School of Humanities

School of Humanities

How to write a history essay

First, some general advice.

Try to answer the question that is set. This sounds painfully obvious, but quite a few essays manage to miss the main point entirely. Think very carefully what the question or problem means, then analyse your information in search of an answer.

Your answer must be utterly relevant to the question in hand. Every sentence must bear directly on the subject, and contribute directly to the answer.

Therefore, aim at analysis and exposition, rather than narration or description. Though some element of chronology is inevitable in most History essays, stress the significance of events in relation to the question asked.

Aim at clear, concise, exact expression; always re-read, checking grammar and spelling. Don't be ashamed to consult a dictionary - frequently!

Avoid vague or sweeping statements; try to be specific. Likewise, think carefully about generalizations; are they adequately supported by established facts? How true or accurate are they?

Never simply repeat sections from books or lectures; this is called regurgitation (or worse still, plagiarism) and is both lazy and dishonest. A marker will criticise these faults severely.

Legitimate quotation is quite a different case, but should be used sparingly. Quotes must be brief, strikingly apposite, and properly acknowledged in a footnote on the same page. (Observe how they are set out in scholarly books.)

What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.
Samuel JOHNSON (1709-1784)

Now, the formal requirements.

  1. Essays must be typed or word-processed, double-spaced on one side of the paper only (preferably A4).
  2. You should leave a wide margin on the left for the marker's comments.
  3. Number each page in the top right corner.
  4. Separate pages must be stapled at the top left corner.
  5. The first page must be clearly headed with:
    COURSE: HIST 130
    TUTORIAL GROUP: E
    TUTOR'S NAME: Dr. Smith
    YOUR NAME: John Brown
    ESSAY TOPIC:(in full)
  6. Length must not exceed the wordage stipulated, nor fall more than 100 words or so below the limit.
  7. Style for dates and rulers: Dates should always follow this form: 27 August 1946. Rulers' and Popes' names are always written thus: Henry IV, Innocent III (NOT Henry the third!)
  8. Footnotes must follow proper form: author, title underlined or italicised (city, publisher, year), page numbers.
    Book: J.H. Elliott, Europe Divided, 1559-1598 (London, Fontana, 1968), p.92.
     Collection: Studies in Diplomatic History, ed. R.M. Hatton and M.S. Anderson (London, 1970), pp.3-5.
     Article: J. Elphick, "What's Wrong with Emma? The Feminist Debate in Colonial Auckland", New Zealand Journal of History, Vol.9, No.2, Oct. 1975, pp.126-141.
    OR: 9(2), Oct. 1975, pp.126-141.
    Whichever form you use please be consistent throughout your essay.
  9. The last page must list the books and articles consulted in preparing the essay, in the same form as a footnote but without page references. This is your Bibliography. List in alphabetical order by author's surname.
  10. Take a photocopy, to keep in your file, just in case the submitted essay goes astray!
  11. Essays must be submitted by the due date, in a paper copy placed in the appropriate box provided on level 4 and also in electronic form for scrutiny on the Turnitin system.

Further Reading: We strongly recommend:

  • G.W. Rice, Guide to Writing History Essays (Christchurch, 1999)
  • J. Clanchy and B. Ballard, Essay Writing for Students (Longman, 1982).
  • R.J. Berry, The Essay Writing Guide (Department of English, University of Canterbury, 2nd edition, 1998).