STEPS TO WRITING GOOD HISTORY ESSAYS

In 1919 the allies blamed Germany for starting World War One. Was this fair?

Step 1: Pick your topic

Step 2: Research – books, magazines, internet etc

Step 3: Underline the key words & decide where you stand on the topic – Yes/No/Maybe

Step 4: Use the key words as part of a brainstorm

Step 5: Prioritise the brainstorm (best idea = 1, second best idea = 2, etcetera)

Step 6: Start to write your supporting paragraphs using OFEEL

T – Topic Sentence - States your main idea in response to the topic

E – Evidence – supports your main idea with expert quotes or statistics

E - Explanation – explains why your evidence is important to your opinion / talks about the relationship between the evidence and the opinion

L – Linking – links you paragraph back to the topic

Step 7: Conference a supporting paragraph with the teacher

[Topic sentence] It was not fair for the allies to blame Germany for World War One when

the alliance system was at fault. [Fact or evidence] This is especially the case since Saldais

says “these defensive alliances divided Europe and increased suspicions and tensions”.

[Explanation] This shows us that the alliances increased tensions allowing World War One

to take place. Had it not been for these alliances Germany may not have gone to war

fearing Russia and her allies. Such a view highlights the importance alliances in causing

World War One. Without the alliance system Austria-Hungary’s conflict with Serbia would

not have escalated into a World War and remained a war between two countries. [Linking]

Therefore we can see that Germany had little to do with causing World War One, clearly the

alliance system was far more at fault that Germany ever was.

Step 8: Write your conclusion

A conclusion must be a logical and strongly worded summary of your contention and key

ideas.

Note: Remember not to introduce any new information in your conclusion!

[Contention] It was unfair for the allies to blame Germany for starting World War One when

Germany was clearly not at fault. [Main Idea 1] Without the assassination of Franz

Ferdinand the world would not have plunged headlong into a four year conflict. [Main Idea

2] Austria-Hungary should carry more blame than Germany, for had she not been so

unreasonable towards the Serbians war in all likelihood would again have been avoided.

[Main Idea 3] Thirdly, without the alliance system the World War which eventuated would

have been a far smaller conflict between two countries. [Main Idea 4] Finally, the blame for

World War One also rests with countries irrational militarism, which made many of the

great powers keen for power and the ability to put their large armies to the test.

Step 9: Write your introduction

A history introduction should give the reader the facts and information they need to get a

relevant background to the essay topic/event you are talking about. You should also ensure

that you include your contention.

[Background] On the 28th of June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by

Gavrilo Princip. Princip acted on behalf of the ‘Black Hand,’ a Serbian nationalist group.

Following the assassination of Ferdinand, Austria-Hungary pushed Serbia in the direction of

war by demanding of her things she could not give. Austria-Hungary’s subsequent

declaration of war on Serbia brought Serbia’s ally Russia into the war. Germany only

responding to Russia’s armament eventually declared war on Russia and invaded France

through Belgium. These events in turn activated a series of alliances that led to the Second

World War. After four years of bloody fight and the defeat of Germany and her Central

Power allies, there needed to be someone to blame for the 16 million dead and the 21

million wounded. [Contention] While the allies attempted to blame Germany this was not

fair and just plain wrong.