1. Place your topic in historical context. Establish TIME & PLACE. Establish the zeitgeist (spirit of the times).

2. Allude to the SUB-TOPICS or categories you will discuss to support your thesis statement. IE. Political, social, economic, etc.

3. Create a clear, THESIS STATEMENT. Your thesis should allude to your subtopics and state what your essay will prove. [underline or highlight it!]

4. Tip: Focus on the question at hand—do NOT begin with a “flowery” sentence! Write in 3rd person (avoid I, you, us, we, etc.) Avoid absolute words (All, never, everyone, etc.)

No “laundry list!”

The “Top Bun” of your essay!4-6 sentences

1. Identify your sub-topic or category in the first sentence. You must have at least 3 groupings and use at least 2 docs for each group.

2. Include the documents that are relevant to support the ideas in the paragraph.

3. Example of how to reference documents: The 19c historian, Jacob Burkhardt, felt that ….(Doc. 9)

4. Use most of the documents given [70%].

5. Illustrate your content knowledge. Bring in supportive/ relevant outside information. This is critical!

6. Be sure to indicate Point-of-View (POV)/bias.

1. Identify your sub-topic or category in the first sentence. You must have at least 3 groupings and use at least 2 docs for each group.

2. Include the documents that are relevant to support the ideas in the paragraph.

3. Example of how to reference documents: The 19c historian, Jacob Burkhardt, felt that ….(Doc. 9)

4. Use most of the documents given [70%].

5. Illustrate your content knowledge. Bring in supportive/ relevant outside information. This is critical!

6. Be sure to indicate Point-of-View (POV)/bias.

About 8-12 sentences per paragraph3 or more Body Paragraphs

Point of ViewPoint of View• Remember that documents are not necessarily facts. The Type of doc., the occasion on which in was written, and Remember that documents are not necessarily facts. The Type of doc., the occasion on which in was written, and

the motive of the author all play a role in the value of the document. To best assess the value of a doc, analyze it the motive of the author all play a role in the value of the document. To best assess the value of a doc, analyze it thru TOMRAPSthru TOMRAPS

1

TType (of Doc)

What kind of doc is it. A political speech.? A political cartoon? A memoir written years later? A speech before a parliament? An eyewitness account? A private letter or a book meant for publication?*These will affect the value of the document. A political speech is a carefully crafted work meant to sway opinion whereas a private letter can be considered an honest opinion

2

OOccasion (of Doc)

When was the doc written? Did any major event just take place or was it written years later? What is the zeitgeist of the times. To whom is the author speaking?

3

MMotive (of Author)

Why is the author writing/ painting/ drawing the doc? Does he or she have an agenda?

4

RReliability (of Doc)

Is the document trustworthy? Remember, docs are not necessarily facts. More often, they are opinions. But, it doesn’t have to be factual to be valuable. A diary entry can be considered honest . A political cartoon can be reflective of attitudes of a certain group.

5

AAuthor (of Doc)

Who is the author? Name. Gender. What is the author’s social status? Is he or she a member of the second estate, a bourgeoisie, a king, a dictator, a serf, a proletariat? This is important in how they see the world (Weltanschauung).

6

PPosition (of Author)

What is the author’s opinion, attitude, about the historical event? What does statement of the document actually mean?

7

S 

Style (of Doc)

What type of language does the author use? Fiery rhetoric, a balanced and factual philosophical argument? Does a political cartoonist use sarcasm or mockery?

1. Start with a “concluding phrase.”

2. Restate your thesis statement a bit differently.

3. Restate your main points a bit differently

4. Put your essay answer in a larger historical perspective.

End of or beginning of some trend/movement/idea, etc.

Do NOT end on the note that this is the reason we are where we are today!

The “Bottom Bun” of your essay!

About 5-7 sentences