Guide to the Essay

The essay is a 4-5 page analysis of a topic related to the historical person chosen from the topics list.  The essay cannot be a biography, because that would be too extensive for a four-page paper.  Instead, the assignment is to answer a specific and significant historical question.  Each student should consult the instructor regarding their question, sources and provisional thesis before writing the final drafts.

Each essay must include at least two secondary sources and two primary sources.  Secondary sources are those written by historians about the past.  A primary source is something written or created in the time under consideration.  The most obvious choice for most students will be something written by the person in question.  Secondary sources cannot be taken from the internet.  They must be published books or articles either found in the library, or published sources available online.  These four (or more) sources should be cited in the text of the essay according to the Chicago style.  Click here for citation guide.

Be sure you do the following:

1. review guidelines for thesis statements in Essay Writing Guide
2. Underline the thesis statement in your First Page assignment and again in the final copy.
3. Use two secondary and two primary sources.
4. Cite your sources when you quote or paraphrase them, or when derive significant or unique ideas from them.  Ordinary, non-controversial facts do not usually require citation.

For more advice on essay writing, and on my grading methods, see my Essay Writing Guide.