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A Level History Essay Structure – A Guide

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• Post date December 1, 2022
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Getting an A Level History essay structure right is by no means an easy task. In this post we will look at how we can build a structure from which our essay can develop.

Here you can see the most simplified essay structure for tackling A level History essays. All students should be familiar with this structure. We have broken the essay down into an introduction and conclusion as well as 3 separate parts of content. Running through the entire essay at the side is our line of argument. Whilst this may seem fairly simple, many students still fail to adequately follow this structure, when writing essay answers under exam conditions.

The reasons this structure works well is that it enables you to cover 3 different factors of content. These can be aligned 2-1 or 1-2 on either side of the argument. Your essay is now balanced (covering both sides of the argument), whilst at the same time being decisive in terms of your line of argument and judgement. It is also consistent with the amount you can write in the exam time given for (20-25) mark essay questions.

Expanded A level History Essay Structure

Let’s look at an expanded essay structure. Again, we have our introduction and conclusion as well as 3 separate parts of content. Now we can see that we have added whether or not each of our parts of content agrees or disagrees with the question premise. In order to have a balanced essay we can see on this example that; Content 1 agrees, Content 2 disagrees, and Content 3 can go either way. This overall A Level History essay structure ensures a balanced essay that also reaches judgement.

Furthermore, we have now broken down each individual part of Content/Factor. This can be seen as a mini essay in its own right. The Content/Factor is introduced and linked to the question as well as being concluded and linked to the question. Then we write 2 to 3 separate points within the body of the Content/Factor. We have 2 points that agree with the overall argument of this section of content. This strongly backs up our argument.

Then we can also potentially (this doesn’t have to be done always, but when done right creates a more nuanced analysis) add a third point that balances that particular section of content. However, it doesn’t detract from the overall argument of this factor/content. E.g. In the short term ‘point 3’ occurred but of much greater significance was ‘point 1’ and ‘point 2.’

How To Improve Further at A Level History

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A Level History: Essay Writing and Revision Tips

A Level History poses a unique challenge, requiring not only a profound understanding of historical events but also the ability to articulate complex ideas in well-structured essays. Excelling in A Level History necessitates effective essay writing skills and strategic revision strategies. In this extensive guide, we will delve into essential tips for A Level History essay writing and effective revision approaches to help you succeed in this demanding subject.

 I. A Level History Essay Writing Tips

 a. understand the question.

1. Thorough Reading: Take the time to comprehend the essay question thoroughly. Identify key terms and requirements.

2. Thesis Formation: Clearly articulate a thesis statement that directly addresses the question.

 b. Plan Your Essay

1. Structured Outline: Create a well-organized essay structure with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

2. Logical Flow: Ensure a coherent flow of ideas, with each paragraph contributing to the overall argument.

 c. Effective Introduction

1. Context Establishment: Provide historical context to orient the reader.

2. Thesis Statement: Clearly state your argument or position in the introduction.

 d. Develop a Strong Argument

1. Evidence-Based: Support your argument with evidence from historical sources.

2. Analysis: Analyze the significance of the evidence and its relevance to the overall argument.

 e. Use of Historical Terminology

1. Precision in Terminology: Demonstrate a command of historical terminology relevant to the topic.

2. Contextual Usage: Use terms in their historical context to showcase understanding.

 f. Counterarguments and Evaluation

1. Consideration of Counterarguments: Address potential counterarguments to strengthen your position.

2. Critical Evaluation: Assess the strengths and weaknesses of different historical perspectives.

 g. Conclusion

1. Summarization of Key Points: Recapitulate the main points of your argument.

2. Restate Thesis: Reinforce your thesis in the conclusion.

 h. Language and Style

1. Clarity: Write clearly and concisely, avoiding unnecessary complexity.

2. Varied Sentence Structure: Use a mix of sentence structures for readability.

 II. A Level History Revision Strategies

 a. organized revision schedule.

1. Prioritization of Topics: Identify weaker areas and prioritize them in your revision schedule.

2. Consistent Review: Regularly review topics instead of cramming.

 b. Active Engagement with Sources

1. Primary and Secondary Source Engagement: Actively engage with both primary and secondary sources.

2. Critical Analysis: Develop skills to critically analyze historical documents.

 c. Mind Maps and Diagrams

1. Visual Representation: Create mind maps or diagrams to visually represent historical events and connections.

2. Conceptual Understanding: Utilize visuals to enhance your conceptual understanding.

 d. Practice Essay Writing

1. Timed Practice: Simulate exam conditions with timed essay writing.

2. Feedback Seek: Seek feedback from teachers or peers to enhance your writing skills.

 e. Flashcards for Key Dates and Facts

1. Key Dates Memorization: Create flashcards for essential historical dates and facts.

2. Regular Review: Consistently review flashcards for better retention.

 f. Group Study Sessions

1. Discussion Participation: Engage in group study sessions for diverse perspectives.

2. Concept Explanation: Teach concepts to peers to reinforce your understanding.

 g. Past Papers and Marking Schemes

1. Exam Simulation: Practice with past papers to familiarize yourself with the exam format.

2. Marking Schemes Analysis: Analyze marking schemes to understand expectations.

 h. Utilize Online Resources

1. Online Lectures: Watch online lectures to supplement your understanding.

2. Interactive Quizzes: Utilize online quizzes for self-assessment.

 III. Conclusion

A Level History demands a multifaceted approach, combining effective essay writing skills with strategic revision strategies. Understanding essay question nuances, meticulous planning, and developing a robust argument with historical evidence are crucial elements of successful A Level History essays. In terms of revision, an organized schedule, active engagement with sources, and varied study techniques contribute to a comprehensive understanding of historical events. By adopting these tips, you can navigate the complexities of A Level History with confidence, mastering both the art of essay writing and the nuances of historical analysis. Remember, excellence in A Level History is not just about memorization but about the ability to critically analyze and interpret the past.

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

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.

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How To Write An A level History Essay

Writing good history essays rely on several things, but the main things that come to mind are remembering key facts and getting your timing right. In an ideal world, you’d have hours and hours to think over the question, sprawl the facts across the page, and explain your points in detail without rushing.

Unfortunately, with most cases in essay subjects, history usually has time-sensitive exams. So how can you combat this whilst also getting the best grade? Let’s find out!

Read the question carefully

Even though you’re writing against the clock, you must always read the question carefully to know what the examiner is really asking you.

Underlining or highlighting the keywords in the question may be helpful, especially for visual learners. List out the key points or key facts that you think may relate to the question so that you don’t have to try and remember your facts and knowledge later on in the essay – getting everything down on the exam paper at the start in note-form can create relief.

Structuring the introduction

A strong introduction is vital for a good grade, with it being the first impression that an examiner gets of you. You’ll need to give a clear, coherent answer to the essay question within the first sentence of your introduction to give the examiner a clear idea of your judgement and how your essay is going to play out. You can get expert help with this by taking up regular online history tuition . After giving a judgement, you’ll want to list the factors you’re going to talk about in your essay, which will most likely be the focus of each paragraph.

Because of timing, students commonly focus on two or three factors concerning the question. Give a little explanation of why each of these factors is relevant to the essay question before linking back to the question and reminding the examiner of your final judgement.

The main paragraphs

There are different types of essay in history, including the standard essay as well as the thematic essay – in which you usually compare and contrast different points. For the standard essay, the most common written piece, you’ll need to do several things for your main paragraphs.

Focusing on one factor at a time, you should always link back to the question and give a judgement, much like in the introduction. Then you’ll want to include a point, evidence, explain structure, in which you’ll make a statement, prove this statement with a fact (which you will have to have memorised unless a written source is provided), and explain why this is relevant. Including your own knowledge is key to getting better grades in history, making revision absolutely essential.

The conclusion

You may be running short on time at this point, but conclusions should still be strong to earn your high grade. Reinforce your judgement and why you’re arguing this, and go over why the factors you have chosen are relevant to your answer. Perhaps make a judgement on which factor is most relevant and give a final link back to the question.

All of this can sometimes be challenging to fit into a specific time frame, but you have to be brutal with yourself. Perhaps reduce your number of factors from three to two if you realise that you’re struggling with time.

Keep your explanations tight and concise instead of waffly – you only usually need a couple of lines of explanation. And finally, the most useful tip for this would be to  practice . Practice can not only make you write essays of better quality and help you remember your knowledge, but it will also help you write faster. Hopefully, this will help you with your history essay writing!

If you, or your parents would like to find out more, please just get in touch via email at [email protected] or call us on 0800 689 1272 .

If you, or your parents would like to find out more, please just get in touch via email at [email protected] or call us on 0800 689 1272 . 

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• Written Essays

How to write source-based history essays

The biggest assessment task you will be required to complete is a written research essay which develops an argument and uses a range of sources.

All types of assessment tasks will need you to use essay-writing skills in some form, but their fundamental structure and purpose remains the same.

Therefore, learning how to write essays well is central to achieving high marks in History.

What is an 'essay'?

A History essay is a structured argument that provides historical evidence to substantiate its points. 

To achieve the correct structure for your argument, it is crucial to understand the separate parts that make up a written essay. 

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

Explanations for how to structure and write each of these paragraphs can be found below, along with examples of each: 

Essay paragraph writing advice

How to write an Introductory Paragraph

This page explains the purpose of an introduction, how to structure one and provides examples for you to read.

How to write Body Paragraphs

This page explains the purpose of body paragraphs, how to structure them and provides examples for you to read.

How to write a Conclusion

This page explains the purpose of conclusions, how to structure them and provides examples for you to read.

More essay resources

What do you need help with, download ready-to-use digital learning resources.

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How to Write An A-Level History Essay Structure

A major part of your A-level history coursework includes writing essays. While an essay essentially informs a reader about a certain topic, it is more than just writing all the information. So, examiners, especially during the A-levels, tend to focus on tricky things or skills like how well you have responded to the question, analysed the evidence, and built the arguments.

Unless you are exceptionally blessed, you need time to hone these skills, and poor grades are, thus, common in the beginning. Luckily, these abilities can be learned. Usually, when students struggle with such write-ups, they consider searching online: ‘Can I pay someone to write my essay ?’ to ease their academic burden. However, this guide has discussed some main steps to writing an A-level history essay. These will help you create a high-scoring essay.

Steps to Follow When Writing an A-level History Essay

Here are some crucial steps to writing a history essay:

1. Read the Question Carefully

Some students recite a prepared response without assessing what they are actually writing, resulting in a poorly-graded essay. Therefore, it is crucial to read the question several times to comprehend it. In addition, doing so will help you understand the importance of careful reading and annotation settings, such as identifying potential arguments to support your essay writing.

2. Create an Outline

Make an outline after you’ve finished analysing the essay question. This approach reduces the possibility of error when you hit a major roadblock. Furthermore, it acts as a roadmap when you can’t assemble your ideas in the essay.

The outline helps you brainstorm and comprehend what is essential to mention in your essay. Therefore, it’s a good idea to compile a list of key arguments supporting and refuting your position. You can also take help from A-level history essay examples online to understand how to go about the task. You are now prepared to move towards the introduction.

3. What Should Be in A History Essay Introduction?

You can state your main argument in the essay introduction. This is an exciting approach because it demonstrates you have a strong viewpoint and are willing to argue, focusing on keywords from the beginning. It also reveals to an examiner you have planned your essay, know what you will say, and can back it up with good evidence. However, usually, students don’t know how to start or what should be in a history essay introduction?

Therefore, any write-up introduction is often personalised. You can start with an interesting quote, disagree with the question, define a significant event, or do something else to set the scene, making it compelling. It will also show you have comprehensive knowledge of the subject matter, understand the problems at stake, and how to deal with them. This type of introduction will captivate readers, impress them, and pique their interest.

4. Write Main Body Paragraphs

Now you know what should be in a history essay introduction; it’s time to work on the main body paragraphs. You will support your case in the main body. However, remember you are making arguments, not telling a story.

You’ve already distinguished the keywords in the question. So, now it’s time to put them to use. Each paragraph must reference the keywords in a meaningful way. Be ruthless – you should carefully select only what is required to back up your argument.

5. Conclude Your History Essay

In conclusion, you summarise what you have written in the main body. This is the last thing an examiner reads. A good conclusion can save a bad essay and seal the deal on a good note.

It is the point where you tie the threads of your argument together and hammer home your points, leaving the audience in no doubt about your answer.

You should refer specifically to the question’s keywords and reinforce the points you made in the main body. But, above all, it should not contain anything new and restate your argument.

How to Answer A Source Question In A-Level History?

You might need to write the answer source question in your history essay, but you don’t know how to answer a source question in a-level history, so here are some tips you can keep in mind while writing an answer:

• Indicate how dependable you might expect the source of a particular type of question to be • Avoid using the word ‘biased’ • Indicate the source’s specific purpose • Include information about the author, the audience, or the time • Mention what is exaggerated or omitted, and then return to your question

Thus, following these tips, you will better understand how to answer a source question in a-level history.

A-Level History Essay Examples

Now you know how to work on a history essay.

Here’s a list of A-level history essay example topics you can work on: • The soldiers from India who fought in World War I • The involvement of America in the Korean War • Examples of music created due to political causes • What were the events that led to the Roman Empire’s demise? • The hippie movement of the 1960s • The incidents that led to Saudi Arabia’s emergence • The British music industry’s foray into the US market

These are some topics you can write on. Moreover, if you still feel it’s not easy for you to write A-level history essays, you can always consider taking essay writing services from us to meet your academic requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. how many paragraphs should an a level history essay be.

An A-level history essay should have at least three paragraphs, but four paragraphs are also recommended.

2. How do you write a 20-mark history essay a level?

For writing a 20-marks history A-level essay, you should begin with a brief introduction. So, you should be presenting your thesis statement at this stage. Then, the main body of the argument should follow the pattern of Point, Evidence, and Describe.

Make a point at this stage, back it up with some evidence, and explain what it indicates. You must also evaluate these points to get excellent marks while demonstrating your claim is stronger. Finally, summarise your arguments to conclude, but don’t add new information.

3. How do you write a high school history essay?

Writing a high school history essay requires students to follow essential steps, including:

• Consider the background information that the reader should be aware of in the introductory paragraph • Define any keywords • Assess which ideas will require the cited assistance • Determine how each idea contributes to the main argument • Make a list of key points to go over in the conclusion

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A guide to writing history essays

This guide has been prepared for students at all undergraduate university levels. Some points are specifically aimed at 100-level students, and may seem basic to those in upper levels. Similarly, some of the advice is aimed at upper-level students, and new arrivals should not be put off by it.

The key point is that learning to write good essays is a long process. We hope that students will refer to this guide frequently, whatever their level of study.

Why do history students write essays?

Essays are an essential educational tool in disciplines like history because they help you to develop your research skills, critical thinking, and writing abilities. The best essays are based on strong research, in-depth analysis, and are logically structured and well written.

An essay should answer a question with a clear, persuasive argument. In a history essay, this will inevitably involve a degree of narrative (storytelling), but this should be kept to the minimum necessary to support the argument – do your best to avoid the trap of substituting narrative for analytical argument. Instead, focus on the key elements of your argument, making sure they are well supported by evidence. As a historian, this evidence will come from your sources, whether primary and secondary.

The following guide is designed to help you research and write your essays, and you will almost certainly earn better grades if you can follow this advice. You should also look at the essay-marking criteria set out in your course guide, as this will give you a more specific idea of what the person marking your work is looking for.

Where to start

First, take time to understand the question. Underline the key words and consider very carefully what you need to do to provide a persuasive answer. For example, if the question asks you to compare and contrast two or more things, you need to do more than define these things – what are the similarities and differences between them? If a question asks you to 'assess' or 'explore', it is calling for you to weigh up an issue by considering the evidence put forward by scholars, then present your argument on the matter in hand.

A history essay must be based on research. If the topic is covered by lectures, you might begin with lecture and tutorial notes and readings. However, the lecturer does not want you simply to echo or reproduce the lecture content or point of view, nor use their lectures as sources in your footnotes. They want you to develop your own argument. To do this you will need to look closely at secondary sources, such as academic books and journal articles, to find out what other scholars have written about the topic. Often your lecturer will have suggested some key texts, and these are usually listed near the essay questions in your course guide. But you should not rely solely on these suggestions.

Tip : Start the research with more general works to get an overview of your topic, then move on to look at more specialised work.

Crafting a strong essay

Before you begin writing, make an essay plan. Identify the two-to-four key points you want to make. Organize your ideas into an argument which flows logically and coherently. Work out which examples you will use to make the strongest case. You may need to use an initial paragraph (or two) to bring in some context or to define key terms and events, or provide brief identifying detail about key people – but avoid simply telling the story.

An essay is really a series of paragraphs that advance an argument and build towards your conclusion. Each paragraph should focus on one central idea. Introduce this idea at the start of the paragraph with a 'topic sentence', then expand on it with evidence or examples from your research. Some paragraphs should finish with a concluding sentence that reiterates a main point or links your argument back to the essay question.

A good length for a paragraph is 150-200 words. When you want to move to a new idea or angle, start a new paragraph. While each paragraph deals with its own idea, paragraphs should flow logically, and work together as a greater whole. Try using linking phrases at the start of your paragraphs, such as 'An additional factor that explains', 'Further', or 'Similarly'.

We discourage using subheadings for a history essay (unless they are over 5000 words in length). Instead, throughout your essay use 'signposts'. This means clearly explaining what your essay will cover, how an example demonstrates your point, or reiterating what a particular section has added to your overall argument.

Remember that a history essay isn't necessarily about getting the 'right' answer – it's about putting forward a strong case that is well supported by evidence from academic sources. You don't have to cover everything – focus on your key points.

In your introduction or opening paragraph you could indicate that while there are a number of other explanations or factors that apply to your topic, you have chosen to focus on the selected ones (and say why). This demonstrates to your marker that while your argument will focus on selected elements, you do understand the bigger picture.

The classic sections of an essay

Introduction.

• Establishes what your argument will be, and outlines how the essay will develop it
• A good formula to follow is to lay out about 3 key reasons that support the answer you plan to give (these points will provide a road-map for your essay and will become the ideas behind each paragraph)
• If you are focusing on selected aspects of a topic or particular sources and case studies, you should state that in your introduction
• Define any key terms that are essential to your argument
• Keep your introduction relatively concise – aim for about 10% of the word count
• Consists of a series of paragraphs that systematically develop the argument outlined in your introduction
• Each paragraph should focus on one central idea, building towards your conclusion
• Paragraphs should flow logically. Tie them together with 'bridge' sentences – e.g. you might use a word or words from the end of the previous paragraph and build it into the opening sentence of the next, to form a bridge
• Also be sure to link each paragraph to the question/topic/argument in some way (e.g. use a key word from the question or your introductory points) so the reader does not lose the thread of your argument
• Ties up the main points of your discussion
• Should link back to the essay question, and clearly summarise your answer to that question
• May draw out or reflect on any greater themes or observations, but you should avoid introducing new material
• If you have suggested several explanations, evaluate which one is strongest

Using scholarly sources: books, journal articles, chapters from edited volumes

Try to read critically: do not take what you read as the only truth, and try to weigh up the arguments presented by scholars. Read several books, chapters, or articles, so that you understand the historical debates about your topic before deciding which viewpoint you support. The best sources for your history essays are those written by experts, and may include books, journal articles, and chapters in edited volumes. The marking criteria in your course guide may state a minimum number of academic sources you should consult when writing your essay. A good essay considers a range of evidence, so aim to use more than this minimum number of sources.

Tip : Pick one of the books or journal articles suggested in your course guide and look at the author's first few footnotes – these will direct you to other prominent sources on this topic.

Don't overlook journal articles as a source. They contain the most in-depth research on a particular topic. Often the first pages will summarise the prior research into this topic, so articles can be a good way to familiarise yourself with what else has 'been done'.

Edited volumes can also be a useful source. These are books on a particular theme, topic or question, with each chapter written by a different expert.

One way to assess the reliability of a source is to check the footnotes or endnotes. When the author makes a claim, is this supported by primary or secondary sources? If there are very few footnotes, then this may not be a credible scholarly source. Also check the date of publication, and prioritise more recent scholarship. Aim to use a variety of sources, but focus most of your attention on academic books and journal articles.

Paraphrasing and quotations

A good essay is about your ability to interpret and analyse sources, and to establish your own informed opinion with a persuasive argument that uses sources as supporting evidence. You should express most of your ideas and arguments in your own words. Cutting and pasting together the words of other scholars, or simply changing a few words in quotations taken from the work of others, will prevent you from getting a good grade, and may be regarded as academic dishonesty (see more below).

Direct quotations can be useful tools if they provide authority and colour. For maximum effect though, use direct quotations sparingly – where possible, paraphrase most material into your own words. Save direct quotations for phrases that are interesting, contentious, or especially well-phrased.

A good writing practice is to introduce and follow up every direct quotation you use with one or two sentences of your own words, clearly explaining the relevance of the quote, and putting it in context with the rest of your paragraph. Tell the reader who you are quoting, why this quote is here, and what it demonstrates. Avoid simply plonking a quotation into the middle of your own prose. This can be quite off-putting for a reader.

• Only include punctuation in your quote if it was in the original text. Otherwise, punctuation should come after the quotation marks. If you cut out words from a quotation, put in three dots (an ellipsis [ . . .]) to indicate where material has been cut
• If your quote is longer than 50 words, it should be indented and does not need quotation marks. This is called a block quote (use these sparingly: remember you have a limited word count and it is your analysis that is most significant)
• Quotations should not be italicised

Referencing, plagiarism and Turnitin

When writing essays or assignments, it is very important to acknowledge the sources you have used. You risk the charge of academic dishonesty (or plagiarism) if you copy or paraphrase words written by another person without providing a proper acknowledgment (a 'reference'). In your essay, whenever you refer to ideas from elsewhere, statistics, direct quotations, or information from primary source material, you must give details of where this information has come from in footnotes and a bibliography.

Your assignment may be checked through Turnitin, a type of plagiarism-detecting software which checks assignments for evidence of copied material. If you have used a wide variety of primary and secondary sources, you may receive a high Turnitin percentage score. This is nothing to be alarmed about if you have referenced those sources. Any matches with other written material that are not referenced may be interpreted as plagiarism – for which there are penalties. You can find full information about all of this in the History Programme's Quick Guide Referencing Guide contained in all course booklets.

Final suggestions

Remember that the easier it is to read your essay, the more likely you are to get full credit for your ideas and work. If the person marking your work has difficulty reading it, either because of poor writing or poor presentation, they will find it harder to grasp your points. Try reading your work aloud, or to a friend/flatmate. This should expose any issues with flow or structure, which you can then rectify.

Make sure that major and controversial points in your argument are clearly stated and well- supported by evidence and footnotes. Aspire to understand – rather than judge – the past. A historian's job is to think about people, patterns, and events in the context of the time, though you can also reflect on changing perceptions of these over time.

Things to remember

• Write history essays in the past tense
• Generally, avoid sub-headings in your essays
• Avoid using the word 'bias' or 'biased' too freely when discussing your research materials. Almost any text could be said to be 'biased'. Your task is to attempt to explain why an author might argue or interpret the past as they do, and what the potential limitations of their conclusions might be
• Use the passive voice judiciously. Active sentences are better!
• Be cautious about using websites as sources of information. The internet has its uses, particularly for primary sources, but the best sources are academic books and articles. You may use websites maintained by legitimate academic and government authorities, such as those with domain suffixes like .gov .govt .ac or .edu
• Keep an eye on word count – aim to be within 10% of the required length. If your essay is substantially over the limit, revisit your argument and overall structure, and see if you are trying to fit in too much information. If it falls considerably short, look into adding another paragraph or two
• Leave time for a final edit and spell-check, go through your footnotes and bibliography to check that your references are correctly formatted, and don't forget to back up your work as you go!

Other useful strategies and sources

• Student Learning Development , which offers peer support and one-on-one writing advice (located near the central library)
• Harvard College's guide to writing history essays (PDF)
• Harvard College's advice on essay structure
• Victoria University's comprehensive essay writing guide (PDF)

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• How to Write a Great Essay for Different A-Level Subjects

In previous articles, we’ve given you lots of advice on how to write the perfect essay.

You should also read…

• 6 Practical Tips for Writing Better Essays
• How to Do Research for an Excellent Essay

However, the skills we’ve discussed up to now have been generic, and have not taken into account the fact that different subjects require different skills when it comes to writing excellent essays for them. In this article, we look at the particular skills needed to write great essays for individual A-level subjects, so that you can familiarise yourself with what you need to do to excel in whatever A-levels you happen to be studying.

Good English literature essays revolve around intelligent interpretation. The problem many students have with this is organising their interpretations into a tightly structured essay that flows well; many simply let their ideas run wild and flit aimlessly between one point and the next. To combat this problem, you need to consider the writer’s overall aims and then show how they have conveyed those aims, paragraph by paragraph, with each paragraph devoted to a particular technique or focus. A good structure to use is as follows:

• Point – make a statement, such as “Brontë uses the bleakness of the moorland setting to reflect Heathcliff’s temperament.”
• Explanation – elaborate on the statement in more detail. In this example, your explanation would involve explaining the parallels between Heathcliff and the moors – their unpredictability and wildness, for instance, and the violence of the weather mirroring Heathcliff’s violent personality.
• Evidence – now provide quotes from the text to back up what you mean. In the Heathcliff example, you could quote specific words and phrases that show similarities in the way Heathcliff is described and the way in which the moorland landscape and weather are described.
• Reiterate – close off the paragraph by reiterating the point, and perhaps developing it a little further or introducing the idea you’re going to carry into the next paragraph. For example, “This ties in with a wider theme running through the book as a whole, which is that nature parallels human emotions.”

Good English essays pay close attention to detail, noting specific words, phrases and literary devices a writer has used, and to what effect. They quote liberally from the text in order to support each point, deconstructing the writing and analysing the use of language; they look at different interpretations, seeing beyond the surface and picking up on possible deeper meanings and connotations. But they also consider the meaning of the piece as a whole, and the overall effect created by the specific details noted. All this should be considered within the framework of the genre and context of the piece of writing. For instance, a poem by William Wordsworth would be considered within the context of the Romantic poets, and might be compared with work by contemporary poets such as Shelley or Keats; the historical background might also be touched upon where relevant (such as the Industrial Revolution when discussing the poetry of William Blake).

Though it’s also a humanities subject, History requires its own very particular set of skills that differ to an appreciable degree from those expected of you in English. A history essay is unequivocal about its writer’s opinion, but this opinion must be based on a solid analysis of evidence that very often can’t be taken as fact. Evidence must be discussed in terms of its reliability, or lack thereof. The good historian considers what biases may be inherent in a source, what vested interest the source might have, and what viewpoint that source was written from. For instance, you might analyse a source by discussing whether or not the person was present at the events they are describing; how long after the events they were writing (and therefore whether they are remembering it accurately if they were there, or whether they are getting their information second or third hand from someone else; and if so, how reliable the original source is); whether they are trying to show evidence to support a particular political view; and so on. So, each time you make a point, back it up with evidence, and consider the strengths and weaknesses of that evidence. A good history essay makes connections between what’s been written about, considering how issues interrelate, so think about how what you’re writing about ties in with other things; what was the impact of the event you’re discussing, did it happen in isolation, and what were the events that led to it ?

It’s vital to look at both sides of the argument – or, where many possible viewpoints exist, to acknowledge these nuances. It’s fine to contradict yourself, provided you do so consciously; that is, you can build up an argument and then turn it on its head, observing that you are doing so (for example, “So far, so compelling; but what about the less well-known evidence from such and such?”). You can use quotes from historians you’ve read, but use these in the context of discussing scholarly opinion. Don’t quote a historian’s words as evidence of something, because this is only someone’s opinion – it’s not proof. Finally, where possible, use specialist terms to show that you know your stuff (“proletariat” instead of “workers”, for example).

The primary task that lies ahead of you in writing a French essay is, of course, to demonstrate your superior language skills. Keep the content itself very even-handed, sitting on the fence rather than presenting a forceful opinion that could distract attention away from the quality of your use of French. Focus on using as wide a variety of vocabulary and tenses as you can. It will help your essay if you can learn how to say more sophisticated phrases in French, of the sort you would use if you were writing an essay in English. This useful document from RealFrench.net, Writing Essays in French, will give you numerous useful French phrases to help you put together an impressive essay, including the vocabulary you need to present a balanced argument.

Geography is a subject that crosses the divide between the sciences and the humanities , considering both physical processes and human activities (and their effects on the world around us). Essays for Geography may differ depending on which of these focuses the essay is discussing, and the evidence you might include in your essay could vary from phenomena observed and data gathered in the natural world to the results of population censuses. To write a good Geography essay, you’ll need to include both theory and detailed, real-world case studies to support your answer. Mention specific places by name, and communicate the facts accurately. Your teacher will be assessing not just your knowledge, but your ability to support what you say with relevant information that proves it. You shouldn’t just rattle off everything you know about a particular case study; you should deploy relevant facts from the case study to support a specific point you’re trying to make. Keep linking each point back to the question, so that you’re always working towards answering it; this also helps you ensure that everything you include is actually relevant to the question. Showing that you’ve thought about an issue from multiple perspectives, and that you appreciate how they interrelate, is important in Geography. You can do this by organising the content of your essay into categories, considering different factors in turn, such as the scale of the issue, and the timeframe and environment involved. Discuss the various factors involved logically, one by one, such as the environmental impact of climate change or a natural disaster (such as a tsunami or volcanic eruption), followed by its physical, economic, social and political implications. Acknowledging the numerous nuances of the situation will demonstrate your appreciation of its complexity and show that you are thinking at a high level.

Classical Civilisations

As the study of the ancient world (primarily ancient Rome and Greece), Classical Civilisations combines archaeology and history, looking both at what survives materially (from small finds, to art and sculpture, to temples) and what survives in the way of texts by ancient authors. A good essay for this subject analyses, evaluates and interprets. The historical elements of the subject will require the same set of skills we discussed for History earlier, while the archaeological components of this subject require slightly different skills. With your archaeologist hat on, your job becomes similar to that of a detective, piecing together clues. Archaeology crosses over into science, and with that comes scientific considerations such as how archaeological evidence has been gathered – the methods used, their reliability, whether or not they could have been tampered with, how accurately they were recorded, and so on. You’ll look at a variety of different types of evidence, too, from the finds themselves to maps of the local topography. As with Geography, for which you’re required to learn lots of detailed case studies and names, you’ll need to learn plenty of examples of sites and finds to use as sources of evidence in building up a picture of the ancient world. And, as with any subject, looking at both sides of any argument is crucial to good grades. If the evidence you’re discussing could show one thing, but it could also show another, don’t just present one possibility – show that you’ve thought in depth about it and consider all the possible interpretations.

Science subjects

The sciences – Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics – are generally less essay-focused, so we’re grouping them together here because the essay skills required for each of these subjects are very similar. While the fundamentals of scientific essay writing are the same as any other subject – having a logical structure, well-developed argument, and so on – there are a few subject-specific considerations to bear in mind, and some common pitfalls to watch out for. The first is that there is no room for opinion in a scientific essay; unless you’re specifically asked for it, leave your own thoughts out of it and focus instead on a completely objective discussion of the evidence gathered through scientific research, which will most probably be quantitative data. Avoid vague language such as “it is thought that…”; be as precise as possible. Start with a hypothesis, and then discuss the research that supports or disproves it. Back up every statement you make with solid data; it’s not enough simply to drop in the name of the research, so briefly describe what the findings were and why they prove the statement you’ve just made. Another mistake many students make is to confuse cause and effect; this arises because of the tendency to assume that correlation implies causation, which is a common logical fallacy. Just because two things appear to be related, it doesn’t mean that one caused the other, and committing this error in an essay is a major faux pas that will lose you marks. It’s also a good idea to ensure that you’ve included every piece of research that could be relevant; if you don’t, you could be leaving out a crucial piece of evidence. Finally, mention any limitations there may have been with the methodology used to gather the data you discuss.

Psychology essays are best approached with a scientific mindset, but it’s far more difficult to prove anything in this subject – and this should be acknowledged in your essay. The task becomes one of assessing which theory is the more probable one, based on an analysis of the data from various studies. Make liberal reference to named and dated psychological experiments and research, but acknowledge the fact that there may be more than one theory that could account for the same set of results. When these experiments are quoted as evidence, this should be done with reference to any possible limitations of how the experiment was conducted (such as a small sample size). If you’ve reached the end of this article, you’re now equipped with the knowledge to write fantastic essays guaranteed to impress your teachers. You’re also well on the way to thinking in the right way for university-level essays, so keep working on these skills now and you’ll find it much easier to make the leap from sixth former to undergraduate.

Image credits: banner ; Wuthering Heights ; Diet of Worms ; factory workers ; Charioteer ; Hubble Space Telescope ; Psychology . 

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How To Write An Essay

Gareth Affleck looks at beginnings, middles and ends.

A-level history is all about writing essays. No matter how much you know, if you can't: write a good essay you will not do well. Unfortunately, a good essay does not just consist of writing all you know about a given topic; at A-level examiners tend to insist on tricky things like answering the question, analysis rather than narrative and including information to support your point of view. Unless you are particularly gifted, these skills take time to learn and poor marks are common early on. Fortunately, however, these skills can be learnt. Although every essay will demand a unique answer, there are techniques common to all essays which will ensure that you don't go too far wrong. First some general points.

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Read the question

This sounds too obvious to mention. But every year some students see a word or phrase in the title and proceed to reel off an a prepared answer without considering whether what they are writing actually addresses the question asked. This will be immediately obvious to anyone reading the essay and gain you a few marks. Read the question several times to make sure you understand what it is asking.

Analyse the question

When you have read the question should then analyse it. This is vital – many people do not make the distinction between what the question is asking and what the question is about. By breaking down the title into key words (the issue to be considered) and topic words (the subject matter), you can ensure that you actually answer the question rather than provide a simple narrative of events. A look at a couple of examples will show what I mean: 

• Examine the motives that influenced the religious policies of Louis XIV
• Main topic – religious policies of Louis XIV
• Key word – motives
• How far was Henry VII’s foreign policy successful?
• Main topic – Henry VII’s foreign policy
• Key word – successful?

This is without doubt the most vital part of writing an essay. It is your plan that determines what approach you take to answering the question. If you have written your plan properly, you will know exactly what your answer is going to be – this is not something that should be decided while you are writing your essay. More importantly, your plan will ensure that you actually answer the question. Everything you write must be related to the question, and without a plan it is all too easy to lose focus and write irrelevant nonsense. Not answering the question is the most common failing in A-level essays, and there is nothing a teacher likes doing more than crossing out huge chunks of an essay with the word 'irrelevant'! Write a good plan and this won't happen to you.

Once you have made your plan, you are ready to begin. How do you start an essay? Unfortunately there is no hard and fast rule – it will depend very much on each individual title. However, one thing is certain: your introduction must make a good impression. It is the first thing anyone will read: if it fails to grip, the rest of the essay will have to be very good to retrieve the situation. Ideally your introduction should sparkle, leaving the impression 'Wow, this girl knows what she's talking about: I want to read more'. At the very least it must be competent. Preferably, it should also be short – if your introduction lasts much more than a third of a page, you have missed the point. So, faced with a blank piece of paper, what do you actually write?

Let's consider the title 'In 1680 Louis XIV was awarded the title 'Great'. Considering his reign as a whole, did he merit it?' The safe way to begin is simply to state what you are going to do: sum up in a few sentences what the question is asking and say how you are going to answer it. This approach will not excite an examiner, but as long as you have identified the key areas for investigation (which you will have worked out in your plan), you will have made a satisfactory start.

Another approach is actually to state your answer in the introduction and then go on to prove your case in the essay. This approach is far mare exciting because it shows that you have a definite point of view, and are prepared to argue it. It shows an examiner that you have planned your essay, know what you are going to say and in all probability will support it with good evidence.

The final type of introduction is far more individual You might use an interesting quote, describe a significant event, take issue with the question or otherwise set the scene It is hard to define, but the effect will be to show that you have complete mastery of the subject, understand the issues at stake and will be dealing with them thoroughly.

This kind of introduction will grip readers, impress them and make them want to know more. It’s also very difficult to write! Not everyone can do this but, as long as you follow some of the guidelines above, you will avoid shooting yourself in the foot before you have even begun.

The main body of the essay is where you prove your case. Once you have planned your essay, this section will almost write itself It is just a question of filling in the gaps. You will know what paragraphs you are going to write and what information you are going to use. However, remember that you are making an argument, not narrating a story. You have already identified the key words in the question – now is the time to use them. Every paragraph must refer in some way to the key words or it will be irrelevant. Be ruthless – you will have far more information than you need and must select carefully only that which you need to support your argument.

However, you must equally avoid an essay consisting only of argument – you must not make unsubstantiated claims. For everything you say you must have a supporting fact or example – otherwise your essay will be just so much hot air. This balance between analysis and supporting detail is what makes up the skill of' essay writing, and takes time to learn. Once you have done so, success will be yours.

After all your efforts making notes, you will naturally want to use some of them in your essay – that is why you made them. However, you must be very careful how you use quotes. They can only be used in a discussion of various historians' paints of view, i.e. 'Wilkinson says..., but Shennan says...', or to sum up an argument you have already proved. What they absolutely 100% can never be used for is to prove a point. The most common use of quotes is 'Wilkinson says that...', with no further information. This does not prove your point. A quote from an historian, however well respected, is not proof. Saying that Wilkinson has said something does not prove that what he has said is true. If you are going to use a quote you must support it with the relevant facts or examples, just as if' it was your own words, or you will gain no marks for your carefully memorised notes.

Conclusions

The conclusion is where you sum up what you have said in your essay. It is absolutely vital – never fail to write one. This is the last thing an examiner reads and counts for a great deal: a good conclusion can rescue an indifferent essay and set the seal on a good one. It is here that you draw together the threads of your argument and hammer home your points, leaving the reader in no doubt as to your answer. You should refer explicitly to the key words of the question and reinforce the points you made in the main body. Above all it should contain nothing new – it is simply a restatement of your argument. If there is anything you have not already said it is too late now!

Gareth Affleck taught History at Stockport Grammar School

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A-Level History: Strategies for Success

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A-level history has a fantastic reputation for developing students' analytical and critical skills which is a great preparation for university. However, many students struggle to demonstrate these skills in their exams, even though they put hours into their revision. In this article you'll find a summary of my conversation with Zoe Holland, a history teacher with over 20 years' experience and who has also been an A-Level history examiner for quick fixes and study strategies to help students improve their grades in A-level history fast.

If you'd like to listen to the full conversation, use the podcast player above or find The School Success Formula podcast on Apple podcasts or in your podcast player of choice.

Where are A-level history students right now?

Year 13 students were left wondering for a long time how they were going to be assessed this summer. Year 12 students have suffered an equal amount of disruption and there is a question mark over how they will be assessed next year.

Most students are hard-working and what the best grades possible – but they're feeling anxious and overwhelmed by the fact that their education has been so badly disrupted in the last year.

Zoe gives the example of the year 12 cohort that she teaches who have been put into a ten-day isolation for the second time since schools reopened in March.

It would be great to have some clarity for the current year 12 about how they're going to be assessed next year. Many teachers are already assessing them more as an insurance policy, in case they're asked for a bank of evidence to back up their grades next year.

The right mindset for the current situation

If students are being assessed more often than they're used to it's best to look on this as a positive thing. We know from the research that students who are tested more often have better recall of facts and exam skills – so it's good in the long-term to be doing this.

In many ways, particularly for those students who don't react well to exams, this is a golden situation. With a good attitude and positive mindset students can definitely bank some good grades.

What makes a good history A-Level student?

To be a good history A-level student you need the toolkit of a good historian. Many students say that history is the subject they find the hardest out of all their A-Levels.

Some students revise very hard, but that doesn't necessarily translate into the top marks. This is because history isn't about what you know, it's about how you approach the different types of exam questions e.g. extract questions and essays.

A-level history extract questions

Many students are good at talking about the reliability of a source, but many aren't as good at talking about the value of a source.

We judge of value of a source by how well it helps us to answer the question we're trying to answer – for A-level history students this is the exam question.

Students should avoid superficial comments, but give more sophisticated answers that delve more deeply into the provenance of a source.

There is so much a student can do, other than revising knowledge, to boost their grade. We will be looking at these during the  How to Revise A-Level History Masterclass .

How to write an excellent A-level History essay

Sign-post your argument in your introduction.

One of the best things you can do is write a really good introduction that acts as a sign-post to where your argument is going. Argument in history is very important because it distinguishes between the descriptive essays, which get capped with lower marks, and the higher-level essays which contain analysis and evaluation. Students can quickly sign-post to the examiner, their teacher of the examiner that their essay is going to contain argument, analysis and evaluation in the introduction – this will immediately put them in contention for higher marks.

Refer back to the question in every paragraph

Structuring paragraphs in a way that makes them refer back to the question also helps with accessing higher marks.

Some students might be families with the ‘PEEL' method of structuring paragraphs. It might be better to think of ‘PEER' where the ‘R' means refer, to remind students to refer back to the question.

Make judgements throughout your essay

Many students will include lots of facts and knowledge, but unless they make mini-judgements, that also refer to the question, at the end of each paragraph their marks will be capped.

A warning sign is when you've spent a long time describing historical events rather than analysing or evaluating them. If you notice you've done this, get back on track straight away.

Historians shouldn't be telling the story, they should be interpreting what happened.

There is no standard answer in A-Level history

You shouldn't be looking to give the ‘right' answer in history, in the way you would be in maths or science. Instead, you should be coming up with a good argument that is backed up by the work of respected historians and your analysis and evaluation of their work.

This is an excellent preparation for further study.

What do students fear the most about A-Level history?

The biggest fear is the vast amount of dates – particularly in the breadth study there's an awful lot of history to cover.

It can seem like a very big step up from GCSE in terms of the quantity of content.

A strategy to help with the breadth study is to take economic, political and social history and look at them individually. An alternative way to look at it is with a timeline, which is a visual technique and stops you from making copious notes. It's a great way of spotting change and continuity, and the rate of change if it's occurring. Was it fast or slow? Was it internally or externally produced? How did it impact different groups of people? There are so many ways we can train our brains to go beyond the obvious to remember this vast array of subject matter.

Knowing too many dates can actually hinder you because you're tempted to stuff your questions with what you know, rather than what you think.

Work out which dates are important to remember and forget the rest – the themes are more important.

What mistakes do A-level History students make?

The main mistake is students being too superficial. They'll know buzzwords like ‘reliability' when it comes to sources, and they'll talk about a source being ‘biased' but that doesn't acknowledge the fact that a biased source is often useful to a historian. Unreliable sources  can be useful.

How important is your written style in A-Level History?

Anyone who is interested can be a good historian. Many students face challenges in their writing e.g. dyslexia but you can still be an excellent historian.

Written style is important because it helps you show the examiner that you are worthy of a certain level of marks. There are certain terms, whoever you are, that you can use in your historical writing e.g.

• This lead to
• This could be viewed as
• Consequently
• As a result of

Then put your more evaluative or analytical writing after this phrase.

An example would be talking about a certain historian, e.g. Eric Hobsbawm, one of the key historians of the twentieth century, was a Marxist. If students are able to say this and say why and how it will impact your interpretation of his work.

Would you like more help with how to revise A-Level History?

Join Zoe for the  How to Revise A-Level History Masterclass which is happening live on Saturday 1st May 2021 – or you can watch the recording any time after this date.

In the masterclass you'll discover:

• Which revision strategies to use for the breadth and depth studies so you don't get bogged down in dates, statistics and events, reducing your stress and concentrating on the important things to remember
• How to get better marks by looking at model answers that demonstrate how to move beyond the superficial to analyse and evaluate historical extracts
• The common mistakes that students make and how to avoid them
• The language of success at A-Level history including the words and terminology that enable you to show your skills of analysis and your substantiated and sustained judgements
• How to avoid just giving historial facts and answer the question to maximise your marks
• And much more!

Click here to sign-up for the  How to Revise A-Level History Masterclass

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5 Tips for Writing a General Paper Essay that Will Score You an 'A'

Students often fall into two camps when it comes to how they approach the General Paper (GP) essay. The first group believes religiously in spotting questions and the power of the memorised template essay. However, tweaks to familiar questions by crafty examiners can negate the template’s effectiveness, and what if the spotted questions fail to turn up altogether? The second group is the opposite, and regard GP as a subject they can breeze through without much studying. Just choose any question that looks easy or interesting, write what comes to mind and hope for the best, right? Sadly, the best is rarely achieved. You have probably been in one or even both of these groups at some point. Neither approach is entirely wrong or correct - they wouldn’t exist if they didn’t work to some extent. However, if your goal is to write a GP essay that will score you an A, then you will need more than an approach that works to some extent. 

Here are 5 tips from The Learning Lab that will help you improve your writing and your chance at an A for the General Paper. 

1. Read the Questions Carefully

You get a total of 12 questions to choose from for your GP essay. Take a moment to read all of them carefully. While you should choose a topic that you are familiar with or passionate about (e.g. tech, government legislation, foreign affairs, generation gaps), avoid choosing a question immediately just because it seems familiar. As your teachers would have told you, some questions are traps! You may have studied the Cold War and the demise of the Soviet Union in A-Level History, but that doesn’t mean you have the arguments and examples to adequately answer if communism is dead today. 

Conversely, you may find that some of the general knowledge you have absorbed in preparation for the exam can be applied to a question on a less familiar topic, and provides the breadth of examples that markers look for. A good practice is to shortlist two or three questions before you start planning, just in case you hit a snag when formulating your argument and need an alternative.

2. Plan Out Your Essay

Planning out your essay is essential for many reasons. Firstly, it helps you avoid the perils of jumping straight in with a template argument or no argument at all, only to realise after an hour that you haven’t really been answering the question. The subject may be called General Paper, yet your essay should be anything but. This is also when you spot the trap questions and steer clear. Secondly, it allows you to structure your points and counterpoints in a logical flow to best support your thesis statement and overall argument. Thirdly, planning enables you to take stock of the examples you have to back up your points.

Ask yourself:

Do you have enough to substantiate each point? 

Which example is better used for which point?

 Are there obvious gaps that you can’t think of a way to fill, and should you quickly go and look at another question instead?

3. A Clear and Concise Introduction is Better than a Stylish One

A good introduction in a GP essay does its job and quickly moves both you (the writer) and the reader on to the meat of the essay. It sets up your argument clearly and provides a preview of what is to come. Under timed conditions, style that piques the reader’s attention is a bonus. Remember that a complete essay with all points substantiated and a conclusion will always score better than an incomplete essay with an impressive and memorable introduction.

You should also avoid giving too detailed a description of your points in the introduction. A good rule is to keep the introduction as short as possible: you should not write much more than an opening sentence, a thesis statement, and a sentence to link your introduction to your first point. 

4. Link Your Arguments Together and Stay on Point

This is often the difference between an average essay and a good one, and between a good essay and an excellent one. The highest-scoring GP essays are not the ones with the most distinctive style or the most flowery language, but the ones with the tightest arguments and structure. Everything you write should aim to answer the question, so that your thesis statement, points, and examples mutually reinforce each other and your overall argument. Signposting is your best friend: leave the examiner in no doubt of which piece of evidence supports which point and why, and use keywords from the question and your thesis statement repeatedly. 

If a favourite example of yours doesn’t quite fit the argument you are crafting, cut it. Unlike Mathematics or the Science subjects where plonking down some calculations or facts could earn you some marks, in GP, it’s better to keep your examples on point rather than try to show everything you know.

5. Pay Attention to Grammar and Spelling 

While you don’t have to be Shakespeare to ace the General Paper exam, you do need to communicate what you have to say clearly. If you have followed the previous 4 tips to the letter, the last thing you want is to distract your marker from your compelling argument with basic spelling or punctuation errors. Writing essays under exam conditions can often be a mad rush, but it’s wise to slow down a little to make sure you don’t spell words wrongly or leave them out by mistake. And of course, if you happen to have time to spare after finishing, do read through your essay again!

Nurturing Independent Thinkers and Writers 

The ability to write clearly is an asset for students even when they move from the classroom to the working world, as effective communication is what greases the wheels of the corporate world.

At The Learning Lab, we want our students to go beyond simply learning how to read and write. Our teachers work closely with students to instil in them the fundamental principles of good writing. Find out more about our writing programmes here . 

The Learning Lab is now at 8 locations . Find a location that suits your needs.

If you have any questions about our range of programmes or class schedules, you may fill in the form below or contact us at 6733 8711 or  [email protected] .

The Learning Lab is now at  8 locations . Find a location that suits your needs.

If you have any questions about our range of programmes or class schedules, you may contact us at 6733 8711 or drop us an email at  [email protected] .

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