Reading like a historian
Stanford History Education Group has created a curriculum for World History and US History to promote student historical inquiry by teaching students "reading strategies such as sourcing, contextualizing, corroborating, and close reading." (SHEG)
In such ways, students begin to develop critical reading and thinking skills. Rather than memorizing facts, names and dates, students learn to extract and infer information.
When reading primary documents or secondary sources, students should first read the text or examine the sources as a whole, and then extract the main points that they feel are most important. Through this they should be able to both ask and answer an "essential question" - what is the big picture concept or idea that is being learned?
Sometimes, a sentence may be so compelling and important that students want to write it down word-for-word. In this instance, students should write it down in quotes, to ensure they remember that it is a cited piece of evidence. They should also make note of where they wrote it down from and why they thought it was so important to copy it word-for-word.
Writing in History Class
Writing an essay for history:
1. Read the question or prompt, determine the key points you will need to address and brainstorm ideas that will support your points.
2. Create a thesis statement - a thesis summarizes the key arguments of your essay into one strong statement that gives your essay direction. Strong thesis statements include the points you intend to prove through your essay (there should always be more than one point you intend to prove).
In your thesis statement:
*Include specific details that you will explain later on in your essay
*Do not use first person
*Do not write "in this essay, I will prove..."
3. Create an introduction - this will be one paragraph.
I will include your thesis statement and give your paper focus and purpose. This paragraph will introduce your ideas, but not describe them in detail or length.
In your introduction:
*Open with a broad statement
*Each sentence should get a little more specific and detailed, but not discuss the content of the essay
*End with your thesis statement that you created
4. Write the body of the essay - this is where the content is located. Depending on the assignment, this will usually be three paragraphs long, but can be as long as you need to prove your thesis.
In your body:
*Discuss only 1 major idea per paragraph
*Use evidence to make support of your ideas
*Cite your evidence in the text and also in a bibliography
*Analyze your evidence, what does it mean, and how does it apply to your thesis?
*Do not just pick random quotes to fill space
*Use transition statements that allow the flow of the essay to not be disrupted
*Make sure your major ideas refer to your thesis (remember, this is the support for your thesis statement)
5. White a conclusion - the final paragraph of your essay. Wrap up your main ideas that you have already discussed in your body paragraphs.
In your conclusion:
*Do not introduce any new points
*Restate ideas from your thesis
1. Read the question or prompt, determine the key points you will need to address and brainstorm ideas that will support your points.
2. Create a thesis statement - a thesis summarizes the key arguments of your essay into one strong statement that gives your essay direction. Strong thesis statements include the points you intend to prove through your essay (there should always be more than one point you intend to prove).
In your thesis statement:
*Include specific details that you will explain later on in your essay
*Do not use first person
*Do not write "in this essay, I will prove..."
3. Create an introduction - this will be one paragraph.
I will include your thesis statement and give your paper focus and purpose. This paragraph will introduce your ideas, but not describe them in detail or length.
In your introduction:
*Open with a broad statement
*Each sentence should get a little more specific and detailed, but not discuss the content of the essay
*End with your thesis statement that you created
4. Write the body of the essay - this is where the content is located. Depending on the assignment, this will usually be three paragraphs long, but can be as long as you need to prove your thesis.
In your body:
*Discuss only 1 major idea per paragraph
*Use evidence to make support of your ideas
*Cite your evidence in the text and also in a bibliography
*Analyze your evidence, what does it mean, and how does it apply to your thesis?
*Do not just pick random quotes to fill space
*Use transition statements that allow the flow of the essay to not be disrupted
*Make sure your major ideas refer to your thesis (remember, this is the support for your thesis statement)
5. White a conclusion - the final paragraph of your essay. Wrap up your main ideas that you have already discussed in your body paragraphs.
In your conclusion:
*Do not introduce any new points
*Restate ideas from your thesis