Pick the mode of writing that you believe is most conventional for your subject area (i.e. literary essay, lab report, response to a complex word problem). In ways would you convey the conventions of writing for this format. Develop an organizational chart or a list of the key elements and describe how you will convey it to students.
The Historical Essay
When teaching students how to write or how to improve their writing of historical essays, I would utilize examples. I would also be sure to use examples of the kind of writing I expect of them, i.e. exceptional writing of other students, not scholarly essays written by historians. There is a time for showing that caliber of work, but when first introducing the essay, I think that it is best practice not to intimidate or overwhelm students with unrealistic examples.
Key Elements of the History Essay are:
Title - Should be more than just stating the topic. Titles that are catchy, satirical, or a play on words invoke interest or humour in the reader and entice further reading.
Opening Paragraph - Not just the thesis. Should be a clear introduction of the topic and issues and should naturally flow into the thesis statement. It should accurately introduce the basis of your topic, and explain in simple terms what points or pieces of evidence you will use to make your argument or prove your thesis.
Thesis Statement- Should be a clear and succinct description of your argument/purpose. Your thesis is the heart of your paper and should be a strong central idea supported by plausible evidence.
Body - The systematic development of your argument. Not just quotes or opinions, but carefully selected “facts” presented in a reasonable, persuasive, well organized manner. It is good practice to ‘check back’ while writing, to make sure that the evidence you are presenting actually supports your thesis.
Conclusion- Should not just restate your thesis. It should summarize the argument and the evidence without being redundant, and close the dialogue by confirming the significance of your thesis and its contribution to historical understanding.
I would use the “chunking” method with an historical essay project. Each portion of the assignment would be broken down into manageable sections with separate, linear due dates. I would use multiple mentor texts as examples of each section and we would do some practice writing to help students find their voice and get comfortable with the historical essay style. We would work together on each step, including choosing a topic, doing research, coming up with a proposal, and producing drafts. Peer editing would be part of the drafting stages, so students would have a chance to see what kinds of writing their peers are creating and to offer and receive constructive feedback. By scaffolding the assignment, students should develop a comfort level with historical essay writing and learn a strategy for tackling each part of the writing process.
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