promised a return to traditional social, political and economic values.

An essay using this contention would then go on to explain and justify these statements in greater detail. It will also support the contention with argument and evidence.

At some point in your research, you should begin thinking about a contention for your essay. Remember, you should be able to express it briefly as if addressing the essay question in a single sentence, or summing up in a debate.

Try to frame your contention so that is strong, authoritative and convincing. It should sound like the voice of someone well informed about the subject and confident about their answer.

Plan an essay structure

essay structure

Once most of your research is complete and you have a strong contention, start jotting down a possible essay structure. This need not be complicated, a few lines or dot points is ample.

Every essay must have an introduction, a body of several paragraphs and a conclusion. Your paragraphs should be well organised and follow a logical sequence.

You can organise paragraphs in two ways: chronologically (covering events or topics in the order they occurred) or thematically (covering events or topics based on their relevance or significance). Every paragraph should be clearly signposted in the topic sentence.

Once you have finalised a plan for your essay, commence your draft.

Write a compelling introduction

Many consider the introduction to be the most important part of an essay. It is important for several reasons. It is the reader’s first experience of your essay. It is where you first address the question and express your contention. It is also where you lay out or ‘signpost’ the direction your essay will take.

Aim for an introduction that is clear, confident and punchy. Get straight to the point – do not waste time with a rambling or storytelling introduction.

Start by providing a little context, then address the question, articulate your contention and indicate what direction your essay will take.

Write fully formed paragraphs

Many history students fall into the trap of writing short paragraphs, sometimes containing as little as one or two sentences. A good history essay contains paragraphs that are themselves ‘mini-essays’, usually between 100-200 words each.

A paragraph should focus on one topic or issue only – but it should contain a thorough exploration of that topic or issue.

A good paragraph will begin with an effective opening sentence, sometimes called a topic sentence or signposting sentence. This sentence introduces the paragraph topic and briefly explains its significance to the question and your contention. Good paragraphs also contain thorough explanations, some analysis and evidence, and perhaps a quotation or two.

Finish with an effective conclusion

The conclusion is the final paragraph of your essay. A good conclusion should do two things. First, it should reiterate or restate the contention of your essay. Second, it should close off your essay, ideally with a polished ending that is not abrupt or awkward.

One effective way to do this is with a brief summary of ‘what happened next’. For example, an essay discussing Hitler’s rise to power in 1933 might close with a couple of sentences about how he consolidated and strengthened his power in 1934-35.

Your conclusion need not be as long or as developed as your body paragraphs. You should avoid introducing new information or evidence in the conclusion.

Reference and cite your sources

A history essay is only likely to succeed if it is appropriately referenced. Your essay should support its information, ideas and arguments with citations or references to reliable sources.

Referencing not only acknowledges the work of others, but it also gives authority to your writing and provides the teacher or assessor with an insight into your research. More information on referencing a piece of history writing can be found here .

Proofread, edit and seek feedback

Every essay should be proofread, edited and, if necessary, re-drafted before being submitted for assessment. Essays should ideally be completed well before their due date then put aside for a day or two before proofreading.

When proofreading, look first for spelling and grammatical errors, typographical mistakes, incorrect dates or other errors of fact.

Think then about how you can improve the clarity, tone and structure of your essay. Does your essay follow a logical structure or sequence? Is the signposting in your essay clear and effective? Are some sentences too long or ‘rambling’? Do you repeat yourself? Do paragraphs need to be expanded, fine-tuned or strengthened with more evidence?

Read your essay aloud, either to yourself or another person. Seek feedback and advice from a good writer or someone you trust (they need not have expertise in history, only in effective writing).

Some general tips on writing

  • Always write in the third person . Never refer to yourself personally, using phrases like “I think…” or “It is my contention…”. Good history essays should adopt the perspective of an informed and objective third party. They should sound rational and factual – not like an individual expressing their opinion.
  • Always write in the past tense . An obvious tip for a history essay is to write in the past tense. Always be careful about your use of tense. Watch out for mixed tenses when proofreading your work. One exception to the rule about past tense is when writing about the work of modern historians (for example, “Kershaw writes…” sounds better than “Kershaw wrote…” or “Kershaw has written…”).
  • Avoid generalisations . Generalisation is a problem in all essays but it is particularly common in history essays. Generalisation occurs when you form general conclusions from one or more specific examples. In history, this most commonly occurs when students study the experiences of a particular group, then assume their experiences applied to a much larger group – for example, “All the peasants were outraged”, “Women rallied to oppose conscription” or “Germans supported the Nazi Party”. Both history and human society, however, are never this clear cut or simple. Always try to avoid generalisation and be on the lookout for generalised statements when proofreading.
  • Write short, sharp and punchy . Good writers vary their sentence length but as a rule of thumb, most of your sentences should be short and punchy. The longer a sentence becomes, the greater the risk of it becoming long-winded or confusing. Long sentences can easily become disjointed, confused or rambling. Try not to overuse long sentences and pay close attention to sentence length when proofreading.
  • Write in an active voice . In history writing, the active voice is preferable to the passive voice. In the active voice, the subject completes the action (e.g. “Hitler [the subject] initiated the Beer Hall putsch [the action] to seize control of the Bavarian government”). In the passive voice, the action is completed by the subject (“The Beer Hall putsch [the action] was initiated by Hitler [the subject] to seize control of the Bavarian government”). The active voice also helps prevent sentences from becoming long, wordy and unclear.

You may also find our page on writing for history useful.

Citation information Title : ‘Writing a history essay’ Authors : Jennifer Llewellyn, Steve Thompson Publisher : Alpha History URL : https://alphahistory.com/writing-a-history-essay/ Date published : April 13, 2020 Date updated : December 20, 2022 Date accessed : Today’s date Copyright : The content on this page may not be republished without our express permission. For more information on usage, please refer to our Terms of Use.

historical essay conclusion example

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Home » Student Resources » Historical Essay: Conclusion

Historical Essay: Conclusion

The conclusion of your essay sums up everything and refers back to your essay’s thesis. It is here that you “convince” the reader, and possibly take the reader even further!

  • Social Sciences

historical essay conclusion example

Parting words: Your conclusion has parts too!

Use the  Conclusion Parts and Punches!  tool, to organize your final ideas in a way that’ll hit things home!

Start your conclusion with a clear sentence that specifically restates your thesis. Perhaps you won’t use exactly the same words, but even if you repeat your thesis exactly that is better than not referring to it at all. Your essay is about your thesis, so make sure your reader remembers that, especially for longer papers.The rest of your conclusion should refer to the main sections in the body of the essay, the sections that illustrate why your thesis argument is valid or important “in the greater scheme of things”. Remember, your thesis and essay has “value” only because you have established its value in all that you have gathered, interpreted and written down. So, look back on your essay and refer to those key points again. Reflect on why they are important.

After summarizing those key and relevant points, end your essay with a positive and forceful “And so” or “Therefore” type of statement. It should feel like you are concluding things well and with confidence, after having worked hard to support your ideas.

Open vs. Closed

There seems to be two different schools of thought about what a conclusion should be. Some insist that an essay “should never introduce new ideas or things not discussed in the body of the paper”. But others insist that a good essay should “suggest avenues for further research, or raise a bigger question”. The first idea stresses the way an essay wraps things up, or closes things off. The second notion is that of an “open essay” and one that brings in new or original thoughts for the first time. It might even ask a new question!

You should probably ask your teacher what he/she expects in the conclusion, and specifically bring up the idea of an open conclusion. You should also carefully look at any evaluation grids you are given, on an exam for example. If the conclusion is marked heavily and an open-ended conclusion with new information is expected, you won’t get full marks if you just summarize and restate your arguments.

Strategies for ending your essay

This section suggests further reading for more advanced students, but every student should at least know there are many strategies for writing conclusions.

One good website that describes some of these strategies is the Indian University Writing Tutorials service at  http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/conclusions.shtml . The site effectively describes 5 interesting strategies you might use. For example you could:

  • answer the question, “So what?”
  • connect it to a larger theme from the course
  • complicate your claim with an outside source
  • pose a new research question as a result of your findings
  • address the limitations of your argument

Some of these strategies are more “open” than others, but all of them demonstrate how your conclusion can be a place where your essay can really shine.

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Historical Essay: The Body

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Historical Essay: Introduction

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Historical Essay: Thesis Statement

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Historical Essay: What is it?

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Thesis Statements

What is a thesis statement.

Your thesis statement is one of the most important parts of your paper.  It expresses your main argument succinctly and explains why your argument is historically significant.  Think of your thesis as a promise you make to your reader about what your paper will argue.  Then, spend the rest of your paper–each body paragraph–fulfilling that promise.

Your thesis should be between one and three sentences long and is placed at the end of your introduction.  Just because the thesis comes towards the beginning of your paper does not mean you can write it first and then forget about it.  View your thesis as a work in progress while you write your paper.  Once you are satisfied with the overall argument your paper makes, go back to your thesis and see if it captures what you have argued.  If it does not, then revise it.  Crafting a good thesis is one of the most challenging parts of the writing process, so do not expect to perfect it on the first few tries.  Successful writers revise their thesis statements again and again.

A successful thesis statement:

  • makes an historical argument
  • takes a position that requires defending
  • is historically specific
  • is focused and precise
  • answers the question, “so what?”

How to write a thesis statement:

Suppose you are taking an early American history class and your professor has distributed the following essay prompt:

“Historians have debated the American Revolution’s effect on women.  Some argue that the Revolution had a positive effect because it increased women’s authority in the family.  Others argue that it had a negative effect because it excluded women from politics.  Still others argue that the Revolution changed very little for women, as they remained ensconced in the home.  Write a paper in which you pose your own answer to the question of whether the American Revolution had a positive, negative, or limited effect on women.”

Using this prompt, we will look at both weak and strong thesis statements to see how successful thesis statements work.

While this thesis does take a position, it is problematic because it simply restates the prompt.  It needs to be more specific about how  the Revolution had a limited effect on women and  why it mattered that women remained in the home.

Revised Thesis:  The Revolution wrought little political change in the lives of women because they did not gain the right to vote or run for office.  Instead, women remained firmly in the home, just as they had before the war, making their day-to-day lives look much the same.

This revision is an improvement over the first attempt because it states what standards the writer is using to measure change (the right to vote and run for office) and it shows why women remaining in the home serves as evidence of limited change (because their day-to-day lives looked the same before and after the war).  However, it still relies too heavily on the information given in the prompt, simply saying that women remained in the home.  It needs to make an argument about some element of the war’s limited effect on women.  This thesis requires further revision.

Strong Thesis: While the Revolution presented women unprecedented opportunities to participate in protest movements and manage their family’s farms and businesses, it ultimately did not offer lasting political change, excluding women from the right to vote and serve in office.

Few would argue with the idea that war brings upheaval.  Your thesis needs to be debatable:  it needs to make a claim against which someone could argue.  Your job throughout the paper is to provide evidence in support of your own case.  Here is a revised version:

Strong Thesis: The Revolution caused particular upheaval in the lives of women.  With men away at war, women took on full responsibility for running households, farms, and businesses.  As a result of their increased involvement during the war, many women were reluctant to give up their new-found responsibilities after the fighting ended.

Sexism is a vague word that can mean different things in different times and places.  In order to answer the question and make a compelling argument, this thesis needs to explain exactly what  attitudes toward women were in early America, and  how those attitudes negatively affected women in the Revolutionary period.

Strong Thesis: The Revolution had a negative impact on women because of the belief that women lacked the rational faculties of men. In a nation that was to be guided by reasonable republican citizens, women were imagined to have no place in politics and were thus firmly relegated to the home.

This thesis addresses too large of a topic for an undergraduate paper.  The terms “social,” “political,” and “economic” are too broad and vague for the writer to analyze them thoroughly in a limited number of pages.  The thesis might focus on one of those concepts, or it might narrow the emphasis to some specific features of social, political, and economic change.

Strong Thesis: The Revolution paved the way for important political changes for women.  As “Republican Mothers,” women contributed to the polity by raising future citizens and nurturing virtuous husbands.  Consequently, women played a far more important role in the new nation’s politics than they had under British rule.

This thesis is off to a strong start, but it needs to go one step further by telling the reader why changes in these three areas mattered.  How did the lives of women improve because of developments in education, law, and economics?  What were women able to do with these advantages?  Obviously the rest of the paper will answer these questions, but the thesis statement needs to give some indication of why these particular changes mattered.

Strong Thesis: The Revolution had a positive impact on women because it ushered in improvements in female education, legal standing, and economic opportunity.  Progress in these three areas gave women the tools they needed to carve out lives beyond the home, laying the foundation for the cohesive feminist movement that would emerge in the mid-nineteenth century.

Thesis Checklist

When revising your thesis, check it against the following guidelines:

  • Does my thesis make an historical argument?
  • Does my thesis take a position that requires defending?
  • Is my thesis historically specific?
  • Is my thesis focused and precise?
  • Does my thesis answer the question, “so what?”

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AP US History Long Essay Example

AP U.S. History Long Essay Example

The second part of Section II of the AP exam contains three long essay questions—you must respond to one. The AP U.S. History long essay question assesses your ability to apply knowledge of history in a complex, analytical manner. In other words, you are expected to treat history and historical questions as a historian would.

This process is called historiography—the skills and strategies historians use to analyze and interpret historical evidence to reach a conclusion. Thus, when writing an effective essay, you must be able to write a strong, clearly developed thesis and supply a substantial amount of relevant evidence to support your thesis and develop a complex argument.

The College Board’s characteristics of a high-scoring long essay question response are listed below. Note that the requirements are very similar to those of the DBQ; the primary difference is that any requirements related to use of the documents are removed from the scoring requirements for the long essay question.

[ RELATED: Reading Strategies for AP US History Exam ]

Long Answer Sample Question

Evaluate the extent to which the migration of European colonists and the resulting encounters with American Indians affected social patterns in the period from 1495 to 1650.

Step 1: Analyze the Prompt

As you choose which question you will answer, begin thinking about what your thesis will entail and how your essay will demonstrate a complex understanding. The notes of a sample high-scoring writer are below.

Thesis (with complex understanding): Spanish, French, and British each used territory differently; result: distinct social patterns

This writer claims that three different countries’ approaches to settling territories resulted in different types of social development, but other types of thesis claims are possible. For instance, the thesis could make a single claim about overall social patterns (such as “Europeans’ economic goals in the New World and their attitudes of superiority over American Indians resulted in exploitative and hierarchical social structures”) or focus on only one or two European nations.

Step 2: Plan Your Response

  • Context : motives for European exploration: new technology, navigation techniques, and trade routes
  • Thesis   (with complex understanding ):  Spanish, French, and British each used territory differently; result: distinct social patterns
  • goals: wealth and spread Catholicism
  • methods: mining, large-scale agriculture, encomienda, disease/weapons, missions
  • results: forced assimilation, social structure
  • goal: fur trade
  • method: mutually profitable trade relationships
  • result: alliances
  • goals: permanent settlements, Jamestown, religious freedom (New England)
  • methods: occupying more land for farming, smallpox, Metacom’s War
  • results: deaths of indigenous populations
  • ¶ conclusion: where Europeans sought permanent settlements or forced labor, resulted in American Indian population decline, upheaval, and threats to tradition

Step 3: Action! Write Your Response & Step 4: Proofread

See the following high-scoring response, and be sure to read the rubric to help you identify what makes this response effective. Think about what features you can incorporate into your own free- response answers.

Sample High-Scoring Response

The Spanish had two major goals: to gain wealth and to spread Catholicism to the native populations. Realizing the potential to mine precious metals and profit from large-scale agriculture, the Spanish forced American Indians into labor, such as through the encomienda system. Violence and deception were often used to subdue the indigenous populations, aided by the technological superiority of European weapons and the spread of devastating diseases. Although some Spanish came as missionaries with the goal of converting American Indians to Christianity and often protested the abusive treatment of the American Indians, even missions sometimes essentially forced labor and coerced assimilation to Spanish culture. In the long term, a hierarchical social structure developed in the Spanish colonies in which the Spanish-born and their descendants (peninsulares and creoles) dominated those of mixed background (mestizos and mulattos) and especially those of pure African or American Indian heritage. Overall, millions perished between disease and mistreatment, devastatingly weakening traditional cultures but enriching the Spanish.

The French differed from the Spanish in their relationship with the indigenous populations. Using the St. Lawrence River for transportation and trade, the French profited from trading fur pelts, particularly beaver, with the American Indians, and then sending the pelts to Europe. These traders profited from the knowledge and goods of the American Indian populations who lived there, and certainly desired to develop mutually profitable relationships with them. Overall, this more cooperative relationship helped preserve American Indian cultures and led to alliances between the French and different American Indian nations. These alliances benefited the French in later wars with the British.

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History Essay Examples

Cathy A.

Top History Essay Examples To Get Inspired By

Published on: May 4, 2023

Last updated on: Jan 31, 2024

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History essays are a crucial component of many academic programs, helping students to develop their critical thinking, research, and writing skills. 

However, writing a great history essay is not always easy, especially when you are struggling to find the right approach. This is where history essay examples come in handy. 

By reading and examining samples of successful history essays, you can gain inspiration, learn new ways to approach your topic. Moreover, you can develop a better understanding of what makes a great history essay.

In this blog, you will find a range of history essay examples that showcase the best practices in history essay writing. 

Read on to find useful examples.

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Sample History Essays

Explore our collection of excellent history paper examples about various topics. Download the pdf examples for free and read to get inspiration for your own essay.

History Essay Samples for Middle School

The Impact of Ancient Civilizations on Modern Society

The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire

The Causes and Consequences of the American Revolution

History Writing Samples for High School Students

The Impact of the Industrial Revolution on Society

Grade 10 History Essay Example: World War 1 Causes and Effects

Grade 12 History Essay Example: The Impact of Technology on World War II

Ancient History Essay Examples

The Societal and Political Structures of the Maya Civilization

The Role of Phoenicians in the Development of Ancient Mediterranean World

The Contributions of the Indus Civilization

Medieval History Essay Examples

The Crusades Motivations and Consequences

The Beginning of Islamic Golden Age

The Black Death

Modern History Essay Examples

The Suez Crisis and the End of British Dominance

The Rise of China as an Economic Powerhouse

World History Essay Examples

The Role of the Silk Road in Shaping Global Trade and Culture

The Rise and Fall of the Ottoman Empire

The Legacy of Ancient Greek Philosophy and Thought

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American History Essay Examples

The Civil Rights Movement and its Impact on American Society

The American Civil War and its Aftermath

The Role of Women in American Society Throughout History

African History Essay Examples

The Impact of Colonialism on African Societies

The Rise and Fall of the Mali Empire

European History Essay Examples

The Protestant Reformation and the Rise of Protestantism in Europe

The French Revolution and its Impact on European Politics and Society

The Cold War and the Division of Europe

Argumentative History Essay Examples

Was the US Civil War Primarily About Slavery or States

The Effects of British Colonization on Colonies

Art History Essay Examples 

The Influence of Greek and Roman Art on Neoclassicism

The Depiction of Women in Art Throughout History

The Role of Art in the Propaganda of Fascist Regimes

How to Use History Essay Examples

History essay examples are a valuable tool for students looking for inspiration and guidance on how to approach their own essays. 

By analyzing successful essays, you can learn effective writing techniques that can be expected in a high-quality history essay. 

Here are some tips that will help you take full advantage of the samples above.

Tips for Effectively Using History Essay Examples

  • Analyze the Structure:

Pay close attention to how the essay is organized, including the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Look for how the author transitions between paragraphs and the use of evidence to support their argument.

  • Study the Thesis Statement:

The thesis statement is the backbone of any successful history essay. Analyze how the author crafted their thesis statement, and consider how you can apply this to your own writing.

  • Take Note of the Evidence: 

Effective history essays rely on using strong evidence to support their arguments. Take note of the sources and types of evidence used in the essay. Consider how you can apply similar evidence to support your own arguments.

  • Pay Attention to the Formatting and Other Academic Formalities:

The sample essays also demonstrate how you can incorporate academic formalities and standards while keeping the essay engaging. See how these essays fulfill academic standards and try to follow them in your own writing.

  • Practice Writing:

While analyzing history essay examples can be helpful, it is important to also practice writing your own essays. Use the examples as inspiration, but try to craft your own unique approach to your topic. 

History essays are an essential aspect of learning and understanding the past. By using history essay examples, students can gain inspiration on how to develop their history essays effectively. 

Furthermore, following the tips outlined in this blog, students can effectively analyze these essay samples and learn from them. 

However, writing a history essay can still be challenging. 

Looking for an online essay writing service that specializes in history essays? Look no further!

Our history essay writing service is your go-to source for well-researched and expertly crafted papers.

And for an extra edge in your academic journey, explore our AI essay writing tool . Make history with your grades by choosing our online essay writing service and harnessing the potential of our AI essay writing tool.

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historical essay conclusion example

How to Write a History Essay?

04 August, 2020

10 minutes read

Author:  Tomas White

There are so many types of essays. It can be hard to know where to start. History papers aren’t just limited to history classes. These tasks can be assigned to examine any important historical event or a person. While they’re more common in history classes, you can find this type of assignment in sociology or political science course syllabus, or just get a history essay task for your scholarship. This is Handmadewriting History Essay Guide - let's start!

History Essay

Purpose  of a History Essay

Wondering how to write a history essay? First of all, it helps to understand its purpose. Secondly, this essay aims to examine the influences that lead to a historical event. Thirdly, it can explore the importance of an individual’s impact on history.

However, the goal isn’t to stay in the past. Specifically, a well-written history essay should discuss the relevance of the event or person to the “now”. After finishing this essay, a reader should have a fuller understanding of the lasting impact of an event or individual.

Need basic essay guidance? Find out what is an essay with this 101 essay guide: What is an Essay?

Elements for Success

Indeed, understanding how to write a history essay is crucial in creating a successful paper. Notably, these essays should never only outline successful historic events or list an individual’s achievements. Instead, they should focus on examining questions beginning with what , how , and why . Here’s a pro tip in how to write a history essay: brainstorm questions. Once you’ve got questions, you have an excellent starting point.

Preparing to Write

What? Who? Why?

Evidently, a typical history essay format requires the writer to provide background on the event or person, examine major influences, and discuss the importance of the forces both then and now. In addition, when preparing to write, it’s helpful to organize the information you need to research into questions. For example:

  • Who were the major contributors to this event?
  • Who opposed or fought against this event?
  • Who gained or lost from this event?
  • Who benefits from this event today?
  • What factors led up to this event?
  • What changes occurred because of this event?
  • What lasting impacts occurred locally, nationally, globally due to this event?
  • What lessons (if any) were learned?
  • Why did this event occur?
  • Why did certain populations support it?
  • Why did certain populations oppose it?

These questions exist as samples. Therefore, generate questions specific to your topic. Once you have a list of questions, it’s time to evaluate them.

Evaluating the Question

Assess the impact

Seasoned writers approach writing history by examining the historic event or individual. Specifically, the goal is to assess the impact then and now. Accordingly, the writer needs to evaluate the importance of the main essay guiding the paper. For example, if the essay’s topic is the rise of American prohibition, a proper question may be “How did societal factors influence the rise of American prohibition during the 1920s? ”

This question is open-ended since it allows for insightful analysis, and limits the research to societal factors. Additionally, work to identify key terms in the question. In the example, key terms would be “societal factors” and “prohibition”.

Summarizing the Argument

The argument should answer the question. Use the thesis statement to clarify the argument and outline how you plan to make your case. In other words. the thesis should be sharp, clear, and multi-faceted. Consider the following tips when summarizing the case:

  • The thesis should be a single sentence
  • It should include a concise argument and a roadmap
  • It’s always okay to revise the thesis as the paper develops
  • Conduct a bit of research to ensure you have enough support for the ideas within the paper

Outlining a History Essay Plan

Outlining a Plan

Once you’ve refined your argument, it’s time to outline. Notably, many skip this step to regret it then. Nonetheless, the outline is a map that shows where you need to arrive historically and when. Specifically, taking the time to plan, placing the strongest argument last, and identifying your sources of research is a good use of time. When you’re ready to outline, do the following:

  • Consider the necessary background the reader should know in the introduction paragraph
  • Define any important terms and vocabulary
  • Determine which ideas will need the cited support
  • Identify how each idea supports the main argument
  • Brainstorm key points to review in the conclusion

Gathering Sources

As a rule, history essays require both primary and secondary sources . Primary resources are those that were created during the historical period being analyzed. Secondary resources are those created by historians and scholars about the topic. It’s a good idea to know if the professor requires a specific number of sources, and what kind he or she prefers. Specifically, most tutors prefer primary over secondary sources.

Where to find sources? Great question! Check out bibliographies included in required class readings. In addition, ask a campus Librarian. Peruse online journal databases; In addition, most colleges provide students with free access. When in doubt, make an appointment and ask the professor for guidance.

Writing the Essay

Writing the Essay

Now that you have prepared your questions, ideas, and arguments; composed the outline ; and gathered sources – it’s time to write your first draft. In particular, each section of your history essay must serve its purpose. Here is what you should include in essay paragraphs.

Introduction Paragraph

Unsure of how to start a history essay? Well, like most essays, the introduction should include an attention-getter (or hook):

  • Relevant fact or statistic
  • Rhetorical Question
  • Interesting quotation
  • Application anecdote if appropriate

Once you’ve captured the reader’s interest, introduce the topic. Similarly, present critical historic context. Namely, it is necessary to introduce any key individuals or events that will be discussed later in the essay. At last, end with a strong thesis which acts as a transition to the first argument.

Body Paragraphs

Indeed, each body paragraph should offer a single idea to support the argument. Then, after writing a strong topic sentence, the topic should be supported with correctly cited research. Consequently, a typical body paragraph is arranged as follows:

  • Topic sentence linking to the thesis
  • Background of the topic
  • Research quotation or paraphrase #1
  • Explanation and analysis of research
  • Research quotation or paraphrase #2
  • Transition to the next paragraph

Equally, the point of body paragraphs is to build the argument. Hence, present the weakest support first and end with the strongest. Admittedly, doing so leaves the reader with the best possible evidence.

Conclusion Paragraph

You’re almost there! Eventually, conclusion paragraphs should review the most important points in the paper. In them, you should prove that you’ve supported the argument proposed in the thesis. When writing a conclusion paragraph keep these tips in mind:

  • Keep it simple
  • Avoid introducing new information
  • Review major points
  • Discuss the relevance to today
Problems with writing Your History essay ? Try our Essay Writer Service!

history essay

Proofreading Your Essay

Once the draft is ready and polished, it’s time to proceed to final editing. What does this process imply? Specifically, it’s about removing impurities and making the essay look just perfect. Here’s what you need to do to improve the quality of your paper:

  • Double check the content. In the first place, it’s recommended to get rid of long sentences, correct vague words. Also, make sure that all your paragrahps contain accurate sentences with transparent meaning. 
  • Pay attention to style. To make the process of digesting your essay easier, focus on crafting a paper with readable style, the one that is known to readers. Above all, the main mission here is to facilitate the perception of your essay. So, don’t forget about style accuracy.
  • Practice reading the essay. Of course, the best practice before passing the paper is to read it out loud. Hence, this exercise will help you notice fragments that require rewriting or a complete removal.  

History Essay Example

Did you want a history essay example? Take a look at one of our history essay papers. 

Make it Shine

An A-level essay takes planning and revision, but it’s achievable. Firstly, avoid procrastination and start early. Secondly, leave yourself plenty of time to brainstorm, outline, research and write. Finally, follow these five tips to make your history essay shine:

  • Write a substantial introduction. Particularly, it’s the first impression the professor will have of the paper.
  • State a clear thesis. A strong thesis is easier to support.
  • Incorporate evidence critically. If while researching you find opposing arguments, include them and discuss their flaws.
  • Cite all the research. Whether direct quotations or paraphrases, citing evidence is crucial to avoiding plagiarism, which can have serious academic consequences.
  • Include primary and secondary resources. While primary resources may be harder to find, the professor will expect them—this is, after all, a history essay.

History Essay Sample

Ready to tackle the history essay format? Great! Check out this history essay sample from an upper-level history class. While the essay isn’t perfect, the professor points out its many strengths.

Remember: start early and revise, revise, revise . We can’t revise history, but you can revise your ideas until they’re perfect.

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historical essay conclusion example

How to write an introduction for a history essay

Facade of the Ara Pacis

Every essay needs to begin with an introductory paragraph. It needs to be the first paragraph the marker reads.

While your introduction paragraph might be the first of the paragraphs you write, this is not the only way to do it.

You can choose to write your introduction after you have written the rest of your essay.

This way, you will know what you have argued, and this might make writing the introduction easier.

Either approach is fine. If you do write your introduction first, ensure that you go back and refine it once you have completed your essay. 

What is an ‘introduction paragraph’?

An introductory paragraph is a single paragraph at the start of your essay that prepares your reader for the argument you are going to make in your body paragraphs .

It should provide all of the necessary historical information about your topic and clearly state your argument so that by the end of the paragraph, the marker knows how you are going to structure the rest of your essay.

In general, you should never use quotes from sources in your introduction.

Introduction paragraph structure

While your introduction paragraph does not have to be as long as your body paragraphs , it does have a specific purpose, which you must fulfil.

A well-written introduction paragraph has the following four-part structure (summarised by the acronym BHES).

B – Background sentences

H – Hypothesis

E – Elaboration sentences

S - Signpost sentence

Each of these elements are explained in further detail, with examples, below:

1. Background sentences

The first two or three sentences of your introduction should provide a general introduction to the historical topic which your essay is about.

This is done so that when you state your hypothesis , your reader understands the specific point you are arguing about.

Background sentences explain the important historical period, dates, people, places, events and concepts that will be mentioned later in your essay.

This information should be drawn from your background research . 

Example background sentences:

Middle Ages (Year 8 Level)

Castles were an important component of Medieval Britain from the time of the Norman conquest in 1066 until they were phased out in the 15 th and 16 th centuries. Initially introduced as wooden motte and bailey structures on geographical strongpoints, they were rapidly replaced by stone fortresses which incorporated sophisticated defensive designs to improve the defenders’ chances of surviving prolonged sieges.

WWI (Year 9 Level)

The First World War began in 1914 following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The subsequent declarations of war from most of Europe drew other countries into the conflict, including Australia. The Australian Imperial Force joined the war as part of Britain’s armed forces and were dispatched to locations in the Middle East and Western Europe.

Civil Rights (Year 10 Level)

The 1967 Referendum sought to amend the Australian Constitution in order to change the legal standing of the indigenous people in Australia. The fact that 90% of Australians voted in favour of the proposed amendments has been attributed to a series of significant events and people who were dedicated to the referendum’s success.

Ancient Rome (Year 11/12 Level)  

In the late second century BC, the Roman novus homo Gaius Marius became one of the most influential men in the Roman Republic. Marius gained this authority through his victory in the Jugurthine War, with his defeat of Jugurtha in 106 BC, and his triumph over the invading Germanic tribes in 101 BC, when he crushed the Teutones at the Battle of Aquae Sextiae (102 BC) and the Cimbri at the Battle of Vercellae (101 BC). Marius also gained great fame through his election to the consulship seven times.

2. Hypothesis

Once you have provided historical context for your essay in your background sentences, you need to state your hypothesis .

A hypothesis is a single sentence that clearly states the argument that your essay will be proving in your body paragraphs .

A good hypothesis contains both the argument and the reasons in support of your argument. 

Example hypotheses:

Medieval castles were designed with features that nullified the superior numbers of besieging armies but were ultimately made obsolete by the development of gunpowder artillery.

Australian soldiers’ opinion of the First World War changed from naïve enthusiasm to pessimistic realism as a result of the harsh realities of modern industrial warfare.

The success of the 1967 Referendum was a direct result of the efforts of First Nations leaders such as Charles Perkins, Faith Bandler and the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders.

Gaius Marius was the most one of the most significant personalities in the 1 st century BC due to his effect on the political, military and social structures of the Roman state.

3. Elaboration sentences

Once you have stated your argument in your hypothesis , you need to provide particular information about how you’re going to prove your argument.

Your elaboration sentences should be one or two sentences that provide specific details about how you’re going to cover the argument in your three body paragraphs.

You might also briefly summarise two or three of your main points.

Finally, explain any important key words, phrases or concepts that you’ve used in your hypothesis, you’ll need to do this in your elaboration sentences.

Example elaboration sentences:

By the height of the Middle Ages, feudal lords were investing significant sums of money by incorporating concentric walls and guard towers to maximise their defensive potential. These developments were so successful that many medieval armies avoided sieges in the late period.

Following Britain's official declaration of war on Germany, young Australian men voluntarily enlisted into the army, which was further encouraged by government propaganda about the moral justifications for the conflict. However, following the initial engagements on the Gallipoli peninsula, enthusiasm declined.

The political activity of key indigenous figures and the formation of activism organisations focused on indigenous resulted in a wider spread of messages to the general Australian public. The generation of powerful images and speeches has been frequently cited by modern historians as crucial to the referendum results.

While Marius is best known for his military reforms, it is the subsequent impacts of this reform on the way other Romans approached the attainment of magistracies and how public expectations of military leaders changed that had the longest impacts on the late republican period.

4. Signpost sentence

The final sentence of your introduction should prepare the reader for the topic of your first body paragraph.

The main purpose of this sentence is to provide cohesion between your introductory paragraph and you first body paragraph .

Therefore, a signpost sentence indicates where you will begin proving the argument that you set out in your hypothesis and usually states the importance of the first point that you’re about to make. 

Example signpost sentences:

The early development of castles is best understood when examining their military purpose.

The naïve attitudes of those who volunteered in 1914 can be clearly seen in the personal letters and diaries that they themselves wrote.

The significance of these people is evident when examining the lack of political representation the indigenous people experience in the early half of the 20 th century.

The origin of Marius’ later achievements was his military reform in 107 BC, which occurred when he was first elected as consul.

Putting it all together

Once you have written all four parts of the BHES structure, you should have a completed introduction paragraph.

In the examples above, we have shown each part separately. Below you will see the completed paragraphs so that you can appreciate what an introduction should look like.

Example introduction paragraphs: 

Castles were an important component of Medieval Britain from the time of the Norman conquest in 1066 until they were phased out in the 15th and 16th centuries. Initially introduced as wooden motte and bailey structures on geographical strongpoints, they were rapidly replaced by stone fortresses which incorporated sophisticated defensive designs to improve the defenders’ chances of surviving prolonged sieges. Medieval castles were designed with features that nullified the superior numbers of besieging armies, but were ultimately made obsolete by the development of gunpowder artillery. By the height of the Middle Ages, feudal lords were investing significant sums of money by incorporating concentric walls and guard towers to maximise their defensive potential. These developments were so successful that many medieval armies avoided sieges in the late period. The early development of castles is best understood when examining their military purpose.

The First World War began in 1914 following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The subsequent declarations of war from most of Europe drew other countries into the conflict, including Australia. The Australian Imperial Force joined the war as part of Britain’s armed forces and were dispatched to locations in the Middle East and Western Europe. Australian soldiers’ opinion of the First World War changed from naïve enthusiasm to pessimistic realism as a result of the harsh realities of modern industrial warfare. Following Britain's official declaration of war on Germany, young Australian men voluntarily enlisted into the army, which was further encouraged by government propaganda about the moral justifications for the conflict. However, following the initial engagements on the Gallipoli peninsula, enthusiasm declined. The naïve attitudes of those who volunteered in 1914 can be clearly seen in the personal letters and diaries that they themselves wrote.

The 1967 Referendum sought to amend the Australian Constitution in order to change the legal standing of the indigenous people in Australia. The fact that 90% of Australians voted in favour of the proposed amendments has been attributed to a series of significant events and people who were dedicated to the referendum’s success. The success of the 1967 Referendum was a direct result of the efforts of First Nations leaders such as Charles Perkins, Faith Bandler and the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. The political activity of key indigenous figures and the formation of activism organisations focused on indigenous resulted in a wider spread of messages to the general Australian public. The generation of powerful images and speeches has been frequently cited by modern historians as crucial to the referendum results. The significance of these people is evident when examining the lack of political representation the indigenous people experience in the early half of the 20th century.

In the late second century BC, the Roman novus homo Gaius Marius became one of the most influential men in the Roman Republic. Marius gained this authority through his victory in the Jugurthine War, with his defeat of Jugurtha in 106 BC, and his triumph over the invading Germanic tribes in 101 BC, when he crushed the Teutones at the Battle of Aquae Sextiae (102 BC) and the Cimbri at the Battle of Vercellae (101 BC). Marius also gained great fame through his election to the consulship seven times. Gaius Marius was the most one of the most significant personalities in the 1st century BC due to his effect on the political, military and social structures of the Roman state. While Marius is best known for his military reforms, it is the subsequent impacts of this reform on the way other Romans approached the attainment of magistracies and how public expectations of military leaders changed that had the longest impacts on the late republican period. The origin of Marius’ later achievements was his military reform in 107 BC, which occurred when he was first elected as consul.

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  • How to conclude an essay | Interactive example

How to Conclude an Essay | Interactive Example

Published on January 24, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on July 23, 2023.

The conclusion is the final paragraph of your essay . A strong conclusion aims to:

  • Tie together the essay’s main points
  • Show why your argument matters
  • Leave the reader with a strong impression

Your conclusion should give a sense of closure and completion to your argument, but also show what new questions or possibilities it has opened up.

This conclusion is taken from our annotated essay example , which discusses the history of the Braille system. Hover over each part to see why it’s effective.

Braille paved the way for dramatic cultural changes in the way blind people were treated and the opportunities available to them. Louis Braille’s innovation was to reimagine existing reading systems from a blind perspective, and the success of this invention required sighted teachers to adapt to their students’ reality instead of the other way around. In this sense, Braille helped drive broader social changes in the status of blindness. New accessibility tools provide practical advantages to those who need them, but they can also change the perspectives and attitudes of those who do not.

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Table of contents

Step 1: return to your thesis, step 2: review your main points, step 3: show why it matters, what shouldn’t go in the conclusion, more examples of essay conclusions, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about writing an essay conclusion.

To begin your conclusion, signal that the essay is coming to an end by returning to your overall argument.

Don’t just repeat your thesis statement —instead, try to rephrase your argument in a way that shows how it has been developed since the introduction.

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Next, remind the reader of the main points that you used to support your argument.

Avoid simply summarizing each paragraph or repeating each point in order; try to bring your points together in a way that makes the connections between them clear. The conclusion is your final chance to show how all the paragraphs of your essay add up to a coherent whole.

To wrap up your conclusion, zoom out to a broader view of the topic and consider the implications of your argument. For example:

  • Does it contribute a new understanding of your topic?
  • Does it raise new questions for future study?
  • Does it lead to practical suggestions or predictions?
  • Can it be applied to different contexts?
  • Can it be connected to a broader debate or theme?

Whatever your essay is about, the conclusion should aim to emphasize the significance of your argument, whether that’s within your academic subject or in the wider world.

Try to end with a strong, decisive sentence, leaving the reader with a lingering sense of interest in your topic.

The easiest way to improve your conclusion is to eliminate these common mistakes.

Don’t include new evidence

Any evidence or analysis that is essential to supporting your thesis statement should appear in the main body of the essay.

The conclusion might include minor pieces of new information—for example, a sentence or two discussing broader implications, or a quotation that nicely summarizes your central point. But it shouldn’t introduce any major new sources or ideas that need further explanation to understand.

Don’t use “concluding phrases”

Avoid using obvious stock phrases to tell the reader what you’re doing:

  • “In conclusion…”
  • “To sum up…”

These phrases aren’t forbidden, but they can make your writing sound weak. By returning to your main argument, it will quickly become clear that you are concluding the essay—you shouldn’t have to spell it out.

Don’t undermine your argument

Avoid using apologetic phrases that sound uncertain or confused:

  • “This is just one approach among many.”
  • “There are good arguments on both sides of this issue.”
  • “There is no clear answer to this problem.”

Even if your essay has explored different points of view, your own position should be clear. There may be many possible approaches to the topic, but you want to leave the reader convinced that yours is the best one!

  • Argumentative
  • Literary analysis

This conclusion is taken from an argumentative essay about the internet’s impact on education. It acknowledges the opposing arguments while taking a clear, decisive position.

The internet has had a major positive impact on the world of education; occasional pitfalls aside, its value is evident in numerous applications. The future of teaching lies in the possibilities the internet opens up for communication, research, and interactivity. As the popularity of distance learning shows, students value the flexibility and accessibility offered by digital education, and educators should fully embrace these advantages. The internet’s dangers, real and imaginary, have been documented exhaustively by skeptics, but the internet is here to stay; it is time to focus seriously on its potential for good.

This conclusion is taken from a short expository essay that explains the invention of the printing press and its effects on European society. It focuses on giving a clear, concise overview of what was covered in the essay.

The invention of the printing press was important not only in terms of its immediate cultural and economic effects, but also in terms of its major impact on politics and religion across Europe. In the century following the invention of the printing press, the relatively stationary intellectual atmosphere of the Middle Ages gave way to the social upheavals of the Reformation and the Renaissance. A single technological innovation had contributed to the total reshaping of the continent.

This conclusion is taken from a literary analysis essay about Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein . It summarizes what the essay’s analysis achieved and emphasizes its originality.

By tracing the depiction of Frankenstein through the novel’s three volumes, I have demonstrated how the narrative structure shifts our perception of the character. While the Frankenstein of the first volume is depicted as having innocent intentions, the second and third volumes—first in the creature’s accusatory voice, and then in his own voice—increasingly undermine him, causing him to appear alternately ridiculous and vindictive. Far from the one-dimensional villain he is often taken to be, the character of Frankenstein is compelling because of the dynamic narrative frame in which he is placed. In this frame, Frankenstein’s narrative self-presentation responds to the images of him we see from others’ perspectives. This conclusion sheds new light on the novel, foregrounding Shelley’s unique layering of narrative perspectives and its importance for the depiction of character.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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Your essay’s conclusion should contain:

  • A rephrased version of your overall thesis
  • A brief review of the key points you made in the main body
  • An indication of why your argument matters

The conclusion may also reflect on the broader implications of your argument, showing how your ideas could applied to other contexts or debates.

For a stronger conclusion paragraph, avoid including:

  • Important evidence or analysis that wasn’t mentioned in the main body
  • Generic concluding phrases (e.g. “In conclusion…”)
  • Weak statements that undermine your argument (e.g. “There are good points on both sides of this issue.”)

Your conclusion should leave the reader with a strong, decisive impression of your work.

The conclusion paragraph of an essay is usually shorter than the introduction . As a rule, it shouldn’t take up more than 10–15% of the text.

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Module 4: Imperial Reforms and Colonial Protests (1763-1774)

Historical thesis statements, learning objectives.

  • Recognize and create high-quality historical thesis statements

Some consider all writing a form of argument—or at least of persuasion. After all, even if you’re writing a letter or an informative essay, you’re implicitly trying to persuade your audience to care about what you’re saying. Your thesis statement represents the main idea—or point—about a topic or issue that you make in an argument. For example, let’s say that your topic is social media. A thesis statement about social media could look like one of the following sentences:

  • Social media are hurting the communication skills of young Americans.
  • Social media are useful tools for social movements.

A basic thesis sentence has two main parts: a claim  and support for that claim.

  • The Immigration Act of 1965 effectively restructured the United States’ immigration policies in such a way that no group, minority or majority, was singled out by being discriminated against or given preferential treatment in terms of its ability to immigrate to America.

Identifying the Thesis Statement

A thesis consists of a specific topic and an angle on the topic. All of the other ideas in the text support and develop the thesis. The thesis statement is often found in the introduction, sometimes after an initial “hook” or interesting story; sometimes, however, the thesis is not explicitly stated until the end of an essay, and sometimes it is not stated at all. In those instances, there is an implied thesis statement. You can generally extract the thesis statement by looking for a few key sentences and ideas.

Most readers expect to see the point of your argument (the thesis statement) within the first few paragraphs. This does not mean that it has to be placed there every time. Some writers place it at the very end, slowly building up to it throughout their work, to explain a point after the fact. For history essays, most professors will expect to see a clearly discernible thesis sentence in the introduction. Note that many history papers also include a topic sentence, which clearly state what the paper is about

Thesis statements vary based on the rhetorical strategy of the essay, but thesis statements typically share the following characteristics:

  • Presents the main idea
  • Most often is one sentence
  • Tells the reader what to expect
  • Is a summary of the essay topic
  • Usually worded to have an argumentative edge
  • Written in the third person

This video explains thesis statements and gives a few clear examples of how a good thesis should both make a claim and forecast specific ways that the essay will support that claim.

You can view the  transcript for “Thesis Statement – Writing Tutorials, US History, Dr. Robert Scafe” here (opens in new window) .

Writing a Thesis Statement

A good basic structure for a thesis statement is “they say, I say.” What is the prevailing view, and how does your position differ from it? However, avoid limiting the scope of your writing with an either/or thesis under the assumption that your view must be strictly contrary to their view.

Following are some typical thesis statements:

  • Although many readers believe Romeo and Juliet to be a tale about the ill fate of two star-crossed lovers, it can also be read as an allegory concerning a playwright and his audience.
  • The “War on Drugs” has not only failed to reduce the frequency of drug-related crimes in America but actually enhanced the popular image of dope peddlers by romanticizing them as desperate rebels fighting for a cause.
  • The bulk of modern copyright law was conceived in the age of commercial printing, long before the Internet made it so easy for the public to compose and distribute its own texts. Therefore, these laws should be reviewed and revised to better accommodate modern readers and writers.
  • The usual moral justification for capital punishment is that it deters crime by frightening would-be criminals. However, the statistics tell a different story.
  • If students really want to improve their writing, they must read often, practice writing, and receive quality feedback from their peers.
  • Plato’s dialectical method has much to offer those engaged in online writing, which is far more conversational in nature than print.

Thesis Problems to Avoid

Although you have creative control over your thesis sentence, you still should try to avoid the following problems, not for stylistic reasons, but because they indicate a problem in the thinking that underlies the thesis sentence.

  • Hospice workers need support. This is a thesis sentence; it has a topic (hospice workers) and an argument (need support). But the argument is very broad. When the argument in a thesis sentence is too broad, the writer may not have carefully thought through the specific support for the rest of the writing. A thesis argument that’s too broad makes it easy to fall into the trap of offering information that deviates from that argument.
  • Hospice workers have a 55% turnover rate compared to the general health care population’s 25% turnover rate.  This sentence really isn’t a thesis sentence at all, because there’s no argument to support it. A narrow statistic, or a narrow statement of fact, doesn’t offer the writer’s own ideas or analysis about a topic.

Let’s see some examples of potential theses related to the following prompt:

  • Bad thesis : The relationship between the American colonists and the British government changed after the French & Indian War.
  • Better thesis : The relationship between the American colonists and the British government was strained following the Revolutionary war.
  • Best thesis : Due to the heavy debt acquired by the British government during the French & Indian War, the British government increased efforts to tax the colonists, causing American opposition and resistance that strained the relationship between the colonists and the crown.

Practice identifying strong thesis statements in the following interactive.

Supporting Evidence for Thesis Statements

A thesis statement doesn’t mean much without supporting evidence. Oftentimes in a history class, you’ll be expected to defend your thesis, or your argument, using primary source documents. Sometimes these documents are provided to you, and sometimes you’ll need to go find evidence on your own. When the documents are provided for you and you are asked to answer questions about them, it is called a document-based question, or DBQ. You can think of a DBQ like a miniature research paper, where the research has been done for you. DBQs are often used on standardized tests, like this DBQ from the 2004 U.S. History AP exam , which asked students about the altered political, economic, and ideological relations between Britain and the colonies because of the French & Indian War. In this question, students were given 8 documents (A through H) and expected to use these documents to defend and support their argument. For example, here is a possible thesis statement for this essay:

  • The French & Indian War altered the political, economic, and ideological relations between the colonists and the British government because it changed the nature of British rule over the colonies, sowed the seeds of discontent, and led to increased taxation from the British.

Now, to defend this thesis statement, you would add evidence from the documents. The thesis statement can also help structure your argument. With the thesis statement above, we could expect the essay to follow this general outline:

  • Introduction—introduce how the French and Indian War altered political, economic, and ideological relations between the colonists and the British
  • Show the changing map from Doc A and greater administrative responsibility and increased westward expansion
  • Discuss Doc B, frustrations from the Iroquois Confederacy and encroachment onto Native lands
  • Could also mention Doc F and the result in greater administrative costs
  • Use Doc D and explain how a colonial soldier notices disparities between how they are treated when compared to the British
  • Use General Washington’s sentiments in Doc C to discuss how these attitudes of reverence shifted after the war. Could mention how the war created leadership opportunities and gave military experience to colonists.
  • Use Doc E to highlight how the sermon showed optimism about Britain ruling the colonies after the war
  • Highlight some of the political, economic, and ideological differences related to increased taxation caused by the War
  • Use Doc F, the British Order in Council Statement, to indicate the need for more funding to pay for the cost of war
  • Explain Doc G, frustration from Benjamin Franklin about the Stamp Act and efforts to repeal it
  • Use Doc H, the newspaper masthead saying “farewell to liberty”, to highlight the change in sentiments and colonial anger over the Stamp Act

As an example, to argue that the French & Indian War sowed the seeds of discontent, you could mention Document D, from a Massachusetts soldier diary, who wrote, “And we, being here within stone walls, are not likely to get liquors or clothes at this time of the year; and though we be Englishmen born, we are debarred [denied] Englishmen’s liberty.” This shows how colonists began to see their identity as Americans as distinct from those from the British mainland.

Remember, a strong thesis statement is one that supports the argument of your writing. It should have a clear purpose and objective, and although you may revise it as you write, it’s a good idea to start with a strong thesis statement the give your essay direction and organization. You can check the quality of your thesis statement by answering the following questions:

  • If a specific prompt was provided, does the thesis statement answer the question prompt?
  • Does the thesis statement make sense?
  • Is the thesis statement historically accurate?
  • Does the thesis statement provide clear and cohesive reasoning?
  • Is the thesis supportable by evidence?

thesis statement : a statement of the topic of the piece of writing and the angle the writer has on that topic

  • Thesis Statements. Provided by : Lumen Learning. Located at : https://courses.lumenlearning.com/englishcomp1/wp-admin/post.php?post=576&action=edit . License : CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
  • Thesis Examples. Authored by : Cody Chun, Kieran O'Neil, Kylie Young, Julie Nelson Christoph. Provided by : The University of Puget Sound. Located at : https://soundwriting.pugetsound.edu/universal/thesis-dev-six-steps.html . Project : Sound Writing. License : CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
  • Writing Practice: Building Thesis Statements. Provided by : The Bill of Rights Institute, OpenStax, and contributing authors. Located at : https://cnx.org/contents/[email protected]:L3kRHhAr@7/1-22-%F0%9F%93%9D-Writing-Practice-Building-Thesis-Statements . License : CC BY: Attribution . License Terms : Download for free at http://cnx.org/contents/[email protected].
  • Thesis Statement - Writing Tutorials, US History, Dr. Robert Scafe. Provided by : OU Office of Digital Learning. Located at : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hjAk8JI0IY&t=310s . License : Other . License Terms : Standard YouTube License

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IB History EE examples

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How to Write a Good History Essay. A Sequence of Actions and Useful Tips

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Before you start writing your history essay, there is quite a lot of work that has to be done in order to gain success.

You may ask: what is history essay? What is the difference between it and other kinds of essays? Well, the main goal of a history essay is to measure your progress in learning history and test your range of skills (such as analysis, logic, planning, research, and writing), it is necessary to prepare yourself very well.

Your plan of action may look like this. First of all, you will have to explore the topic. If you are going to write about a certain historical event, think of its causes and premises, and analyze what its impact on history was. In case you are writing about a person, find out why and how he or she came to power and how they influenced society and historical situations.

The next step is to make research and collect all the available information about the person or event, and also find evidence.

Finally, you will have to compose a well-organized response.

During the research, make notes and excerpts of the most notable data, write out the important dates and personalities. And of course, write down all your thoughts and findings.

It all may seem complicated at first sight, but in fact, it is not so scary! To complete this task successfully and compose a good history essay, simply follow several easy steps provided below.

Detailed Writing Instruction for Students to Follow

If you want to successfully complete your essay, it would be better to organize the writing process. You will complete the assignment faster and more efficient if you divide the whole work into several sections or steps.

  • Introduction

Writing a good and strong introduction part is important because this is the first thing your reader will see. It gives the first impression of your essay and induces people to reading (or not reading) it.

To make the introduction catchy and interesting, express the contention and address the main question of the essay. Be confident and clear as this is the moment when you define the direction your whole essay will take. And remember that introduction is not the right place for rambling! The best of all is, to begin with, a brief context summary, then go to addressing the question and express the content. Finally, mark the direction your essay about history will take.

Its quality depends on how clear you divided the whole essay into sections in the previous part. As long as you have provided a readable and understandable scheme, your readers will know exactly what to expect.

The body of your essay must give a clear vision of what question you are considering. In this section, you can develop your idea and support it with the evidence you have found. Use certain facts and quotations for that. When being judicial and analytical, they will help you to easily support your point of view and argument.

As long as your essay has a limited size, don’t be too precise. It is allowed to summarize the most essential background information, for example, instead of giving a precise list of all the issues that matter.

It is also good to keep in mind that each paragraph of your essay’s body must tell about only one issue. Don’t make a mess out of your paper!

It is not only essential to start your essay well. How you will end it also matters. A properly-written conclusion is the one that restates the whole paper’s content and gives a logical completion of the issue or question discussed above. Your conclusion must leave to chance for further discussion or arguments on the case. It’s time, to sum up, give a verdict.

That is why it is strongly forbidden to provide any new evidence or information here, as well as start a new discussion, etc.

After you finish writing, give yourself some time and put the paper away for a while. When you turn back to it will be easier to take a fresh look at it and find any mistakes or things to improve. Of course, remember to proofread your writing and check it for any grammar, spelling and punctuation errors. All these tips will help you to learn how to write a history essay.

historical essay conclusion example

History - Free Essay Examples And Topic Ideas

History is the study of past events, particularly how they relate to humans. An essay on history could examine significant historical periods, explore the impact of historical events on contemporary society, or discuss the methodologies and challenges of historical inquiry and interpretation. We’ve gathered an extensive assortment of free essay samples on the topic of History you can find at Papersowl. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

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History – Black Power

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Aftershock: Beyond the Civil War Summary

Aftershock: Beyond the Civil War is a documentary aired on history channel on TV. The movie was directed by David Padrusch in the year 2006. The documentary is segmented into various series that describe the history of the time of the civil war in America. During that time, there was a deadly conflict between various races represented in America. The southern part of America was experiencing angry rebellion from the people. The Aftershock documentary is mainly focused on broadcasting the […]

History Civlization i

Athenian Democracy Democracy is a governing system in which supremacy and power is vested in the hands of the people. It is exercised through voting to determine the will of the majority. Athens was an example of a democratic city as described by Pericles who once said that it respected the will of the majority (Thucydides 58). Pericles argued that Athens City was democratic simply by the fact that power was based on majority but not social stratification, favoritism or […]

History of Ancient Greece

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How Yellow Journalism Resulted to the Spanish-American War

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A History of Slavery in the United States

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United States History to 1877

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The Holocaust is One of the Worst Events in Human History

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The genocide I'm revolving my term paper around is the Greek Genocide. The Greek Genocide started during and after World War I from 1914 to 1923. More specifically, the Ottoman Empire were the central antagonists that perpetuated this systematic extermination of millions of innocent Greek lives. Amongst the lofty death toll, other unfortunate consequences of this genocide included but were not limited to: deportation by force, agonizing death marches, rape, and imposing religion on to the Greeks. The Greek Genocide […]

History of the World War 1

The First World War brought along a series of changes compared to the nineteenth century and peoples previous way of living. In America when the war broke out, housework was largely still a woman’s job and men worked to support the household. When America declared war in 1917 and a vast majority of men had to go fight in the war, the power shifted over to the women. “Middle class women often said that the war broke down the restrictions […]

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How To Write an Essay About History

Understanding the scope and context of historical events.

When writing an essay about history, it's crucial to first understand the scope and context of the historical events you are discussing. History is not just a series of dates and events but a complex interplay of social, political, economic, and cultural factors. Begin by defining the time period or event you are focusing on and consider the broader context in which it occurred. Research the background, the key figures involved, and the prevailing societal norms and beliefs of the time. This foundational knowledge will help you create a comprehensive and insightful essay.

Developing a Thesis Statement

Your essay should be guided by a clear and concise thesis statement. This statement should present a specific argument or perspective on the historical topic you have chosen. Whether you are examining the causes of a war, the impact of a political movement, or the significance of a cultural shift, your thesis should offer a unique viewpoint supported by historical evidence. It should set the direction for your essay and provide a roadmap for your argument.

Gathering and Analyzing Historical Evidence

An effective history essay relies on a careful selection of historical evidence to support its arguments. This evidence can come from primary sources (like letters, speeches, or diaries) or secondary sources (like scholarly articles or history books). Gather a variety of sources to provide a well-rounded perspective on your topic. Analyze these sources critically, assessing their reliability and bias, and use them to support your thesis. The way you interpret and present this evidence is crucial to the strength of your argument.

Connecting Past Events to Larger Historical Themes

In your essay, strive to connect the specific events or periods you are discussing to larger historical themes or trends. This could involve exploring how a particular event fits into the broader narrative of history, its long-term consequences, or its relevance to present-day issues. Demonstrating these connections can provide a deeper understanding of the significance of historical events and highlight the continuity and change over time.

Concluding Your Essay

Conclude your essay by summarizing the main points of your analysis and restating your thesis in light of the evidence and discussion provided. Your conclusion should tie together the various strands of your argument and reinforce the overall point of your essay. It's also an opportunity to reflect on the broader implications of your findings or to suggest areas for further research or exploration.

Reviewing and Refining Your Essay

After completing your essay, it's important to review and edit your work. Ensure that your arguments are clear and coherent, and that your essay is structured logically. Pay attention to the clarity of your writing, and make sure your essay is free from grammatical and spelling errors. Consider seeking feedback from peers, teachers, or tutors to further refine and strengthen your essay. A well-written history essay should not only convey information about the past but also demonstrate your ability to think critically about historical events and their impacts.

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Key elements of an effective IELTS Writing Task 2 conclusion

IELTS Writing Task 2 Conclusion Examples: How to End Your Essay Effectively

  • Restate the main idea
  • Summarize key points
  • Provide a final thought or call to action
  • Maintain a formal tone
  • Avoid introducing new information

Key elements of an effective IELTS Writing Task 2 conclusion

Examples of Strong IELTS Writing Task 2 Conclusions

Let’s examine some examples of effective conclusions for different IELTS Writing Task 2 question types.

Example 1: Opinion Essay

Question: Some people believe that unpaid community service should be a compulsory part of high school programs. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Conclusion: In conclusion, while there are valid arguments for making unpaid community service mandatory in high schools, I believe that the potential drawbacks outweigh the benefits. Forcing students to participate may lead to resentment and a lack of genuine engagement. Instead, schools should focus on educating students about the value of volunteering and provide opportunities for those who are interested. By encouraging rather than mandating community service, we can foster a more authentic sense of social responsibility among young people.

Example 2: Advantages and Disadvantages Essay

Question: Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of living in a multi-generational household.

Conclusion: In summary, living in a multi-generational household presents both significant benefits and challenges. While it offers financial advantages, emotional support, and cultural continuity, it can also lead to privacy issues, conflicts, and reduced independence. Ultimately, the success of such living arrangements depends on clear communication, mutual respect, and the ability to balance individual needs with family obligations. As society evolves, it is crucial to recognize and address both the positive and negative aspects of multi-generational living to ensure harmonious family dynamics.

Advantages and disadvantages of multi-generational households

Example 3: Problem and Solution Essay

Question: The number of people who are overweight is increasing. What do you think are the causes of this? What solutions can you suggest?

Conclusion: To conclude, the rising prevalence of obesity is a complex issue stemming from various factors, including poor dietary habits, sedentary lifestyles, and socioeconomic influences. Addressing this problem requires a multi-faceted approach. By implementing comprehensive education programs, promoting active lifestyles, and creating supportive environments for healthy choices, we can work towards reducing obesity rates. It is crucial for governments, communities, and individuals to collaborate in these efforts to ensure a healthier future for all.

Example 4: Discussion Essay

Question: Some people think that parents should teach children how to be good members of society. Others, however, believe that school is the place to learn this. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Conclusion: In conclusion, while both parents and schools play vital roles in shaping children into responsible members of society, I believe that the primary responsibility lies with parents. The home environment provides the foundation for a child’s values and behavior, which is then reinforced and expanded upon in school settings. Ideally, a collaborative approach between parents and educational institutions would be most effective, ensuring that children receive consistent guidance and support in developing the skills and values necessary to contribute positively to society. By recognizing the complementary roles of both parties, we can create a more comprehensive and impactful approach to raising socially conscious individuals.

Tips for Writing Effective Conclusions

  • Keep it concise: Your conclusion should be about 40-50 words or 2-3 sentences.
  • Use transition phrases: Start with phrases like “In conclusion,” “To sum up,” or “Overall” to signal the end of your essay.
  • Echo your introduction: Refer back to your thesis statement and main points, but use different wording.
  • Avoid repetition: Don’t simply copy and paste from your introduction or body paragraphs.
  • End with impact: Leave the reader with a final thought that resonates.

Tips for writing effective IELTS Writing Task 2 conclusions

Common Mistakes to Avoid in IELTS Writing Task 2 Conclusions

  • Introducing new information: The conclusion is not the place for new ideas or arguments.
  • Being too repetitive: While you should restate your main points, avoid simply repeating sentences from earlier in your essay.
  • Using informal language: Maintain a formal tone throughout, including in your conclusion.
  • Writing a lengthy conclusion: Keep it concise and to the point.
  • Failing to answer the question: Ensure your conclusion directly addresses the essay prompt.

By avoiding these mistakes and implementing the tips and examples provided, you can craft strong, effective conclusions for your IELTS Writing Task 2 essays. Remember, practice is key to perfecting your conclusion-writing skills. Try writing conclusions for various essay types and seek feedback to continually improve your performance.

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As you prepare for your IELTS exam, focus on developing a clear, concise, and impactful concluding paragraph for each practice essay. With time and effort, you’ll find that crafting strong conclusions becomes second nature, helping you to leave a lasting impression on the examiner and boost your overall Writing Task 2 score.

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150 Exemplification Essay Topics: Inspiration & Writing Tips

Updated 23 Sep 2024

exemplification essay topics

What is an Exemplification Essay?

An exemplification essay is a type of argumentative writing that uses specific examples to clarify a general idea or to support a thesis. It is commonly used in academic settings to present a balanced and thorough discussion on a given topic. Writers often employ this style when they need to explain complex concepts or controversial issues, using real-world examples to illustrate their points.

Exemplification essays are particularly useful in educational contexts, research papers, and persuasive writing, where a deeper understanding and clear communication are essential. This essay type requires a structured approach, including an introduction with a clear thesis, body paragraphs presenting detailed examples, and a conclusion reinforcing the argument. The key is to provide enough examples to substantiate the claim without overwhelming the reader.

The Importance of Choosing a Good Topic for an Exemplification Essay

Selecting the right topic for an exemplification essay is crucial as it sets the foundation for your entire piece. A well-chosen topic makes the writing process smoother and ensures that your essay is engaging and informative for your audience. It allows you to explore a subject thoroughly, using concrete examples to support your argument and make complex ideas more accessible.

When choosing a topic, consider your interests and its relevance to your audience. Opt for subjects that offer a balance between being broad enough to find numerous examples and specific enough to maintain a clear focus. This will help you craft a compelling essay that is both persuasive and insightful.

Tips for Choosing a Good Topic:

  • Choose a Relevant Issue: Select a topic that resonates with current social, technological, or cultural trends.
  • Ensure Availability of Examples: Make sure you can find concrete examples to support your arguments.
  • Balance Complexity and Clarity: Avoid overly complicated topics that are difficult to explain or too simple that they lack depth.

By carefully selecting your topic, you ensure a more effective and impactful essay that resonates with readers.

150+ Exemplification essay topics across subjects

Technology and innovation.

  • The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Employment
  • Pros and Cons of Blockchain Technology in Finance
  • The Role of Technology in Modern Education
  • Cybersecurity Challenges in the Digital Age
  • The Influence of Social Media on Society
  • Big Data and Privacy Concerns
  • The Future of Autonomous Vehicles
  • How Virtual Reality is Changing Entertainment
  • Renewable Energy Innovations and Sustainable Development
  • The Role of Drones in Environmental Conservation

Environmental Issues

  • Climate Change: Causes, Effects, and Solutions
  • Plastic Pollution in Oceans and Solutions
  • Deforestation and Its Impact on Biodiversity
  • The Global Water Crisis and Sustainable Water Management
  • The Role of Individuals in Environmental Conservation
  • Urban Sprawl and Its Environmental Impact
  • The Impact of Fast Fashion on the Environment
  • Sustainable Agriculture Practices
  • Air Pollution and Its Effects on Public Health
  • The Future of Electric Vehicles and Green Transportation

Social Issues

  • The Global Impact of Poverty and Inequality
  • Gender Equality: Progress and Challenges
  • The Effects of Globalization on Local Cultures
  • Racial Discrimination and Social Justice Movements
  • Mental Health Awareness and Stigma Reduction
  • The Refugee Crisis: Causes and Solutions
  • The Role of Social Media in Activism
  • LGBTQ+ Rights and Legal Recognition Worldwide
  • Human Trafficking: A Modern Form of Slavery
  • The Opioid Crisis: Public Health and Policy Responses

Health and Wellness

  • The Importance of Nutrition in Preventing Chronic Diseases
  • The Impact of Exercise on Mental Health
  • Vaccinations: Myths and Facts
  • The Global Rise of Obesity and Public Health Strategies
  • The Benefits of Mindfulness and Meditation
  • The Relationship Between Mental Health and Social Media Use
  • The Role of Genetics in Personalized Medicine
  • The Health Risks of Air and Water Pollution
  • The Importance of Sleep for Overall Health
  • Stress Management Techniques for a Balanced Life

Education and Learning

  • The Benefits and Challenges of Homeschooling
  • The Importance of Early Childhood Education
  • Online Learning: Pros and Cons
  • The Future of Higher Education Post-Pandemic
  • The Importance of STEM Education
  • The Role of Art and Music in Cognitive Development
  • The Impact of Social Media on Learning and Attention
  • The Importance of Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
  • The Role of Physical Education in Schools

Business and Economics

  • The Effects of Globalization on Small Businesses
  • Corporate Social Responsibility and Its Impact on Brand Image
  • The Influence of E-commerce on Traditional Retail
  • The Importance of Financial Literacy for Young Adults
  • The Role of Startups in Economic Development
  • Ethical Issues in Corporate Governance
  • The Impact of Remote Work on Business Productivity
  • The Future of Cryptocurrency in Global Markets
  • The Role of Women in Business Leadership
  • The Effects of Minimum Wage Increases on the Economy

Politics and Law

  • The Impact of Lobbying on Political Decisions
  • The Importance of Voting in a Democracy
  • The Role of International Organizations in Global Peacekeeping
  • The Effects of Media Bias on Public Opinion
  • The Ethics of Capital Punishment
  • The Influence of Social Movements on Legal Reforms
  • The Impact of Immigration Policies on Society
  • Freedom of Speech vs. Hate Speech: A Legal Perspective
  • The Role of the Judiciary in Protecting Human Rights
  • The Effectiveness of Gun Control Laws

Science and Research

  • The Importance of Space Exploration for Humanity
  • The Ethical Implications of Genetic Engineering
  • The Role of Vaccines in Public Health
  • The Impact of Climate Change on Marine Life
  • The Benefits and Risks of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
  • The Role of Citizen Science in Research
  • The Future of Renewable Energy Technologies
  • The Ethics of Animal Testing in Scientific Research
  • The Role of Research in Developing Sustainable Agriculture
  • The Importance of Funding for Scientific Innovation

Media and Entertainment

  • The Influence of Pop Culture on Youth Behavior
  • The Role of Journalism in Modern Society
  • The Impact of Reality TV on Public Perception
  • The Evolution of Film Genres Over the Decades
  • The Role of Music in Cultural Identity
  • The Influence of Video Games on Cognitive Skills
  • The Impact of Social Media on Celebrity Culture
  • The Role of Documentaries in Social Awareness
  • The Evolution of News Consumption in the Digital Age
  • The Influence of Advertising on Consumer Behavior

Lifestyle and Personal Development

  • The Importance of Work-Life Balance
  • The Role of Hobbies in Personal Growth
  • The Impact of Travel on Cultural Understanding
  • The Importance of Time Management in Student Success
  • The Influence of Minimalism on Mental Health
  • The Role of Volunteering in Community Development
  • The Impact of Social Media on Self-Esteem
  • The Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet for Health
  • The Role of Mentorship in Career Development
  • The Importance of Setting Personal Goals

Sports and Recreation

  • The Role of Sports in Building Character
  • The Impact of Professional Sports on Society
  • The Importance of Physical Activity for Mental Health
  • The Role of Sports in Promoting National Unity
  • The Influence of Sponsorships on Sports Performance
  • The Impact of Technology on Sports Training and Performance
  • The Ethics of Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Sports
  • The Role of Youth Sports in Community Engagement
  • The Influence of Media on Sports Popularity
  • The Importance of Sportsmanship in Athletic Competitions

Culture and Society

  • The Impact of Cultural Diversity on Society
  • The Role of Traditions in Preserving Cultural Heritage
  • The Influence of Globalization on Cultural Identity
  • The Role of Festivals in Community Building
  • The Impact of Language on Cultural Perception
  • The Influence of Social Media on Cultural Norms
  • The Role of Art in Social Change
  • The Importance of Cultural Sensitivity in Communication
  • The Impact of Migration on Cultural Integration
  • The Role of Literature in Shaping Society

Ethics and Morality

  • The Role of Ethics in Business Decision Making
  • The Importance of Ethical Leadership in Politics
  • The Ethics of Genetic Modification in Humans
  • The Moral Implications of Euthanasia
  • The Role of Ethics in Environmental Conservation
  • The Impact of Cultural Differences on Moral Values
  • The Ethics of Surveillance and Privacy
  • The Role of Religion in Moral Development
  • The Ethics of Capital Punishment in Modern Society
  • The Moral Dilemmas of War and Conflict

Family and Relationships

  • The Impact of Parenting Styles on Child Development
  • The Role of Communication in Healthy Relationships
  • The Influence of Family Structure on Children's Education
  • The Importance of Work-Life Balance in Family Life
  • The Role of Technology in Modern Relationships
  • The Impact of Divorce on Family Dynamics
  • The Influence of Social Media on Romantic Relationships
  • The Role of Extended Family in Child Development
  • The Impact of Cultural Differences on Family Life
  • The Importance of Family Support in Personal Growth

Arts and Humanities

  • The Role of Art in Expressing Social Issues
  • The Influence of Literature on Cultural Perception
  • The Impact of Music on Emotional Wellbeing
  • The Role of Theatre in Community Engagement
  • The Evolution of Visual Arts in the Digital Age
  • The Influence of Architecture on Urban Development
  • The Role of Poetry in Social Change
  • The Impact of Historical Events on Contemporary Art
  • The Influence of Dance on Cultural Identity
  • The Role of Museums in Preserving History

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Conclusion: Mastering the Art of Exemplification Essays

In conclusion, learning how to write an exemplification essay  is a valuable skill that enhances your ability to present complex ideas clearly and persuasively. Choosing a compelling topic and using specific examples can effectively support your argument and engage your readers. Remember to maintain a structured approach: introduce your thesis, present detailed examples in the body, and reinforce your main points in the conclusion. This method strengthens your argument and demonstrates your critical thinking and writing skills.

To truly excel in writing exemplification essays, focus on selecting relevant and illustrative examples that resonate with your audience. Your examples should clarify your thesis and add depth and perspective to your argument. With practice and careful attention to detail, you can master the art of exemplification and create informative and compelling essays.

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Written by David Kidwell

David is one of those experienced content creators from the United Kingdom who has a high interest in social issues, culture, and entrepreneurship. He always says that reading, blogging, and staying aware of what happens in the world is what makes a person responsible. He likes to learn and share what he knows by making things inspiring and creative enough even for those students who dislike reading.

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  1. How to write a conclusion on a history essay

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  4. How To Write A History Paper Conclusion

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COMMENTS

  1. How to write a conclusion for a history essay

    1. Restate your key points. In one or two sentences, restate each of the topic sentences from your body paragraphs. This is to remind the marker about how you proved your argument. This information will be similar to your elaboration sentences in your introduction, but will be much briefer. Since this is a summary of your entire essay's ...

  2. Introductions & Conclusions

    Here is an example of an effective conclusion for the same essay prompt: "To speak of the nationalist mythology the Hashemites created, however, is not to say that it has gone uncontested. In the 1950s, the Jordanian National Movement unleashed fierce internal opposition to Hashemite rule, crafting an alternative narrative of history in which ...

  3. How to Write a Conclusion For a History Essay Step-by-Step

    Step 1: Restate Your Thesis Statement. A "thesis" is a fancy way of saying what you are trying to convince the reader is true. It is your argument. For instance, you might have to argue that Catherine the Great truly was impressive. You would start a conclusion with a one-sentence summary of your basic viewpoint.

  4. How to write source-based history essays

    If you understand how each part works and fits into the overall essay, you are well on the way to creating a great assessment piece. Most essays will require you to write: 1 Introduction Paragraph. 3 Body Paragraphs. 1 Concluding Paragraph.

  5. Writing Historical Essays: A Guide for Undergraduates

    Historical essay writing is based upon the thesis. A thesis is a statement, an argument which will be presented by the writer. The thesis is in effect, your position, your particular interpretation, your way of seeing a problem. Resist the temptation, which many students have, to think of a thesis as simply "restating" an instructor's question.

  6. PDF WRITING A GREAT HISTORY PAPER

    Writing a history paper requires much more than just sitting down at a computer. It involves a lot of early planning, detailed research, critical thinking, skilled organization, and careful writing and rewriting. The first rule of essay writing is to start early so that you have plenty of time to follow these steps.

  7. PDF Concluding Thoughts: How to Write Conclusions

    nclusion? Conclusions should finish strong. The final sentence. is the last thing that you. reader will read. Make the most out of this. A well-crafted line can help tie together all the major themes and claims of your paper into one eloquent and memorable lin. that helps the reader process your thoughts. End on a bland or.

  8. How to Write a History Essay With Tips and Examples

    Note: Some writing sections of a history essay can be added, deleted, or combined with each other, specific assignments, instructors, and institutional guidelines. For example, a standard research history essay format organizes a paper into sections, typically including an introduction with a thesis, body paragraphs presenting evidence and analysis, and a conclusion summarizing a central ...

  9. Writing a history essay

    Writing a history essay. An essay is a piece of sustained writing in response to a question, topic or issue. Essays are commonly used for assessing and evaluating student progress in history. History essays test a range of skills including historical understanding, interpretation and analysis, planning, research and writing.

  10. Historical Essay: Conclusion

    The conclusion of your essay is the place where you restate your main points and summarize your arguments. Most importantly, it is the place where you return to your thesis and convince the reader it is true. Your conclusion should be clear, forceful and firm. Step 2. Parting words: Your conclusion has parts too!

  11. PDF Elements of an Effective History Exam Essay

    Rather, it requires explication. It requires, as well, that you connect it to your thesis. Remember that you bring evidence in support of your thesis and evidence that's evidence that does not serve that purpose should be excluded. (4) Weave your thesis throughout the body of your essay - Once delineated in your introduction, be sure to weave ...

  12. Thesis Statements

    Your thesis statement is one of the most important parts of your paper. It expresses your main argument succinctly and explains why your argument is historically significant. Think of your thesis as a promise you make to your reader about what your paper will argue. Then, spend the rest of your paper-each body paragraph-fulfilling that promise.

  13. AP U.S. History Long Essay Example

    Step 2: Plan Your Response. Next, take time to plan your response. Check your plan against the long essay question requirements. See the sample plan that a high-scoring writer might make; scoring requirements are written in bold for reference. Step 3: Action! Write Your Response & Step 4: Proofread.

  14. 30+ History Essay Examples to Help You Get Started

    Tips for Effectively Using History Essay Examples. Analyze the Structure: Pay close attention to how the essay is organized, including the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Look for how the author transitions between paragraphs and the use of evidence to support their argument. Study the Thesis Statement:

  15. History Essay: Topics, Tips and the Outline

    Make it Shine. An A-level essay takes planning and revision, but it's achievable. Firstly, avoid procrastination and start early. Secondly, leave yourself plenty of time to brainstorm, outline, research and write. Finally, follow these five tips to make your history essay shine: Write a substantial introduction.

  16. How to write an introduction for a history essay

    1. Background sentences. The first two or three sentences of your introduction should provide a general introduction to the historical topic which your essay is about. This is done so that when you state your hypothesis, your reader understands the specific point you are arguing about. Background sentences explain the important historical ...

  17. PDF Writing Resources Center Writing a History Paper: The Basics (Example

    1. Identify the assignment's goals. Have the assignment's goals in mind as you familiarize yourself with your sources/evidence, develop a thesis, outline your main points, and write your essay. *Note: Always follow your professor's specific guidelines before the general suggestions in this handout. Example Essay Prompt: The assignment is ...

  18. How to Write a History Essay

    Write in the past tense when discussing history. If a historical event took place in the past, write about it in the past. Be precise. Focus on your thesis and only provide information that is needed to support or develop your argument. Be formal. Try not to use casual language, and avoid using phrases like "I think.".

  19. How to Conclude an Essay

    Step 1: Return to your thesis. To begin your conclusion, signal that the essay is coming to an end by returning to your overall argument. Don't just repeat your thesis statement —instead, try to rephrase your argument in a way that shows how it has been developed since the introduction. Example: Returning to the thesis.

  20. Historical Thesis Statements

    For history essays, most professors will expect to see a clearly discernible thesis sentence in the introduction. Note that many history papers also include a topic sentence, which clearly state what the paper is about ... Conclusion; As an example, to argue that the French & Indian War sowed the seeds of discontent, you could mention Document ...

  21. IB History EE examples

    EE History B. To what extent did the French Revolution change the role of women in society between 1789 and 1815? EE History. To what extent did Britsh West Africa contribute to Britain's success in The Second World War? EE History. High scoring IB History Extended Essay examples. See what past students did and make your History EE perfect by ...

  22. History Essay: A Complete Writing Guide for Students

    Writing a history essay requires a lot of work and experience. A student needs to show a high level of knowledge and understanding of historical events, as well analytical and research skills. No wonder many students find it challenging to compose a well-written essay! To achieve success, use the following tips to level-up your writing abilities

  23. History Free Essay Examples And Topic Ideas

    A well-written history essay should not only convey information about the past but also demonstrate your ability to think critically about historical events and their impacts. Free essay examples about History ️ Proficient writing team ️ High-quality of every essay ️ Largest database of free samples on PapersOwl.

  24. IELTS Writing Task 2 Conclusion Examples: How To End Your Essay

    Tips for writing effective IELTS Writing Task 2 conclusions. Common Mistakes to Avoid in IELTS Writing Task 2 Conclusions. Introducing new information: The conclusion is not the place for new ideas or arguments. Being too repetitive: While you should restate your main points, avoid simply repeating sentences from earlier in your essay. Using informal language: Maintain a formal tone throughout ...

  25. Best Exemplification Essay Topics & Writing Tips

    This essay type requires a structured approach, including an introduction with a clear thesis, body paragraphs presenting detailed examples, and a conclusion reinforcing the argument. The key is to provide enough examples to substantiate the claim without overwhelming the reader. The Importance of Choosing a Good Topic for an Exemplification Essay