historical argument essay example

Thesis Statements

What is a thesis statement.

Your thesis statement is one of the most important parts of your paper.  It expresses your main argument succinctly and explains why your argument is historically significant.  Think of your thesis as a promise you make to your reader about what your paper will argue.  Then, spend the rest of your paper–each body paragraph–fulfilling that promise.

Your thesis should be between one and three sentences long and is placed at the end of your introduction.  Just because the thesis comes towards the beginning of your paper does not mean you can write it first and then forget about it.  View your thesis as a work in progress while you write your paper.  Once you are satisfied with the overall argument your paper makes, go back to your thesis and see if it captures what you have argued.  If it does not, then revise it.  Crafting a good thesis is one of the most challenging parts of the writing process, so do not expect to perfect it on the first few tries.  Successful writers revise their thesis statements again and again.

A successful thesis statement:

• makes an historical argument
• takes a position that requires defending
• is historically specific
• is focused and precise
• answers the question, “so what?”

How to write a thesis statement:

Suppose you are taking an early American history class and your professor has distributed the following essay prompt:

“Historians have debated the American Revolution’s effect on women.  Some argue that the Revolution had a positive effect because it increased women’s authority in the family.  Others argue that it had a negative effect because it excluded women from politics.  Still others argue that the Revolution changed very little for women, as they remained ensconced in the home.  Write a paper in which you pose your own answer to the question of whether the American Revolution had a positive, negative, or limited effect on women.”

Using this prompt, we will look at both weak and strong thesis statements to see how successful thesis statements work.

While this thesis does take a position, it is problematic because it simply restates the prompt.  It needs to be more specific about how  the Revolution had a limited effect on women and  why it mattered that women remained in the home.

Revised Thesis:  The Revolution wrought little political change in the lives of women because they did not gain the right to vote or run for office.  Instead, women remained firmly in the home, just as they had before the war, making their day-to-day lives look much the same.

This revision is an improvement over the first attempt because it states what standards the writer is using to measure change (the right to vote and run for office) and it shows why women remaining in the home serves as evidence of limited change (because their day-to-day lives looked the same before and after the war).  However, it still relies too heavily on the information given in the prompt, simply saying that women remained in the home.  It needs to make an argument about some element of the war’s limited effect on women.  This thesis requires further revision.

Strong Thesis: While the Revolution presented women unprecedented opportunities to participate in protest movements and manage their family’s farms and businesses, it ultimately did not offer lasting political change, excluding women from the right to vote and serve in office.

Few would argue with the idea that war brings upheaval.  Your thesis needs to be debatable:  it needs to make a claim against which someone could argue.  Your job throughout the paper is to provide evidence in support of your own case.  Here is a revised version:

Strong Thesis: The Revolution caused particular upheaval in the lives of women.  With men away at war, women took on full responsibility for running households, farms, and businesses.  As a result of their increased involvement during the war, many women were reluctant to give up their new-found responsibilities after the fighting ended.

Sexism is a vague word that can mean different things in different times and places.  In order to answer the question and make a compelling argument, this thesis needs to explain exactly what  attitudes toward women were in early America, and  how those attitudes negatively affected women in the Revolutionary period.

Strong Thesis: The Revolution had a negative impact on women because of the belief that women lacked the rational faculties of men. In a nation that was to be guided by reasonable republican citizens, women were imagined to have no place in politics and were thus firmly relegated to the home.

This thesis addresses too large of a topic for an undergraduate paper.  The terms “social,” “political,” and “economic” are too broad and vague for the writer to analyze them thoroughly in a limited number of pages.  The thesis might focus on one of those concepts, or it might narrow the emphasis to some specific features of social, political, and economic change.

Strong Thesis: The Revolution paved the way for important political changes for women.  As “Republican Mothers,” women contributed to the polity by raising future citizens and nurturing virtuous husbands.  Consequently, women played a far more important role in the new nation’s politics than they had under British rule.

This thesis is off to a strong start, but it needs to go one step further by telling the reader why changes in these three areas mattered.  How did the lives of women improve because of developments in education, law, and economics?  What were women able to do with these advantages?  Obviously the rest of the paper will answer these questions, but the thesis statement needs to give some indication of why these particular changes mattered.

Strong Thesis: The Revolution had a positive impact on women because it ushered in improvements in female education, legal standing, and economic opportunity.  Progress in these three areas gave women the tools they needed to carve out lives beyond the home, laying the foundation for the cohesive feminist movement that would emerge in the mid-nineteenth century.

Thesis Checklist

When revising your thesis, check it against the following guidelines:

• Does my thesis make an historical argument?
• Does my thesis take a position that requires defending?
• Is my thesis historically specific?
• Is my thesis focused and precise?
• Does my thesis answer the question, “so what?”

Download as PDF

6265 Bunche Hall Box 951473 University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 90095-1473 Phone: (310) 825-4601

Other Resources

• UCLA Library
• Faculty Intranet
• Department Forms
• Office 365 Email
• Remote Help

Campus Resources

• Maps, Directions, Parking
• Academic Calendar
• University of California
• Terms of Use

Social Sciences Division Departments

• Aerospace Studies
• African American Studies
• American Indian Studies
• Anthropology
• Archaeology
• Asian American Studies
• César E. Chávez Department of Chicana & Chicano Studies
• Communication
• Conservation
• Gender Studies
• Military Science
• Naval Science
• Political Science

Writing a Thesis and Making an Argument

Almost every assignment you complete for a history course will ask you to make an argument. Your instructors will often call this your "thesis"– your position on a subject.

What is an Argument?

An argument takes a stand on an issue. It seeks to persuade an audience of a point of view in much the same way that a lawyer argues a case in a court of law. It is NOT a description or a summary.

• This is an argument: "This paper argues that the movie JFK is inaccurate in its portrayal of President Kennedy."
• This is not an argument: "In this paper, I will describe the portrayal of President Kennedy that is shown in the movie JFK."

What is a Thesis?

A thesis statement is a sentence in which you state an argument about a topic and then describe, briefly, how you will prove your argument.

• This is an argument, but not yet a thesis: "The movie ‘JFK’ inaccurately portrays President Kennedy."
• This is a thesis: "The movie ‘JFK’ inaccurately portrays President Kennedy because of the way it ignores Kennedy’s youth, his relationship with his father, and the findings of the Warren Commission."

A thesis makes a specific statement to the reader about what you will be trying to argue. Your thesis can be a few sentences long, but should not be longer than a paragraph. Do not begin to state evidence or use examples in your thesis paragraph.

A Thesis Helps You and Your Reader

Your blueprint for writing:

• Helps you determine your focus and clarify your ideas.
• Provides a "hook" on which you can "hang" your topic sentences.
• Can (and should) be revised as you further refine your evidence and arguments. New evidence often requires you to change your thesis.
• Gives your paper a unified structure and point.

Your reader’s blueprint for reading:

• Serves as a "map" to follow through your paper.
• Keeps the reader focused on your argument.
• Signals to the reader your main points.
• Engages the reader in your argument.

Tips for Writing a Good Thesis

• Find a Focus: Choose a thesis that explores an aspect of your topic that is important to you, or that allows you to say something new about your topic. For example, if your paper topic asks you to analyze women’s domestic labor during the early nineteenth century, you might decide to focus on the products they made from scratch at home.
• Look for Pattern: After determining a general focus, go back and look more closely at your evidence. As you re-examine your evidence and identify patterns, you will develop your argument and some conclusions. For example, you might find that as industrialization increased, women made fewer textiles at home, but retained their butter and soap making tasks.

Strategies for Developing a Thesis Statement

Idea 1. If your paper assignment asks you to answer a specific question, turn the question into an assertion and give reasons for your opinion.

Assignment: How did domestic labor change between 1820 and 1860? Why were the changes in their work important for the growth of the United States?

Beginning thesis: Between 1820 and 1860 women's domestic labor changed as women stopped producing home-made fabric, although they continued to sew their families' clothes, as well as to produce butter and soap. With the cash women earned from the sale of their butter and soap they purchased ready-made cloth, which in turn, helped increase industrial production in the United States before the Civil War.

Idea 2. Write a sentence that summarizes the main idea of the essay you plan to write.

Main Idea: Women's labor in their homes during the first half of the nineteenth century contributed to the growth of the national economy.

Idea 3. Spend time "mulling over" your topic. Make a list of the ideas you want to include in the essay, then think about how to group them under several different headings. Often, you will see an organizational plan emerge from the sorting process.

Idea 4. Use a formula to develop a working thesis statement (which you will need to revise later). Here are a few examples:

• Although most readers of ______ have argued that ______, closer examination shows that ______.
• ______ uses ______ and ______ to prove that ______.
• Phenomenon X is a result of the combination of ______, ______, and ______.

These formulas share two characteristics all thesis statements should have: they state an argument and they reveal how you will make that argument. They are not specific enough, however, and require more work.

As you work on your essay, your ideas will change and so will your thesis. Here are examples of weak and strong thesis statements.

• Unspecific thesis: "Eleanor Roosevelt was a strong leader as First Lady."  This thesis lacks an argument. Why was Eleanor Roosevelt a strong leader?
• Specific thesis: "Eleanor Roosevelt recreated the role of the First Lady by her active political leadership in the Democratic Party, by lobbying for national legislation, and by fostering women’s leadership in the Democratic Party."  The second thesis has an argument: Eleanor Roosevelt "recreated" the position of First Lady, and a three-part structure with which to demonstrate just how she remade the job.
• Unspecific thesis: "At the end of the nineteenth century French women lawyers experienced difficulty when they attempted to enter the legal profession."  No historian could argue with this general statement and uninteresting thesis.
• Specific thesis: "At the end of the nineteenth century French women lawyers experienced misogynist attacks from male lawyers when they attempted to enter the legal profession because male lawyers wanted to keep women out of judgeships."  This thesis statement asserts that French male lawyers attacked French women lawyers because they feared women as judges, an intriguing and controversial point.

Making an Argument – Every Thesis Deserves Its Day in Court

You are the best (and only!) advocate for your thesis. Your thesis is defenseless without you to prove that its argument holds up under scrutiny. The jury (i.e., your reader) will expect you, as a good lawyer, to provide evidence to prove your thesis. To prove thesis statements on historical topics, what evidence can an able young lawyer use?

• Primary sources: letters, diaries, government documents, an organization’s meeting minutes, newspapers.
• Secondary sources: articles and books from your class that explain and interpret the historical event or person you are writing about, lecture notes, films or documentaries.

How can you use this evidence?

• Make sure the examples you select from your available evidence address your thesis.
• Use evidence that your reader will believe is credible. This means sifting and sorting your sources, looking for the clearest and fairest. Be sure to identify the biases and shortcomings of each piece of evidence for your reader.
• Use evidence to avoid generalizations. If you assert that all women have been oppressed, what evidence can you use to support this? Using evidence works to check over-general statements.
• Use evidence to address an opposing point of view. How do your sources give examples that refute another historian’s interpretation?

Remember -- if in doubt, talk to your instructor.

Thanks to the web page of the University of Wisconsin at Madison’s Writing Center for information used on this page. See writing.wisc.edu/handbook for further information.

Search on OralHistory.ws Blog

Navigating Historical Debates: History Argumentative Essay Topics

Dipping your toes into the vast ocean of history is an adventure. Each dive deep into its depths brings a new perspective, a fresh understanding, or a challenging contradiction. As a student of history, you don’t just learn about the past; you argue, debate, and discuss it. That’s where “history argumentative essay topics” come in, giving you the perfect platform to exhibit your persuasive skills while furthering your historical understanding.

Table of content

The Importance of Studying History

History isn’t just a record of ancient days; it’s a vibrant tapestry woven with countless threads, each representing a story, an era, a civilization, or an individual. Understanding history empowers us to make sense of our present, forecast future patterns, and appreciate humanity’s collective journey. Delving into argumentative essays adds depth to this exploration, honing your critical thinking, research understanding, and writing prowess.

The Art of Writing an Argumentative History Essay

In a history argumentative essay, your task goes beyond presenting facts. It would help to form an opinion, defend it with strong evidence, and persuade your reader to view history through your lens. Such essays often explore controversial issues, diverse interpretations, or underrepresented perspectives, making them thrilling.

Remember, an effective argumentative essay balances rigor with creativity. Your arguments should be based on solid research, but your writing style should maintain the reader’s interest. Short sentences, active voice, and transitional words will help ensure your essay is clear, concise, and captivating.

History Argumentative Essay Topics: Your Guide to an Engaging Argument

Picking the right history argumentative essay topics is crucial. Your topic should spark your curiosity, offer ample sources for research, and pose a challenge that motivates you to explore, argue, and persuade. The past is brimming with potential argumentative essay topics, from historical events and famous figures to social movements and cultural trends.

Here are a collection of history argumentative essay topics spanning different eras, regions, and themes to get you started. Use them as they are, or let them inspire you to develop your own.

• The Crusades: Religious Devotion or Political Expediency?
• Was the Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Justifiable?
• The Impact of Colonialism: Development or Exploitation?
• The Role of Women in World War II: Homefront or Battlefield?
• The American Civil War: Slavery or States’ Rights?
• The French Revolution: Fight for Liberty or Reign of Terror?
• The Renaissance: A Cultural Rebirth or a Period of Conflict?
• Martin Luther King Jr. vs. Malcolm X: Who Had a Greater Impact on the Civil Rights Movement?
• The Age of Exploration: Discovery or Destruction?
• The Industrial Revolution: Progress or Plight?
• The Fall of the Roman Empire: Invaders or Internal Decay?
• Was the Cold War Inevitable Post-World War II?
• Christopher Columbus: Hero or Villain?
• The Impact of the Protestant Reformation: Unity or Division?
• The Age of Imperialism: Prosperity or Oppression?
• The Vietnam War: A Necessary Stand or a Futile Endeavor?
• The American Revolution: Liberty or Economic Motives?
• The Russian Revolution: People’s Uprising or Bolshevik Coup?
• The Enlightenment: Philosophical Breakthrough or Social Disruption?
• The Emancipation Proclamation: Sincere or Strategic?
• The Role of Propaganda in Nazi Germany
• Was Alexander the Great Really Great?
• The Partition of India: Religious Freedom or Colonial Divide-and-Rule?
• Did the Suffragette Movement Achieve Its Goals?
• The Cuban Missile Crisis: Near-Apocalypse or Diplomatic Triumph?
• The Influence of the Printing Press: Information Revolution or Religious Turmoil?
• The Crusades: A Pathway to Enlightenment or a Dark Age Misstep?
• The Atomic Age: A New Era or a Dangerous Precedent?
• The Impact of the Ming Dynasty on China’s Global Presence
• The American Westward Expansion: Manifest Destiny or Brutal Displacement?
• The British Raj in India: Beneficial or Destructive?
• The War of 1812: Forgotten War or Critical Conflict?
• The Cultural Revolution in China: Necessary Purge or Disastrous Policy?
• Slavery: The True Cause of the American Civil War?
• The Role of Espionage in the Cold War
• The Contributions of Nikola Tesla: Overlooked or Overrated?
• The Great Depression: Natural Economic Cycle or Result of Poor Policy?
• Was the League of Nations Doomed to Fail?
• The Impact of Napoleon’s Reign on Europe
• The Salem Witch Trials: Mass Hysteria or Religious Extremism?
• The Influence of the Ottoman Empire on Modern Middle East
• Did the Treaty of Versailles Cause World War II?
• The Role of the Catholic Church in Medieval Europe
• Manifest Destiny: Expansionism or Cultural Imperialism?
• The Impact of Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire
• The Spanish Inquisition: Religious Persecution or Political Power Play?
• The Influence of the Harlem Renaissance on African American Culture
• The Ethics of Using Atomic Bombs in WWII
• The Role of Britain in the Creation of Israel
• The Egyptian Revolution of 2011: A Springboard for Democracy?
• The Effect of the Gold Rush on California’s Development
• The Role of Social Media in the Arab Spring
• The Implications of the Scramble for Africa
• The Battle of Stalingrad: Turning Point in World War II?
• The Meiji Restoration: Western Influence or Japanese Initiative?
• The Role of Women in the French Revolution
• The Impact of the Black Death on European Society
• The Effect of the Viking Raids on European History
• The Fall of the Berlin Wall: Inevitable or Surprising?
• The Contributions of the Ancient Greeks to Modern Society
• The Influence of the Catholic Church on the European Age of Discovery
• The Impact of Gunpowder on Medieval Warfare
• The Influence of the Spanish Civil War on WWII
• The Causes and Consequences of the Thirty Years’ War
• The Role of the Railroad in the Expansion of the United States
• The Significance of the Magna Carta in the Modern Legal System
• The Impact of the Silk Road on the Exchange of Cultures
• The Role of the Mafia in Prohibition
• The Effect of Charlemagne’s Reign on Europe
• The Implications of the Columbian Exchange
• The Influence of the Persian Empire on the Modern Middle East
• The Impact of Marco Polo’s Travels on Europe
• The Effect of the French Revolution on European Politics
• The Influence of the Great Schism on Christianity
• The Impact of the Space Race on the Cold War
• The Legacy of the Aztec Empire
• The Effect of the Transatlantic Slave Trade on Africa
• The Role of the Knights Templar in the Crusades
• The Influence of Gutenberg’s Printing Press on the Reformation
• The Impact of the Han Dynasty on China
• The Causes and Effects of the Boxer Rebellion
• The Significance of the Pax Romana
• The Influence of Confucianism on East Asian Cultures
• The Impact of the Opium Wars on China
• The Role of the French Foreign Legion in Colonial France
• The Effect of the Suez Crisis on the Middle East
• The Influence of the Renaissance on Modern Art
• The Impact of the Zulu Nation on South Africa
• The Causes and Consequences of the Irish Potato Famine
• The Role of the Samurai in Feudal Japan
• The Effect of the Hundred Years’ War on England and France
• The Influence of the Roman Republic on Modern Democracies
• The Impact of the US Constitution on the French Revolution
• The Role of the Huns in the Fall of the Roman Empire
• The Causes and Effects of the Haitian Revolution
• The Influence of the Enlightenment on the US Constitution
• The Impact of the Homestead Act on the American West
• The Effect of the Plague of Justinian on the Byzantine Empire
• The Role of the Medici Family in the Italian Renaissance

Remember, the goal is not just to recount history but to form an argument and defend it persuasively. Use reliable sources like scholarly articles, credible news outlets, and respected history websites for your research ( History.com , JSTOR , Fordham University’s Internet History Sourcebooks Project , etc.).

Conclusion: Your Historical Argument Awaits

Choosing from these argumentative history essay topics is just the beginning. You can turn your chosen topic into a compelling essay with thorough research, careful planning, and passionate writing. As you debate the past, you’re not just learning history but contributing to its discussion. Let these argumentative essay topics be your first step toward a thrilling historical discourse.

📎 Related Articles

1. Hot Topic History: A Journey Through Pivotal Moments 2. Engaging 8th Grade Research Paper Topics for Budding Historians 3. Dive Deep into Western Civilization Research Paper Topics 4. Navigating Through the Labyrinth of Ancient History Topics 5. Stirring the Pot: Controversial Topics in History for Research Paper

Module 4: Imperial Reforms and Colonial Protests (1763-1774)

Historical arguments, learning objectives.

• Describe a historical argument

Argumentation

You’ve learned now about some of the major events in early American history, but just because you read about them in a textbook doesn’t mean that you have a complete understanding of the events or how they happened. For example, we didn’t have time in the course to dive into the English Restoration in great detail. We know that the Glorious Revolution describes when Mary, daughter of King James II, and her husband, William of Orange, became the new British monarchs following the ousting of King James II, but the details of what and how that all happened are more nuanced, and some details are open to interpretation. The fact that Mary and William were British monarchs after James II is just that—a fact. It can be confirmed by thousands of various resources and is not open to interpretation. But, the biggest issues of their reign, their effectiveness as leaders, and the consequences of their rule are all things that could be discussed or debated.

When historians collect data and work to interpret the facts that they gather about an event, they create historical arguments. A historical argument related to the Glorious Revolution could be: “William and Mary saved the British monarchy by modeling how to work effectively with Parliament.” This statement could be refuted. Sometimes arguments are based on an opinion or a hypothesis you have about something, and other times, arguments pull various facts together to create a coherent position. For example, another position related to the Glorious Revolution could state: “The Glorious Revolution and the reign of William and Mary weakened the control of the monarchy and led to increased parliamentary power in Great Britain.” With this as the guiding statement, or thesis, we could expect that an essay about this would describe the Bill of Rights of 1689, highlight specific instances showing a weaker monarchy, and explain how Parliament gained more power.

Historians work to construct an idea of what happened based upon the facts that they gather about an event. This is called a historical argument. Let’s just clear this up, though: a historical, or academic, “argument” isn’t the same as an argument over what to eat for dinner, or who was heading for a prime parking spot first. An academic argument defends a certain point of view through writing or speech.

Figure 1 . An academic argument isn’t like an argument over a parking spot.

An argument must take a stance

What distinguishes an argumentative essay from a descriptive essay or “report” is that the argument must take a stance; if you’re merely summarizing “both sides” of an issue or pointing out the “pros and cons,” you’re not really writing an argument. For example, “Stricter gun control laws will likely result in a decrease in gun-related violence” is an argument. “Americans are divided over gun control laws” isn’t an argument yet, because it’s presenting an issue (but not taking a stance). Arguments don’t just have to be about controversial political issues, though: many kinds of writing make arguments without touching on politics at all. For instance, an essay can take a stance by offering a particular interpretation of a song or a movie, or by showing the reader a new way to look at a historical event.

Arguments can have an opinion, but should not be  based  on opinion

When someone says: “well, that’s just your opinion,” what do they mean? Usually, this phrase implies that the other person doesn’t have a good  reason  for a particular view. If an argument is all about providing reasons for our views, does that mean we can’t express an opinion through argument? No! In fact, academic arguments usually articulate an opinion. Importantly, though, this opinion is always carefully defended with good reasoning, and often supported by research. If I claim that Michael Jordan was the greatest athlete of all time, but don’t offer any reasons, then that’s just my opinion. If I claim that “Babe” Didrikson Zaharias was a more accomplished athlete than Jordan because she dominated golf, basketball, and track-and-field, while Jordan was only good at basketball and golf, then we’re moving toward an argument. As the example of Zaharias vs. Jordan is supposed to show, the difference between opinion and argument comes down to  reasons . If you can give reasons to support your claim, then it’s closer to an argument. But that still doesn’t clarify things entirely. After all, as every parent knows, “because I said so!”  is  a reason, just not one that can be argued with.

If you can’t disagree with it, it’s not an argument

“I like the  Fast and Furious  movies” is an opinion, because no one can disagree with it: it wouldn’t make sense to say: “No, you don’t like those movies.” By comparison, here’s an argument: “Although they might seem like mindless action flicks, The  Fast and Furious  movies actually have a lot to say about changing ideas about family in modern America.” (Of course, you’d then have to give your  reasons  for this claim). Now your reader could agree or disagree: “Yes, that makes sense to me” or “No, I see it differently.”

Formulating a Valid Argument

Formulating an argument can be a scary thing. Making an assertion that someone else might challenge or criticize is intimidating and you may be tempted to simply argue a point that no one could refute, like “The American Revolution resulted in significant social, political, and economic changes in America.” This is a true statement, but it’s not yet an argument. You could argue about the ways in which social, political, and economic life changed, but the fact that it did change is undisputed.

History is full of different interpretations. One historian might argue that Thomas Jefferson was the most influential of the Founding Fathers and another might argue that it was John Adams. Both historians will be able to back up their arguments with evidence and, to put it simply, neither one is wrong. Much of history is a matter of perspective. What matters is that you are able to formulate an argument and back it up using different perspectives and sources, and also that you are willing to change your argument or your own perspective when presented with evidence that refutes your points.

ACTIVITY: Make an Argument

Everyone is “opinionated” about some things. What would people say you’re “opinionated” about? Consider something you absolutely love (i.e. Soccer is the best sport, or Farmville is the best game), a restaurant you like to frequent ( _______ has the best pizza in town), or the ways you like to do things (toilet paper should always go roll side on top, or the dishes need to be loaded a particular way in the dishwasher).

There are no correct answers to these responses, but you may jot down your thoughts in the spaces provided below.

1. List three things you have strong opinions about. They can be important or trivial, big or small.

2. Choose one of your three items. Is there a way to turn this opinion into an argument? If you had to convince a friend that your opinion about this thing is “right,” what argument could you use? What reason or reasons could you use to convince your friend? Below the item you’ve chosen, write a list of 3 reasons your opinion is “correct.” Try to find reasons that go beyond taste (“I just like it”) or belief (“that’s just what I believe”).

historical argument : a position that defends a certain historical point of view through writing or speech

• What is an Argument?. Provided by : Lumen Learning. Located at : https://courses.lumenlearning.com/englishcomp1coreq/chapter/introduction-to-what-is-an-argument/ . License : CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
• Analyzing an Argument. Provided by : Historical.Exploration. Located at : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUI9H9VT1kU . License : CC BY: Attribution

The Lesson Study Group

at Mills College

Drafting an Historical Argument

This is the seventh in a series of eight resources on historical argumentation written especially for the Lesson Study Group at Mills College by educator Stan Pesick. These resources are designed to be used individually to help define inquiry questions for use in Lesson Study cycles or in sequence for background research in the Study phase of a cycle. An ordered list of the sequence can be found in part one .

Overview and Key Questions

The following evaluative questions (adapted from Oakland Unified School District ) illustrate some of the key aspects of historical writing necessary for constructing an essay that draws upon students’ thinking and writing skills, and the historical information and evidence they’ve gathered.  

• Claims – Does the student make a reasonable claim (thesis) that responds to the inquiry question they’ve been assigned or that they’ve developed themselves? Does the student appropriately address opposing claims?
• Evidence – Does the student use and cite historical source s in support of the claim/thesis?  
• Analysis & Elaboration of Evidence – Does the student show logical reasoning? Does the student use information gathered from sourcing to analyze meaning, perspective, and reliability? Does the student appropriately address conflicting evidence?
• Historical Content – Does the student use historical content to contextualize the evidence and argument, while using discipline and content specific language?
• Claim/Thesis
• Set of Body Paragraphs

Previous resources were designed to help students, and the readers of their essays, answer yes to the first four questions. This resource addresses the final piece of the puzzle: supporting students to organize their ideas and evidence into coherent, thoughtful, and well-written argumentative essays.  This focus on the structure of the essay is essential if students are to make the most of the work put into researching, reading, and analyzing historical sources and background information.

An Initial Challenge: The Introductory Paragraph

The immediate challenge students face in drafting an essay is ensuring it includes a clear, easy-to-follow argument . The role of the introductory paragraph in this work cannot be overstated. Many students have great difficulty constructing introductions that let the reader know what to expect to while reading. Not providing the reader with this information often  means the student hasn’t determined how all the information and evidence fit together, and this in turn means that students have difficulty articulating a coherent argument. There is a vast difference between students who essentially use their first paragraph to state a position and those who use it to frame and outline their essay. Typically, a weak essay has an introductory paragraph that would read something like this:

“Was American expansion ever justified in the 19 th and early 20 th centuries or even today? I don’t think it was. America tried to push their ways onto others and that is never justified. I will prove this with the facts I have gathered to show you this.”

In this example (taken from actual student work), the student takes a strong moral stance, but he doesn’t identify the historical instances, or the context of those events, that led him to conclude American expansion wasn’t justified . As a result, the paper that followed lacked a coherent organization that weakened its argument.

In contrast, the following example illustrates a more successful (if still imperfect) attempt to frame and introduce an historical argument. This essay responds to the question “Were the gains of the industrial revolution in England from 1780-1850 worth the pain that was caused, particularly to the working people of the country?”  In it, the student writes,

In the mid 18 th century, many places around the world changed from primarily agriculture based societies to industrialized ones. The Industrial Revolution was symbolized by the factories that mass produced products in a building with hundreds of workers. Also significant was the use of coal, which was a better fuel than wood and it led to the creation of countless coal mines all around Europe. There were many gains during this time, particularly the advancements in technology leading to better transportation and affordability of products. However, the gains from 1780-1850 were not nearly enough to compensate for the pain that was caused to the millions of workers, miners, and others of the lower class who had to suffer immensely during this time.

This is not a perfect example, but it has two significant strengths. First, it provides the historical context. The writer explains that the Industrial Revolution occurred worldwide, not just in England, and establishes the significance of moving from an agricultural society to an industrial one. Second, this paragraph has a clear claim linked to a concessionary statement. The writer admits that there were gains that came from the Industrial Revolution between 1780-1850, including better transportation and affordability of products, but concludes that these gains were not enough to offset the pain caused workers. The reader then knows that the essay isn’t a diatribe but rather a thoughtful argument that weighs the evidence on both sides. It also let the reader know that the writer understands that an historical argument is always in conversation with another position,  that students and historians can work with the same body of information and evidence and come to different positions.

A Common Misstep

Still, the example introductory paragraph does illustrate a significant misstep for many students: confusing a big idea with a specific piece of information or evidence. Take, for example, this sentence: “ Also significant was the use of coal, which was a better fuel than wood and it led to the creation of countless coal mines all around Europe.”   What purpose does this sentence serve? It’s not clear why the writer chose to include this piece of information in the introduction and how it connects to the claim being made. This piece of information about coal mines would be better placed within a paragraph that further illuminates the ideas of changes and gains contrasted with pains, as the writing introduces. Its inclusion as a specific piece of information in the introduction makes organizing a coherent argument more difficult.  

A Standard Essay Format?

These two examples illustrate how important it is for students to have a command of  basic essay structure. In many classrooms, this means having command of the five-paragraph essay. However, this standard essay format has for good reasons been seen as too limiting to good writers. Concerned teachers and educators have argued that no professional writer relies on this format and that the writing that comes out of it is often stilted. Nevertheless, many students benefit greatly from an understanding of this basic structure. The structure encourages thinking about how the information and evidence presented support the position being argued, and how the essay’s organization must support its basic purpose of developing a convincing argument. Once students understand this structure, they should be encouraged to expand it, to modify it, and to play with the conventions. This is an additional skill in which reading and working with writing models can be very helpful.

Categorizing Evidence

Students have an easier time organizing their essays once they understand that the questions they address often contain analytical categories that they can use to organize their writing. For example, consider the prompt “Was Indian independence a success? In answering this question consider economic, social, and political factors.” In responding,  a student would have to decide into which analytical category—economic, social, or political—they would place information and evidence as they organize the argument in support of the thesis. An important understanding for students to develop is that often they will be able to determine the organizational categories for their essay by analyzing the demands of the prompt before they begin to write.

Sometimes, though, a prompt will have few organizational clues, or you may ask students to develop their own essay or research topics. In this case students will independently have to create, identify, and develop analytical categories to help organize their piece of writing.

Discussion Questions

After reading this resource, let the following questions guide your thinking as a team:

• What ideas about teaching and learning with professional models of historical writing strike you as important in your setting?
• How does your curriculum currently support students in developing understanding how to construct an historical argument?
• What experiences have your students had in developing and drafting historical arguments?
• What opportunities do students have to raise and get responses to their questions as they grapple with historical evidence and content?  

< Previous Resource

Next resource >, about the author.

Stan Pesick taught U.S. History and American Government/Economics in the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) Oakland, CA, for eighteen years (1976 – 1994). Between 2001 and 2011, he co-directed OUSD’s history/social studies department and directed three federally funded Teaching American History (TAH) projects. Between 2011 and 2014 he co-directed the Oakland Unified School District/Mills College History-English Language Arts (ELA) Collaborative on Writing the Argumentative Essay. Since 2014 he’s worked as a curriculum consultant to the National Japanese American Historical Society and National Park Service. He currently works with both the Bay Area and National Writing Projects.

• What is Lesson Study?
• Why Lesson Study?
• Teacher Learning
• Content Resources
• Teaching Through Problem-solving (TTP)
• School-wide Lesson Study
• U.S. Networks
• International Networks

How to Write a History Essay?

04 August, 2020

10 minutes read

Author:  Tomas White

There are so many types of essays. It can be hard to know where to start. History papers aren’t just limited to history classes. These tasks can be assigned to examine any important historical event or a person. While they’re more common in history classes, you can find this type of assignment in sociology or political science course syllabus, or just get a history essay task for your scholarship. This is Handmadewriting History Essay Guide - let's start!

Purpose  of a History Essay

Wondering how to write a history essay? First of all, it helps to understand its purpose. Secondly, this essay aims to examine the influences that lead to a historical event. Thirdly, it can explore the importance of an individual’s impact on history.

However, the goal isn’t to stay in the past. Specifically, a well-written history essay should discuss the relevance of the event or person to the “now”. After finishing this essay, a reader should have a fuller understanding of the lasting impact of an event or individual.

Need basic essay guidance? Find out what is an essay with this 101 essay guide: What is an Essay?

Elements for Success

Indeed, understanding how to write a history essay is crucial in creating a successful paper. Notably, these essays should never only outline successful historic events or list an individual’s achievements. Instead, they should focus on examining questions beginning with what , how , and why . Here’s a pro tip in how to write a history essay: brainstorm questions. Once you’ve got questions, you have an excellent starting point.

Preparing to Write

Evidently, a typical history essay format requires the writer to provide background on the event or person, examine major influences, and discuss the importance of the forces both then and now. In addition, when preparing to write, it’s helpful to organize the information you need to research into questions. For example:

• Who were the major contributors to this event?
• Who opposed or fought against this event?
• Who gained or lost from this event?
• Who benefits from this event today?
• What factors led up to this event?
• What changes occurred because of this event?
• What lasting impacts occurred locally, nationally, globally due to this event?
• What lessons (if any) were learned?
• Why did this event occur?
• Why did certain populations support it?
• Why did certain populations oppose it?

These questions exist as samples. Therefore, generate questions specific to your topic. Once you have a list of questions, it’s time to evaluate them.

Evaluating the Question

Seasoned writers approach writing history by examining the historic event or individual. Specifically, the goal is to assess the impact then and now. Accordingly, the writer needs to evaluate the importance of the main essay guiding the paper. For example, if the essay’s topic is the rise of American prohibition, a proper question may be “How did societal factors influence the rise of American prohibition during the 1920s? ”

This question is open-ended since it allows for insightful analysis, and limits the research to societal factors. Additionally, work to identify key terms in the question. In the example, key terms would be “societal factors” and “prohibition”.

Summarizing the Argument

The argument should answer the question. Use the thesis statement to clarify the argument and outline how you plan to make your case. In other words. the thesis should be sharp, clear, and multi-faceted. Consider the following tips when summarizing the case:

• The thesis should be a single sentence
• It should include a concise argument and a roadmap
• It’s always okay to revise the thesis as the paper develops
• Conduct a bit of research to ensure you have enough support for the ideas within the paper

Outlining a History Essay Plan

Once you’ve refined your argument, it’s time to outline. Notably, many skip this step to regret it then. Nonetheless, the outline is a map that shows where you need to arrive historically and when. Specifically, taking the time to plan, placing the strongest argument last, and identifying your sources of research is a good use of time. When you’re ready to outline, do the following:

• Consider the necessary background the reader should know in the introduction paragraph
• Define any important terms and vocabulary
• Determine which ideas will need the cited support
• Identify how each idea supports the main argument
• Brainstorm key points to review in the conclusion

Gathering Sources

As a rule, history essays require both primary and secondary sources . Primary resources are those that were created during the historical period being analyzed. Secondary resources are those created by historians and scholars about the topic. It’s a good idea to know if the professor requires a specific number of sources, and what kind he or she prefers. Specifically, most tutors prefer primary over secondary sources.

Where to find sources? Great question! Check out bibliographies included in required class readings. In addition, ask a campus Librarian. Peruse online journal databases; In addition, most colleges provide students with free access. When in doubt, make an appointment and ask the professor for guidance.

Writing the Essay

Now that you have prepared your questions, ideas, and arguments; composed the outline ; and gathered sources – it’s time to write your first draft. In particular, each section of your history essay must serve its purpose. Here is what you should include in essay paragraphs.

Introduction Paragraph

Unsure of how to start a history essay? Well, like most essays, the introduction should include an attention-getter (or hook):

• Relevant fact or statistic
• Rhetorical Question
• Interesting quotation
• Application anecdote if appropriate

Once you’ve captured the reader’s interest, introduce the topic. Similarly, present critical historic context. Namely, it is necessary to introduce any key individuals or events that will be discussed later in the essay. At last, end with a strong thesis which acts as a transition to the first argument.

Body Paragraphs

Indeed, each body paragraph should offer a single idea to support the argument. Then, after writing a strong topic sentence, the topic should be supported with correctly cited research. Consequently, a typical body paragraph is arranged as follows:

• Topic sentence linking to the thesis
• Background of the topic
• Research quotation or paraphrase #1
• Explanation and analysis of research
• Research quotation or paraphrase #2
• Transition to the next paragraph

Equally, the point of body paragraphs is to build the argument. Hence, present the weakest support first and end with the strongest. Admittedly, doing so leaves the reader with the best possible evidence.

Conclusion Paragraph

You’re almost there! Eventually, conclusion paragraphs should review the most important points in the paper. In them, you should prove that you’ve supported the argument proposed in the thesis. When writing a conclusion paragraph keep these tips in mind:

• Keep it simple
• Avoid introducing new information
• Review major points
• Discuss the relevance to today

Problems with writing Your History essay ? Try our Essay Writer Service!

Proofreading Your Essay

Once the draft is ready and polished, it’s time to proceed to final editing. What does this process imply? Specifically, it’s about removing impurities and making the essay look just perfect. Here’s what you need to do to improve the quality of your paper:

• Double check the content. In the first place, it’s recommended to get rid of long sentences, correct vague words. Also, make sure that all your paragrahps contain accurate sentences with transparent meaning. 
• Pay attention to style. To make the process of digesting your essay easier, focus on crafting a paper with readable style, the one that is known to readers. Above all, the main mission here is to facilitate the perception of your essay. So, don’t forget about style accuracy.
• Practice reading the essay. Of course, the best practice before passing the paper is to read it out loud. Hence, this exercise will help you notice fragments that require rewriting or a complete removal.  

History Essay Example

Did you want a history essay example? Take a look at one of our history essay papers. 

Make it Shine

An A-level essay takes planning and revision, but it’s achievable. Firstly, avoid procrastination and start early. Secondly, leave yourself plenty of time to brainstorm, outline, research and write. Finally, follow these five tips to make your history essay shine:

• Write a substantial introduction. Particularly, it’s the first impression the professor will have of the paper.
• State a clear thesis. A strong thesis is easier to support.
• Incorporate evidence critically. If while researching you find opposing arguments, include them and discuss their flaws.
• Cite all the research. Whether direct quotations or paraphrases, citing evidence is crucial to avoiding plagiarism, which can have serious academic consequences.
• Include primary and secondary resources. While primary resources may be harder to find, the professor will expect them—this is, after all, a history essay.

History Essay Sample

Ready to tackle the history essay format? Great! Check out this history essay sample from an upper-level history class. While the essay isn’t perfect, the professor points out its many strengths.

Remember: start early and revise, revise, revise . We can’t revise history, but you can revise your ideas until they’re perfect.

A life lesson in Romeo and Juliet taught by death

Due to human nature, we draw conclusions only when life gives us a lesson since the experience of others is not so effective and powerful. Therefore, when analyzing and sorting out common problems we face, we may trace a parallel with well-known book characters or real historical figures. Moreover, we often compare our situations with […]

Ethical Research Paper Topics

Writing a research paper on ethics is not an easy task, especially if you do not possess excellent writing skills and do not like to contemplate controversial questions. But an ethics course is obligatory in all higher education institutions, and students have to look for a way out and be creative. When you find an […]

Art Research Paper Topics

Students obtaining degrees in fine art and art & design programs most commonly need to write a paper on art topics. However, this subject is becoming more popular in educational institutions for expanding students’ horizons. Thus, both groups of receivers of education: those who are into arts and those who only get acquainted with art […]

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

Free end-of-year letter templates to your students 📝!

How I Teach Students to Write Historical Arguments

A world history teacher breaks it down step by step.

It never occurred to me that, as a high school history teacher, I would need to teach students how to write. But with students who struggle with writing in general and who have never really written in a history class, it became part of my job description. The writing we do in my world history class is based on a claim and supported with evidence. This is the process I use to teach students to write historical arguments.

Note: Most of what I do comes from the College, Career and Community Writers Program (C3WP) , a part of the National Writing Project. I did some training with the Oregon Writers Project in this Program and without it I would have no idea how to teach argument writing. I am so grateful for this program.

Step 1: Gather information

Historical arguments come at the end of a unit. Students have spent time with the material that they will be writing about. For example, the first writing assignment they do is a paragraph about which map projection schools should use to teach geography. Before writing, we explore various map projections, go over the pros and cons, and read about the map projections. By the time they write, students have a lot of information to form a claim and to use for evidence. 

Step 2: Form an opinion

My students often struggle to form opinions about the topics we are studying. So, I have built opinion formation and discussion into my lesson structure. We have discussions about why things happened the way they did, how things could have happened differently, etc. We have these discussions throughout the year, so students practice forming opinions and using evidence to support those opinions.

For example, in early units we look at European exploration and imperialism. This unit does not end with a full-blown writing assignment, but conversations about how the world might be different without imperialism exist throughout the units. They become comfortable having these conversations and figuring out what they think about a topic. (I use guidance from Constructing Meaning and AVID to help them learn to talk to each other.)

Step 3: Make a claim

I teach writing claims, or thesis statements, first using tools from C3WP. Claims are “debatable and defensible,” meaning they are not a fact and they can be backed up with evidence. I spend a lot of time focusing on the “because” of the thesis: they must include why in their claim. So, they can’t just say, ”School should start later.” Instead, it must be something like “School short start later because students need more sleep to succeed in school.” We go through several “claim” statements to determine if they are actually claims or not. Then we rewrite them to make them better. Next, we build a claim together around a topic we are discussing in class.

At the beginning of the year, I give students a sentence frame like this one:

“Schools should use ___________________ map projection because ______________ and _____________.”

As the year goes on, claims get more nuanced. We start to acknowledge other perspectives and make claims more specific.

Step 4: Provide evidence

Since claims are laid out with specific reasons  to support the opinion, these reasons become the evidence. I label them as Reason 1, Reason 2 and Reason 3 and each reason is discussed specifically after the claim. In a paragraph writing assignment, they write from one reason to the next with phrases like “another reason,” “also,” and “finally” to link the reasons together.

When students write full essays, each reason gets its own paragraph. Reason one becomes the topic of the first body paragraph, reason two becomes the second body paragraph, etc. I use the following outline to help students write body paragraphs:

• Sentence 1: First reason from claim
• Sentence 2: Quote or summarize a piece of evidence that supports your reason
• Sentence 3: Explain how this evidence supports your reason
• Sentence 4: Quote or summarize a piece of evidence that supports your reason
• Sentence 5: Explain how this evidence supports your reason
• Sentence 6: Restate your reason from your claim

More sentences can be added for more evidence or explanation, but this basic layout helps kids feel like they know what to do.

Extensions and struggles

This is a very basic outline of how I teach students to write historical arguments. It is meant to be a starting point. Eventually, students start creating more nuanced claims, looking at opposing arguments, justifying evidence sources, etc.

Student evidence can be a problem. To begin, I have them only use sources from class. That way, I know the information is correct and they should know how the material we used in class can support their claims. I find that beginning writers often can’t connect something they find online to discussions we’ve had in class.

Students also may struggle with explaining evidence. They think that just quoting a source proves their point. They need to be shown how to connect evidence to a claim with an explanation.

I’ve had pretty good luck with this format of teaching writing, but I’d love to hear your ideas, too!

How do you teach students to write historical arguments? Come and share your ideas in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, slam-dunk argumentative writing prompts for high school.

You Might Also Like

250+ Best Would You Rather Questions for Kids 

Activate endless participation and spark curiosity. Continue Reading

Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. 5335 Gate Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32256

How to write an introduction for a history essay

Every essay needs to begin with an introductory paragraph. It needs to be the first paragraph the marker reads.

While your introduction paragraph might be the first of the paragraphs you write, this is not the only way to do it.

You can choose to write your introduction after you have written the rest of your essay.

This way, you will know what you have argued, and this might make writing the introduction easier.

Either approach is fine. If you do write your introduction first, ensure that you go back and refine it once you have completed your essay. 

What is an ‘introduction paragraph’?

An introductory paragraph is a single paragraph at the start of your essay that prepares your reader for the argument you are going to make in your body paragraphs .

It should provide all of the necessary historical information about your topic and clearly state your argument so that by the end of the paragraph, the marker knows how you are going to structure the rest of your essay.

In general, you should never use quotes from sources in your introduction.

Introduction paragraph structure

While your introduction paragraph does not have to be as long as your body paragraphs , it does have a specific purpose, which you must fulfil.

A well-written introduction paragraph has the following four-part structure (summarised by the acronym BHES).

B – Background sentences

H – Hypothesis

E – Elaboration sentences

S - Signpost sentence

Each of these elements are explained in further detail, with examples, below:

1. Background sentences

The first two or three sentences of your introduction should provide a general introduction to the historical topic which your essay is about. This is done so that when you state your hypothesis , your reader understands the specific point you are arguing about.

Background sentences explain the important historical period, dates, people, places, events and concepts that will be mentioned later in your essay. This information should be drawn from your background research . 

Example background sentences:

Middle Ages (Year 8 Level)

Castles were an important component of Medieval Britain from the time of the Norman conquest in 1066 until they were phased out in the 15 th and 16 th centuries. Initially introduced as wooden motte and bailey structures on geographical strongpoints, they were rapidly replaced by stone fortresses which incorporated sophisticated defensive designs to improve the defenders’ chances of surviving prolonged sieges.

WWI (Year 9 Level)

The First World War began in 1914 following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The subsequent declarations of war from most of Europe drew other countries into the conflict, including Australia. The Australian Imperial Force joined the war as part of Britain’s armed forces and were dispatched to locations in the Middle East and Western Europe.

Civil Rights (Year 10 Level)

The 1967 Referendum sought to amend the Australian Constitution in order to change the legal standing of the indigenous people in Australia. The fact that 90% of Australians voted in favour of the proposed amendments has been attributed to a series of significant events and people who were dedicated to the referendum’s success.

Ancient Rome (Year 11/12 Level)  

In the late second century BC, the Roman novus homo Gaius Marius became one of the most influential men in the Roman Republic. Marius gained this authority through his victory in the Jugurthine War, with his defeat of Jugurtha in 106 BC, and his triumph over the invading Germanic tribes in 101 BC, when he crushed the Teutones at the Battle of Aquae Sextiae (102 BC) and the Cimbri at the Battle of Vercellae (101 BC). Marius also gained great fame through his election to the consulship seven times.

2. Hypothesis

Once you have provided historical context for your essay in your background sentences, you need to state your hypothesis .

A hypothesis is a single sentence that clearly states the argument that your essay will be proving in your body paragraphs .

A good hypothesis contains both the argument and the reasons in support of your argument. 

Example hypotheses:

Medieval castles were designed with features that nullified the superior numbers of besieging armies but were ultimately made obsolete by the development of gunpowder artillery.

Australian soldiers’ opinion of the First World War changed from naïve enthusiasm to pessimistic realism as a result of the harsh realities of modern industrial warfare.

The success of the 1967 Referendum was a direct result of the efforts of First Nations leaders such as Charles Perkins, Faith Bandler and the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders.

Gaius Marius was the most one of the most significant personalities in the 1 st century BC due to his effect on the political, military and social structures of the Roman state.

3. Elaboration sentences

Once you have stated your argument in your hypothesis , you need to provide particular information about how you’re going to prove your argument.

Your elaboration sentences should be one or two sentences that provide specific details about how you’re going to cover the argument in your three body paragraphs.

You might also briefly summarise two or three of your main points.

Finally, explain any important key words, phrases or concepts that you’ve used in your hypothesis, you’ll need to do this in your elaboration sentences.

Example elaboration sentences:

By the height of the Middle Ages, feudal lords were investing significant sums of money by incorporating concentric walls and guard towers to maximise their defensive potential. These developments were so successful that many medieval armies avoided sieges in the late period.

Following Britain's official declaration of war on Germany, young Australian men voluntarily enlisted into the army, which was further encouraged by government propaganda about the moral justifications for the conflict. However, following the initial engagements on the Gallipoli peninsula, enthusiasm declined.

The political activity of key indigenous figures and the formation of activism organisations focused on indigenous resulted in a wider spread of messages to the general Australian public. The generation of powerful images and speeches has been frequently cited by modern historians as crucial to the referendum results.

While Marius is best known for his military reforms, it is the subsequent impacts of this reform on the way other Romans approached the attainment of magistracies and how public expectations of military leaders changed that had the longest impacts on the late republican period.

4. Signpost sentence

The final sentence of your introduction should prepare the reader for the topic of your first body paragraph. The main purpose of this sentence is to provide cohesion between your introductory paragraph and you first body paragraph .

Therefore, a signpost sentence indicates where you will begin proving the argument that you set out in your hypothesis and usually states the importance of the first point that you’re about to make. 

Example signpost sentences:

The early development of castles is best understood when examining their military purpose.

The naïve attitudes of those who volunteered in 1914 can be clearly seen in the personal letters and diaries that they themselves wrote.

The significance of these people is evident when examining the lack of political representation the indigenous people experience in the early half of the 20 th century.

The origin of Marius’ later achievements was his military reform in 107 BC, which occurred when he was first elected as consul.

Putting it all together

Once you have written all four parts of the BHES structure, you should have a completed introduction paragraph. In the examples above, we have shown each part separately. Below you will see the completed paragraphs so that you can appreciate what an introduction should look like.

Example introduction paragraphs: 

Castles were an important component of Medieval Britain from the time of the Norman conquest in 1066 until they were phased out in the 15th and 16th centuries. Initially introduced as wooden motte and bailey structures on geographical strongpoints, they were rapidly replaced by stone fortresses which incorporated sophisticated defensive designs to improve the defenders’ chances of surviving prolonged sieges. Medieval castles were designed with features that nullified the superior numbers of besieging armies, but were ultimately made obsolete by the development of gunpowder artillery. By the height of the Middle Ages, feudal lords were investing significant sums of money by incorporating concentric walls and guard towers to maximise their defensive potential. These developments were so successful that many medieval armies avoided sieges in the late period. The early development of castles is best understood when examining their military purpose.

The First World War began in 1914 following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The subsequent declarations of war from most of Europe drew other countries into the conflict, including Australia. The Australian Imperial Force joined the war as part of Britain’s armed forces and were dispatched to locations in the Middle East and Western Europe. Australian soldiers’ opinion of the First World War changed from naïve enthusiasm to pessimistic realism as a result of the harsh realities of modern industrial warfare. Following Britain's official declaration of war on Germany, young Australian men voluntarily enlisted into the army, which was further encouraged by government propaganda about the moral justifications for the conflict. However, following the initial engagements on the Gallipoli peninsula, enthusiasm declined. The naïve attitudes of those who volunteered in 1914 can be clearly seen in the personal letters and diaries that they themselves wrote.

The 1967 Referendum sought to amend the Australian Constitution in order to change the legal standing of the indigenous people in Australia. The fact that 90% of Australians voted in favour of the proposed amendments has been attributed to a series of significant events and people who were dedicated to the referendum’s success. The success of the 1967 Referendum was a direct result of the efforts of First Nations leaders such as Charles Perkins, Faith Bandler and the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. The political activity of key indigenous figures and the formation of activism organisations focused on indigenous resulted in a wider spread of messages to the general Australian public. The generation of powerful images and speeches has been frequently cited by modern historians as crucial to the referendum results. The significance of these people is evident when examining the lack of political representation the indigenous people experience in the early half of the 20th century.

In the late second century BC, the Roman novus homo Gaius Marius became one of the most influential men in the Roman Republic. Marius gained this authority through his victory in the Jugurthine War, with his defeat of Jugurtha in 106 BC, and his triumph over the invading Germanic tribes in 101 BC, when he crushed the Teutones at the Battle of Aquae Sextiae (102 BC) and the Cimbri at the Battle of Vercellae (101 BC). Marius also gained great fame through his election to the consulship seven times. Gaius Marius was the most one of the most significant personalities in the 1st century BC due to his effect on the political, military and social structures of the Roman state. While Marius is best known for his military reforms, it is the subsequent impacts of this reform on the way other Romans approached the attainment of magistracies and how public expectations of military leaders changed that had the longest impacts on the late republican period. The origin of Marius’ later achievements was his military reform in 107 BC, which occurred when he was first elected as consul.

Additional resources

What do you need help with?

Download ready-to-use digital learning resources.

Copyright © History Skills 2014-2024.

Contact  via email

Are you seeking one-on-one college counseling and/or essay support? Limited spots are now available. Click here to learn more.

How to Write the AP Lang Argument Essay (With Example)

December 14, 2023

We’d like to let you in on a little secret: no one, including us, enjoys writing timed essays. But a little practice goes a long way. If you want to head into your AP English Exam with a cool head, you’ll want to know what you’re getting into ahead of time. We can’t promise the AP Lang Argument Essay will ever feel like an island vacation, but we do have tons of hand tips and tricks (plus a sample essay!) below to help you do your best. This article will cover: 1) What is the AP Lang Argumentative Essay? 2) AP Lang Argument Rubric 3) AP Lang Argument Sample Prompt 4) AP Lang Argument Essay Example 5) AP Lang Argument Essay Example: Answer Breakdown.

What is the AP Lang Argument Essay?

The AP Lang Argument Essay is one of three essays included in the written portion of the AP English Exam. The full AP English Exam is 3 hours and 15 minutes long, with the first 60 minutes dedicated to multiple-choice questions. Once you complete the multiple-choice section, you move on to three equally weighted essays that ask you to synthesize, analyze, and interpret texts and develop well-reasoned arguments. The three essays include:

Synthesis essay: You’ll review various pieces of evidence and then write an essay that synthesizes (aka combines and interprets) the evidence and presents a clear argument. Read our write-up on How to Write the AP Lang Synthesis Essay here.

Argumentative essay: You’ll take a stance on a specific topic and argue your case.

Rhetorical essay: You’ll read a provided passage, then analyze the author’s rhetorical choices and develop an argument that explains why the author made those rhetorical choices. Read our write-up on How to Write the AP Lang Rhetorical Essay here.

AP Lang Argument Essay Rubric

The AP Lang Argument Essay is graded on 3 rubric categories : Thesis, Evidence and Commentary, and Sophistication . How can you make sure you cover all three bases in your essay? We’ll break down each rubric category with dos and don’ts below:

• Thesis (0-1 point)

When it comes to grading your thesis, AP Exam graders are checking off a box: you either have a clear thesis or you don’t. So, what crucial components of a thesis will get you your check mark?

• Make sure your thesis argues something . To satisfy your graders, your thesis needs to take a clear stance on the issue at hand.
• Include your thesis statement in your intro paragraph. The AP Lang Argumentative essay is just that: an essay that makes an argument, so make sure you present your argument right away at the end of your first paragraph.
• A good test to see if you have a thesis that makes an argument for your AP Lang Argumentative Essay: In your head, add the phrase “I agree/disagree that…” to the beginning of your thesis. If what follows doesn’t logically flow after that phrase (aka if what follows isn’t an agreement or disagreement), it’s likely you’re not making an argument.
• In your thesis, outline the evidence you’ll cover in your body paragraphs.

AP Lang Argument Essay Rubric (Continued)

• Avoid a thesis that merely restates the prompt.
• Avoid a thesis that summarizes the text but does not make an argument.
• Avoid a thesis that weighs the pros and cons of an issue. Your job in your thesis is to pick a side and stick with it.
• Evidence and Commentary (0-4 points)

This rubric category is graded on a scale of 0-4 where 4 is the highest grade. Unlike the rhetorical and synthesis essays, the evidence you need to write your AP Lang Argument Essay is not provided to you. Rather, you’ll need to generate your own evidence and comment upon it.

What counts as evidence?

Typically, the AP Lang Argument Essay prompt asks you to reflect on a broad cultural, moral, or social issue that is open to debate. For evidence, you won’t be asked to memorize and cite statistics or facts. Rather, you’ll want to bring in real-world examples of:

• Historical events
• Current-day events from the news
• Personal anecdotes

For this essay, your graders know that you’re not able to do research to find the perfect evidence. What’s most important is that you find evidence that logically supports your argument.

What is commentary?

In this essay, it’s important to do more than just provide examples relevant evidence. After each piece of evidence you include, you’ll need to explain why it’s significant and how it connects to your main argument. The analysis you include after your evidence is commentary .

• Take a minute to brainstorm evidence that logically supports your argument. If you have to go out of your way to find the connection, it’s better to think of different evidence.
• Include multiple pieces of evidence. There is no magic number, but do make sure you incorporate more than a couple pieces of evidence that support your argument.
• Make sure you include more than one example of evidence, too. Let’s say you’re working on an essay that argues that people are always stronger together than apart. You’ve already included an example from history: during the civil rights era, protestors staged group sit-ins as a powerful form of peaceful protest. That’s just one example, and it’s hard to make a credible argument with just one piece of evidence. To fix that issue, think of additional examples from history, current events, or personal experience that are not related to the civil rights era.
• After you include each piece of evidence, explain why it’s significant and how it connects to your main argument.
• Don’t summarize or speak generally about the topic. Everything you write must be backed up with specific and relevant evidence and examples.
• Don’t let quotes speak for themselves. After every piece of evidence you include, make sure to explain and connect the evidence to your overarching argument.

AP Lang Argument Essay (Continued)

• Sophistication (0-1 point)

According to the College Board , one point can be awarded to AP Lang Argument essays that achieve a high level of sophistication. You can accomplish that in four ways:

• Crafting a nuanced argument by consistently identifying and exploring complexities or tensions.
• Articulating the implications or limitations of an argument by situating it within a broader context.
• Making effective rhetorical choices that consistently strengthen the force and impact of the student’s argument.
• Employing a style that is consistently vivid and persuasive.

In sum, this means you can earn an additional point for going above and beyond in depth, complexity of thought, or by writing an especially persuasive, clear, and well-structured essay. In order to earn this point, you’ll first need to do a good job with the fundamentals: your thesis, evidence, and commentary. Then, to earn your sophistication point, follow these tips:

• Outline your essay before you begin to ensure it flows in a clear and cohesive way.
• Include well-rounded evidence. Don’t rely entirely on personal anecdotes, for example. Incorporate examples from current events or history, as well.
• Thoroughly explain how each piece of evidence connects to your thesis in order to fully develop your argument.
• Explore broader implications. If what you’re arguing is true, what does that mean to us today? Who is impacted by this issue? What real-world issues are relevant to this core issue?
• Briefly explore the other side of the issue. Are the instances where your argument might not be true? Acknowledge the other side, then return to proving your original argument.
• Steer clear of generalizations (avoid words like “always” and “everyone”).
• Don’t choose an argument you can’t back up with relevant examples.
• Avoid complex sentences and fancy vocabulary words unless you use them often. Long, clunky sentences with imprecisely used words are hard to follow.

AP Lang Argument Sample Prompt

The sample prompt below is published online by the College Board and is a real example from the 2021 AP English Exam. The prompt provides background context, essay instructions, and the text you need to analyze.

Suggested time—40 minutes.

Many people spend long hours trying to achieve perfection in their personal or professional lives. Similarly, people often demand perfection from others, creating expectations that may be challenging to live up to. In contrast, some people think perfection is not attainable or desirable.

Write an essay that argues your position on the value of striving for perfection.

In your response you should do the following:

• Respond to the prompt with a thesis that presents a defensible position.
• Provide evidence to support your line of reasoning.
• Explain how the evidence supports your line of reasoning.
• Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument.

AP Lang Argument Essay Example

As the old phrase says, “Practice makes perfect.” But is perfection something that is actually attainable? Sometimes, pushing for perfection helps us achieve great things, but most often, perfectionism puts too much pressure on us and prevents us from knowing when we have done the best we can. Striving for perfection can only lead us to shortchange ourselves. Instead, we should value learning, growth, and creativity and not worry whether we are first or fifth best.

Students often feel the need to be perfect in their classes, and this can cause students to struggle or stop making an effort in class. In elementary and middle school, for example, I was very nervous about public speaking. When I had to give a speech, my voice would shake, and I would turn very red. My teachers always told me “relax!” and I got Bs on Cs on my speeches. As a result, I put more pressure on myself to do well, spending extra time making my speeches perfect and rehearsing late at night at home. But this pressure only made me more nervous, and I started getting stomach aches before speaking in public.

Once I got to high school, however, I started doing YouTube make-up tutorials with a friend. We made videos just for fun, and laughed when we made mistakes or said something silly. Only then, when I wasn’t striving to be perfect, did I get more comfortable with public speaking.

AP Lang Argumentative Essay Example (Continued)

In the world of art and business and science, perfectionism can also limit what we are able to achieve. Artists, for example, have to take risks and leave room for creativity. If artists strive for perfection, then they won’t be willing to fail at new experiments and their work will be less innovative and interesting. In business and science, many products, like penicillin for example, were discovered by accident. If the scientist who discovered penicillin mold growing on his petri dishes had gotten angry at his mistake and thrown the dishes away, he would never have discovered a medicine that is vital to us today.

Some fields do need to value perfection. We wouldn’t like it, for example, if our surgeon wasn’t striving for perfection during our operation. However, for most of us, perfectionism can limit our potential for learning and growth. Instead of trying to be perfect, we should strive to learn, innovate, and do our personal best.

AP Lang Argument Essay Example: Answer Breakdown

The sample AP Lang Argumentative Essay above has some strengths and some weaknesses. Overall, we would give this essay a 3 or a 4. Let’s break down what’s working and what could be improved:

• The essay offers a thesis that makes a clear argument that is relevant to the prompt: “Striving for perfection can only lead us to shortchange ourselves. Instead, we should value learning, growth, and creativity and not worry whether we are first or fifth best.”
• The first body paragraph provides evidence that supports the essay’s thesis. This student’s personal anecdote offers an example of a time when perfectionism led them to shortchange themselves.
• The second body paragraph provides additional evidence that supports the essay’s thesis. The example describing the discovery of penicillin offers another example of a situation in which perfectionism might have limited scientific progress.
• The writer offers commentary explaining how her examples of public speaking and penicillin illustrate that we should “value learning, growth, and creativity” over perfectionism.
• The essay follows one line of reasoning and does not stray into tangents.
• The essay is organized well with intro, body, and concluding paragraphs. Overall, it is easy to read and is free of grammar errors.

What could be improved:

• Although the second body paragraph provides one good specific example about the discovery of penicillin, the other examples it offers about art and business are only discussed generally and aren’t backed up with evidence. This paragraph would be stronger if it provided more examples. Or, if this writer couldn’t think of examples, they could have left out mentions of art and business altogether and included alternate evidence instead.
• This writer would more thoroughly support their argument if they were able to offer one more example of evidence. They could provide another personal anecdote, an example from history, or an example from current events.
• The writer briefly mentions the other side of the argument in their concluding paragraph: “Some fields do need to value perfection. We wouldn’t like it, for example, if our surgeon wasn’t striving for perfection during our operation.” Since it’s so brief a mention of the other side, it undermines the writer’s overall argument. This writer should either dedicate more time to reflecting on why even surgeons should “value learning, growth, and creativity” over perfectionism, or they should leave these sentences out.

AP Lang Argument Essay Example—More Resources

Looking for more tips to help you master your AP Lang Argumentative Essay? Brush up on 20 Rhetorical Devices High School Students Should Know and read our Tips for Improving Reading Comprehension .

If you’re ready to start studying for another part of the AP English Exam, find more expert tips in our How to Write the AP Lang Synthesis and How to Write the AP Lang Rhetorical Essay blog posts.

• High School Success

Christina Wood

Christina Wood holds a BA in Literature & Writing from UC San Diego, an MFA in Creative Writing from Washington University in St. Louis, and is currently a Doctoral Candidate in English at the University of Georgia, where she teaches creative writing and first-year composition courses. Christina has published fiction and nonfiction in numerous publications, including The Paris Review , McSweeney’s , Granta , Virginia Quarterly Review , The Sewanee Review , Mississippi Review , and Puerto del Sol , among others. Her story “The Astronaut” won the 2018 Shirley Jackson Award for short fiction and received a “Distinguished Stories” mention in the 2019 Best American Short Stories anthology.

• 2-Year Colleges
• Application Strategies
• Best Colleges by Major
• Best Colleges by State
• Big Picture
• Career & Personality Assessment
• College Essay
• College Search/Knowledge
• College Success
• Costs & Financial Aid
• Data Visualizations
• Dental School Admissions
• Extracurricular Activities
• Graduate School Admissions
• High Schools
• Law School Admissions
• Medical School Admissions
• Navigating the Admissions Process
• Online Learning
• Private High School Spotlight
• Summer Program Spotlight
• Summer Programs
• Test Prep Provider Spotlight

“Innovative and invaluable…use this book as your college lifeline.”

— Lynn O'Shaughnessy

Nationally Recognized College Expert

College Planning in Your Inbox

Join our information-packed monthly newsletter.

I am a... Student Student Parent Counselor Educator Other First Name Last Name Email Address Zip Code Area of Interest Business Computer Science Engineering Fine/Performing Arts Humanities Mathematics STEM Pre-Med Psychology Social Studies/Sciences Submit

439 History Argumentative Essay Topics to Get an A [Writing Tips Included]

Who hasn’t been puzzled when it comes to choosing historical argument topics?

It is hard to memorize all the information given in a class. Undoubtedly, all historical issues can be developed into excellent history essay topics. The question to resolve is how to discover your case.

You can find 300+ unique world history argumentative essay topics in our article, as well as some essay writing tips. If our topics are not enough for you, use our instant and completely free research title generator .

• 🚧 History Essay Challenges
• 📜 Top 15 Topics
• ✊ Revolution Topics
• 🗺️ Regional Topics
• 🤴 Key Figures Topics
• 🏳️‍🌈 Key Movements
• 📿 Topics on Traditions
• 👁️‍ Topics on Mysteries
• 📝 Historical Topics – 2024

📢 History Persuasive Essay Topics

• 👉 Choosing a Topic
• ♟️ Writing Strategies

🚧 History Essay Topics Main Challenges

History shapes our present. To study the rules of our modern world and society, we need to research historical argument topics. They can show us which conflicts led to a better future and which destroyed our civilization.

History assignments for high school students contain many pitfalls. The five most critical of them are listed below.

• Avoid thinking that any event was inevitable. First, we rarely dispose of a complete picture of a historical period. Second, some events are Force-Majeure and unpredictable. However, human choices matter. Focus on what could have been changed and which lessons we could learn from the alternative result.
• Listing events is pointless. It can be read in any chronicle. Instead, your purpose is to analyze them. An untrivial perspective is what makes your essay a good one.
• People often change their opinions. Historical figures also did. Try not to perceive their beliefs as a consistent and invariable set of ideas. Explore how they reached their wisdom or why they made errors.
• Not all events are relevant to your history essay question . Make a list of the significant events and personalities that refer to your topic. Cross out all that can be omitted. Then add minor events related to those that left. It is what you should write about.
• Avoid vague words. Great, prominent, positive, or negative are obscure words that make your writing limited and unilateral. Most personalities and events were multifaceted. Work in this direction.

📜 Top 15 History Argumentative Essay Topics

History is full of mystery, riddles, and conflicting points. Writing a history paper will undoubtedly be fun if you choose an exciting history essay topic. Meet our list of the most provocative history questions.

• How could The 1896 Anglo-Zanzibar last only 38 minutes?
• Did Arab people invent the Arab numerals or Hindus?
• Hitler as the man of the year in 1938, according to Time magazine.
• The average life expectancy of peasants In the Middle Ages was about 25 years.
• Why were Roman soldiers using baths as rehabilitation centers?
• What was the importance of the Battle of Stalingrad?
• The wars with the most considerable losses took place in China.
• In 400 BC, Sparta had only 25,000 inhabitants but over 500,000 slaves.
• Out of the last 3500 years, how many years were peaceful?
• How important is tea time for British people?
• In the middle of the 20th century, the whole British royal court got sick because of improperly cooked potatoes.
• Compare the number of Soviet soldiers who died in World War II and the number of American ones.
• Has any part of the Roman Empire existed 1000 years after the Fall of Rome?
• Were the Egyptian pyramids actually constructed using slaves’ labor?
• Did Leonardo Da Vinci have dyslexia?

⚔️ History Essay Topics on War

“There never was a good war or a bad peace,” — wrote Benjamin Franklin in one of his letters. Did we learn what peace is, after all? Discussion and analysis of armed conflicts that humanity has faced throughout its existence are still massive jobs researchers do. Below, you can find excellent topics on war and peace.

Detailed categorization to help you write a good essay about war!

• How did the Second World War change family traditions? It lasted for six years, and families learned how to survive without a father. What were the psychological implications for mothers, children, and returning soldiers?
• Food packages for long-term storage quickly developed during both World Wars . Explore which products changed the most. How did their modified form affect the cuisine and rations?
• WWII spurred the creation of new professions . Find out which jobs appeared during this period. How were they linked to warfare? Did they change after the termination of the war?
• Many scientific advances came to our understanding through dubious ways. The research and experiments of Nazi Germany on humans led to a breakthrough in medicine, anthropology, genetics, psychology, etc. Is it moral to use their findings for peaceful purposes?
• Soldiers spread the Spanish Flu during WWI. It killed more people than died in military actions. Did it influence the outcome of the war? Analyze how the pandemic might have unfolded if it had happened in a time of peace.

• Explain how trench warfare slowed the military actions in WWI. What were the common diseases in trenches, and how did they affect the conflict? The Germans dug trenches not to lose any more ground.
• American Women in History of World War II .
• To which extent was Hitler not responsible for the Second World War? He was obviously the one to blame for the many atrocities of the Nazis. Still, which circumstances were out of his control and led to the war?
• Japanese American Life During and after the World War II.
• Compare the economic conditions in which Britain entered WWI and WWII.
• The Treaty of Versailles in World War II History .
• What was the military potential of Russia in WWI?
• World War II People in “Hitler’s Army.”
• Is it correct to say that the results of WWI caused WWII?
• Minority Civil Rights in the US after the WWII .
• Was Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria so influential that his death caused the outbreak of WWI?
• What Was the Second World War Impact on the USSR?
• The Russian population scarcely supported the Bolsheviks. What helped them to seize power during the October Revolution? The provisional government was occupied by the war. The Red Army followed the same interests, and Vladimir Lenin led the entire group.
• Francisco Franco was the dictator of Spain from 1939 till 1975, when he died. How did the Spanish Civil War bring him to power? Why did Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy help him?
• The monarchy in Uganda was abolished in 1967. Several years later, from 1971 to 1986, the country was torn apart by the Civil War . What were the causes of this dark period, and how did it end? Is Uganda peaceful now?
• Describe the role of climate in the collision between the North and South in the US . Did long agricultural seasons make the South depend on fieldwork? Was the traditional use of slavery a way to get rich?
• The polarized opinions of the left and right political forces caused the Greek Civil War. Based on the history of this conflict and the thematic in-country clashes of other countries, analyze the eternal and unending struggle between the left and right ideologies.
• The American Civil War Outbreak and the Role of the Federal Government.
• The English Civil War (1642 – 1651) was about ruling England, Scotland, and Ireland. What were the variants, and which one do you support?
• Short- and Long-term Causes of the Civil War .
• Describe the differences between the free Northern States and the slave Southern states during the American Civil War.
• The Economics of the Civil War .
• How did the Second Civil War in Sudan entail the creation of South Sudan through the referendum of 2011 ?
• The Motives of Individual Soldiers Who Fought in the Civil War .
• Why was Pugachev’s Rebellion (1773 – 1775) in Russia defeated?
• Post-Civil War Political, Economic, Social Changes .
• Austrian Civil War: The shortest possible conflict (12-16 February 1934).
• Petersburg in the Civil War: History Issues .

Intercountry Wars

• Analyze the possible reasons for an international conflict and how they can be regulated through warfare. List the ideas that motivated people to get into a war. This essay will illustrate the debatable history of wars.
• Describe the relationship between the emergence of nuclear weapons and the Cold War. Why was America afraid of the Soviet Union and communism?
• Why was the Spanish-American War one of the cheapest conflicts in history? It lasted for only several months and did not take many lives, as other military actions did. What secured its swift completion?
• What Were the Major Diplomacy Steps of J.F. Kennedy in Cuba During the Cold War?
• Why did Canada play a peacekeeper role at the beginning of the Cold War?
• The Seven Years War and its Impact on the First British Empire .
• How did the history of the Palestinians impact the Arab-Israeli conflict ?
• Outline the reasons for the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.
• The Vietnam War’s Impact on the United States .
• Describe the collaboration between the American and Australian troops in the Vietnam War.
• United States Role in the Korean War: History Analysis .
• How did the Soviet Union and US intervention cause Afghanistan’s War on Terror ?

Religious Wars

• Why did the Huguenots fail in the French Religious Wars (1562 – 1598)? They could not rely on settlements that supported them. Thus, they were less autonomous than the Catholics.
• How did the Thirty Years’ War change the geopolitical image of Europe? Why was it transformed into a group of independent states with equal rights? The most important consequence of the war was the creation of the modern notion of national borders.
• Describe the relationship between the Second Great Awakening and the abolishment of slavery in the US. It also entailed several philanthropic reforms and women’s emancipation. Why did the movement inspire a new vision on slavery and encourage questioning the British monarchy control?
• Quackers: The religion of pacifism and non-violence . Did their peaceful worldview prevent their faith from popularization? Which controversy with other confessions did they face?
• How did the English Civil War (1642 – 1651) lay the modern parliamentary monarchy’s foundation in the UK?
• Islam and War: True Meaning of Jihad .
• How did the Second Great Awakening participants expect to bring America to a Golden Age through religion?
• Comparison of Jewish and Muslim Experiences .
• Which role did religion play in the American Revolutionary War (1775 – 1783)?
• Christian Europeans vs. Islamic Arabs: Why did the fight for Jerusalem affect the Jews who lived in Europe?
• Judaism, Christianity, and Islam .
• Why did the Catholics fight with Protestants during the Thirty Years’ War?
• Religious Beliefs and Political Decisions .
• How did the Protestant Reformation lead to the European Wars of Religion?

✊ History Essay Topics on Revolution

Pick a revolution, any famous and well-documented one, and be sure to find a bunch of yet unresolved questions. Numerous mysteries held by revolutionary events give us a lot of topics to debate. Now, here are themes to study about the world and local revolutions.

Political Revolutions

• The European Revolutions (1848) affected almost 50 countries. Battles and executions took tens of thousands of lives. How did nationalism incentivize the political and economic struggle?
• How did the French invasion of Spain (1807) entail the Spanish-American Wars? The Spanish side aimed for political independence from America. What was their motivation?
• Fulgencio Batista, the Cuban President, was an elected president. He gradually seized power and became a dictator. Why did the US politically support him before Fidel Castro ousted and replaced him?
• The Shah’s regime brought economic shortages and inflation. Some people thought he was the puppet of the non-Muslim West (i.e., the US). How did Shah’s oil policy lead to the Iranian Revolution ?
• During the Storming of the Bastille , there were only seven political prisoners. Why did the revolutionaries attack this building and not the Versailles or some other royal building? Why was Bastille the symbol of monarchy and its abuse of power?
• Various Propaganda Tools Shaped People’s Vision of the State and Themselves during the Cultural Revolution in China .

• The Events That Led to the American Revolution .
• Describe and analyze the conflict between the Three Estates that led to the French Revolution .
• Who won in the Spanish American War of Independence and why?
• The Proclamation and the Stamp Act: Discriminatory laws that led to the American Revolution.
• Economic Factors Contributing to the Cause of the American Revolution.
• A political revolution does not change the property relations inside the country. Give examples of such events.
• Cold War Role in the Iranian Revolution .
• Haitian Revolution (1791–1804): The only successful revolt of self-liberated slaves.
• The Effects of Social Media on Egyptian Revolution of 2011 .

Social Revolutions

• Boston Tea Party (1773) was a protest of merchants against the British tax on tea. Why is it considered as the precursor of the American Revolution? How does it symbolize the birth of American patriotism?
• The French nobility was not concerned with the problems of ordinary people. They dedicated themselves to leisure and intrigues. Do you agree with this statement? How does it fit with the idea that France had authoritarianism ?
• What is the difference between a political and a socio-economic revolution? Which event takes more time and has more dramatic consequences? Give several examples of the experience in different countries.
• The Neolithic Revolution was the first social revolution in the history of humanity. Describe the shift from nomadic life to permanent settlements. How did the transformation change people’s lives and their sources of food?
• Could we consider the Enlightenment as a social revolution? Was this transformation a peaceful one? What were its causes, and what did people strive for?
• Syrian Arab Spring: Why Was it Late? Conflict Evolution and Solutions.
• How did the burning of Cinema Rex theatre trigger the Iranian Revolution?
• The American Revolution as a Social Revolution .
• How did hope and idealism fuel the French Revolution?
• The Revolution of Women in Society .
• What was achieved by the Civil War in the USA (1861-1865)?
• Child Labor During Industrial Revolution .
• Analyze the existing theories of what does and does not constitute a revolution.
• Karl Marx’s Ideas on Society Alienation and Conflict Theory.
• What were the precursors of the Age of Revolution in Europe and America?
• The Revolution of Transportation Systems .

🗺️ World History Argumentative Essay Topics

Time to examine history from a local perspective! Below you can find multiple excellent topics on regional history. The US history, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and more. Make sure to look at all of them precisely – this will require some effort.

US History Essay Topics

• American history before 1877: The New World before Christopher Columbus. Which sources of knowledge about the first settlements do historians draw from? Which civilizations existed there before the invasion of the Europeans?
• Explore the role of women in Colonial America . What rights did they have? What was their standard daily routine? Why was their work sometimes more complicated than that of their male relatives?
• How did slavery appear in British America? What were the circumstances that led to forced labor? Why was the trans-Atlantic slave trade so prosperous?
• How did the Founding Fathers treat Indian history and tribes? Were their actions legitimate? Did these deeds favor the establishment of the New World? Can such or any other “ethnic cleansing” ever be justified?

• Were Jim Craw Laws necessary for a smooth transition from slavery to democracy? Or were they a big mistake that provided freedom to African-Americans without giving them any rights?
• The Roles Played by Different Presidents on American Civil Rights Movement.
• Comment on the inflow of immigrants pursuing the American Dream after the Civil war.
• The Enslaved Blacks and Free Blacks During the American Civil War .
• How did Prohibition in the US cause the proliferation of the Italian-American Mafia?
• American Revolution: The “History” and “Memory”.
• Franklin Roosevelt led the US into the Second World War as the biggest debtor but exited it as the most significant creditor.
• In Search of the American Dream throughout the History.
• Describe the main problems the first British settlements faced in America.
• The Right to Vote in the USA Throughout the History .
• What were the psychological consequences of the Great Depression on ordinary American citizens?

Latin America History Essay Topics

• How did smallpox influence the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire ? How did the disease contribute to other advantages of the Spanish forces? Why did Cortez wish to defeat the Aztecs?
• The Panama Canal made Panama the second-fastest growing economy in Latin America after Chile. It brings about $2 billion in yearly revenue. However, more than five thousand people died during its construction. Was it possible to avoid the deaths by postponing the construction?
• How the history of Peru would be different if Francisco Pizarro did not initiate the homicide of the Aztecs. Would modern Peru benefit from its pre-colonial natives? Which historical monuments would have been preserved?
• Gold or silver was never found in Uruguay. How did this fact influence the present-day prosperity and stability in the country? Why did it present almost no interest for the colonial conquest?
• In 1848, General Santa Anna sold a big part of Mexico to the United States. Why did he do so? What would Latin America look like now had he not sold the land to feed the army?
• Nationalism and Development in the Countries of Latin America .
• Why did Latin America wish to declare independence from Spain (1810)?
• Haitian Migration History, and the Role of Jamaica in This Process .
• Explore the benefits of the Chilean victory in the War of the Pacific (1879 – 1883).
• Brazil and the European Union: The Relations .
• Why did America win the Mexican-American War?
• Criminal Justice Systems of the US and Colombia .
• Describe how the borders of modern Brazil were decided back in 1494 .
• Which consequences of Gen Alfredo Stroessner’s dictatorship in Paraguay can you name?
• Mexico’s Globalization and Democratization .

European History Essay Topics

• Why did ordinary people believe in Fascist propaganda ? Analyze the psychological factors and the cultural precursors that made people susceptible to Nazism. Did the fear of being killed influence their willingness to obey the ruling party?
• Find out the difference between the perception of gods in Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. Did both nations truly believe in gods? Was the Pantheon a cultural phenomenon? Why did they use the same gods with different names ?
• Would Roman Empire have become so influential if it had never used slavery? Why was slavery an essential part of the economy of many countries? What changed then? Was the abolishment of slavery dictated only by humanism?
• How did the relationships between lords and their vassals transform into modern government standards? Which positive and negative features were preserved throughout the ages? Compare the ancient tradition and the present-day government using historical and contemporary figures.
• What is the difference between the Renaissance and the Enlightenment ?
• Why Capitalism Started in Europe and Dominated the World ?
• Analyze the evolution of peace-maintaining methods inside the country and around its borders throughout European history.
• Building a Communist Society in East Germany .
• What does the classical and vulgar language distinction in Ancient Rome tell us about the structure of its society?
• Austria and France: Impacts and Causes of World War I and World War II .
• Compare and contrast the role of Russia in WWI and the Napoleonic Wars .
• Trace the development of European liberalism .
• Germany at the End of the World War I .
• List the six ancient civilizations and compare the causes that led to their fall .

Asian History Essay topics

• What made the Mongol Empire the second-largest kingdom in human history? How did the empire use technology and production to ensure its prosperity? What helped Genghis Khan unite the nomadic tribes?
• The Black Death is traditionally associated with Europe since it killed one-third of its population. Still, the bubonic plague started in Asia. Explore its outburst in 1330 – 1340 and its origins (presumably, in China).
• Explore the consequences of numerous conflicts between nomads and settled people in Asia. How did this rivalry shape the history of the continent? Analyze the contribution of trading between nomads and towns.
• A crossbow was invented in Asia. It revolutionized warfare. How did the weapon make archery a more democratic art? Which benefits did crossbow offer the army? Describe the history of the arm.

• The word Aryan comes from Iran and India. It meant “a noble person.” How did it turn into the most abused words of anti-Semitism?
• The Causes and Effects of Cultural Revolution in China (1966-1976).
• What are the social effects of female infanticide in China, India, South Korea, and Nepal?
• China’s New Silk Road for Trade and IGo to demoessays.commplications .
• Compare and contrast the Indian castes and Feudal Japanese classes.
• The Development of Tension Between South and North Korea.
• How did the Battle of Gaugamela (331 BC) open Asia to be invaded by Alexander the Great?
• Japan’s Withdrawing From the International Whaling Commission .
• Describe the weapons of Ancient Asian civilizations as the mirror of their culture.
• How did some Asian countries (Japan, China, and Siam) escape European colonization ?
• Nationalism in East Asia, Japan and China .

Russian History Essay Topics

• Which tribes created modern Russia? Were they Slavic or Finno-Ugric? Why does this history argumentative essay topic cause debates among historians? What are the implications of either variant for the Russian national identity?
• How did the Tsardom of Moscow transform into the Russian Empire in 1721? What did Peter I do for this reformation? How did it change Russian society’s standard of living?
• Why did Boris Godunov come to power breaking the Rurik family dynasty? Before his ascension to the throne, he was a Tatar nobleman and served as an advisor to Tsar Fyodor I. Why did his rule start at the Time of Troubles (1598 – 1613)?
• Is it appropriate to call Moscow the “Third Rome” ? Sophia Palaiologina, the daughter of the last emperor of Constantinople, married Ivan III. Analyze the reasons for the statement that Moscow is the successor of the Roman Empire
• What were the causes and consequences of the existence of the four “False Dmitrys”? Explore the under-the-carpet battle that led to the killing of the dynasty’s successors. How did the four imposters entail the decay of the institution of Tsardom?
• Long-Term Strategies to Address Threats to the US’ Interest From Russia .
• Which personal traits helped Ivan the Terrible establish the Tsardom of Russia and make it a powerful state?
• Why Is There a Strong Russian Influence in Syrian Crisis?
• Debate the phenomenon of Peter the Great : Was he the result of the epoch or the random person who changed Russian history?
• Crisis on European Borders and Russia’s Threats .
• What were the merits and drawbacks of Catherine the Great ?
• Communist Nations Divisions During the Cold War .
• How did other countries react to the Russian version of communism?
• The Cold War Between the U.S. and the Soviet Union .
• Did the communist regime make Russia stronger, or did it throw it back in time?
• The Collapse of the Soviet Union .

African History Essay Topics

• Why did the imperial historiography propagate that Africa had no history? They wanted to create the image of Africa as the “dark continent.” How did the historians justify these statements and relate them to the absence of writing?
• The Kingdom of Kush : The most powerful African kingdom. Describe the period of its existence and outline the possible reasons for its decay. Which historical monuments have been found of that era?
• Do you support the idea that humanity originated in Africa? Why does this statement insult the Western World? Is there enough evidence that proves the idea?
• We know about African history from the perspective of Western scholars. Even the locally educated people who study history have adopted the Western way of looking at the past. What can be done about that?
• Before European colonization , there were about 10,000 states in Africa. Describe their ethnic similarities and shared customs that we know nowadays.
• What do we know about prehistoric Africa, i.e., the one that existed before the Ancient Egypt civilization?
• China in Africa: Aspects of Sino-African Relations.
• Why is slavery often mentioned as the initial reference point in African history?
• African Americans Fight for the Rights.
• Which problems arose in some African societies as a result of decolonization ?
• The History of African American Women’s Fights for Suffrage.
• Describe how decolonized Africa tried to decolonize its history.
• Colonialism, Ideology, Ethnicity, Religion, Social Class, and Legitimacy in Africa’s Politics .

Australian History Essay Topics

• James Cook was not the first one to discover Australia. Who were his predecessors? Why didn’t they gain as much fame as Cook did?

• King O’Malley : The founder of the Australian capital. How did he favor the creation of the Commonwealth Bank? How did Prime Minister Fisher ensure trust in the bank among the population?
• Why did the Ballarat Rebellion finish just in 30 minutes? What did the rebels struggle for? How did the event lead to the signing of the Electoral Act of 1856?
• The first colonizers of Australia were prisoners. How does this fact impact the contemporary image of the country? What were the historical implications of such a demographical situation?
• Why do Australians consider the battle of 25 April 1915 (during WWI) as “the birth of the nation?” Describe the reasons that made Australian Imperial Forces participate in the war and attack the Turkish coast?
• Why were Afghan cameleers important in Australia, and what caused their disappearance?
• Aboriginal and Chinese Australians: Cultural Diversity.
• What were the causes of the Rum rebellion of 1808, and which role did William Bligh play in it?
• How Have Australian Attitudes Towards ‘Asia’ Changed Since the 1890 ?
• Describe the role of Merino sheep in the Australian economy since they were first brought there by Captain John Macarthur in 1797.
• Is Australian Foreign Policy Now Independent?
• Ned Kelly : A ruthless killer or a symbol of resistance to the colonial power?
• Multiculturalism in Australian Society .
• Describe the Brisbane Line and its role in the Japanese invasion.
• China’s and Australia’s Management of International Disputes .

🤴 History Essay Topics on Key Figures

The significance of historical figures is something challenging to measure and compare. And there is indeed no need to do that; everyone has their place, time, and role. With these topics below, we offer you to dive into biographies of some fascinating people. Take a deep breath; we are almost there!

Central Figures of Ancient History

• Plato vs. Aristotle : The abstract vs. the empirical. Both of them are the most influential figures in Western philosophy. Aristotle was Plato’s disciple. What made their ideas so different?
• Why was Diogenes a controversial personality? How did he manage to criticize social conventions through his simple lifestyle? Is poverty a virtue, as Diogenes claimed?
• Aeschylus: The father of Tragedy . What were his contributions to the image of Ancient Greek theater? Explore his influence beyond his own time.
• Homer created the ancient Greek identity. Did he formulate the qualities already present in his compatriots ? Alternatively, did he idealize the past to make the Greeks aspire for more?
• Cleisthenes : The father of the Athenian democracy. Explore his contribution to the governance of Athens. How different was it from the modern idea of democracy?
• The Ancient City of Tikal: Mayan Cultural, Social, Astronomy and Political Influence .
• Why did Mark Antony and Cleopatra trust one another so much?
• Plutarch : Our window to the ancient times.
• Cleopatra’s Life and Political Impact .
• How did Alexander the Great and his conquest change the ancient world?
• Ethical Life Issues in Works by Cicero and C.S. Lewis .
• Why do we consider Hippocrates as the father of medicine ?
• Aristotle and Relationships at Work .
• Describe the difference between the historical and fictional accounts of the assassination of Julius Caesar.
• Alaric I the Visigoth: The person responsible for the Sack of Rome in 410.
• Jesus & Mohammed: Comparison and Contrast .
• Why was Leonidas I encircled by a hero cult?
• Moses in Christianity, Judaism and Islam .

Central Figures of Medieval Ages

• Tomás de Torquemada was the first Grand Inquisitor of Spain. Why did his name become the synonym of religious fanaticism and cruelty? What made him the most notorious Inquisitor?
• Charlemagne was the creator of modern Europe. He divided the Carolingian Empire between his sons. He also added more parts to Europe that had never been under Roman or Frankish control before. Explore his activity.
• Avicenna (980 – 1037) was the most important polymath of the Islamic Golden Age. Analyze his contributions to modern science.
• Constantine was the last Byzantine emperor . He was killed when protecting Constantinople from the Ottoman Turks. What makes him a legendary figure in Greek culture?
• Thomas Aquinas was the first theologian that linked religion and science. He connected Christian principles with Aristotelian ideas. How did he influence our perception of God and faith?
• Did Marco Polo travel to China, or was he a big liar?
• Joan of Arc as a Military Heroine .
• Why was Sir William Marshal called “the greatest knight” in human history?
• St. Thomas Aquinas’ Cosmological Argument Analysis .
• Describe the leadership qualities of Richard the Lionheart in his battle for Jerusalem with sultan Saladin.
• Was Genghis Khan a great ruler? Analyze his leadership style.
• British Culture – Tudors, Henry VIII and Anglican Church .
• William the Conqueror and his Domesday Book : The most critical statistical document in European history.
• Why was Peter the Hermit the critical figure in the First Crusade ?
• Elizabeth I’s Leadership. English History .
• What was the role of Joan of Arc in the Hundred Years’ War?
• Pope Innocent III: The person who invented the Crusades.

Central Figures of Modern Period

• How did Otto von Bismarck change the European map and reinforce Germany? He was the first chancellor of Germany for 20 years. This fact made him the mastermind of European affairs for two decades.
• Alexander II and Nicolas II: The grandfather and the grandson. Fifty years separated prosperity from decay. The first abolished slavery, and the latter caused the collapse of the Russian Empire.
• Stalin: From a collective leadership to dictatorship . He was the man that defined the epoch. Why was he the longest ruler of the USSR? How did his activity shape the international image of the Soviet Union?
• Mahatma Gandhi liberated India from Britain . Yet, he invariably insisted on non-violent methods. Could the liberation have happened in more favorable conditions for India if he had used more aggressive measures?

• Churchill: The ideologist of the anti-Hitler coalition and the creator of the Entente. Why do we consider him the inspirer of the British movement against Nazi Germany? What were the main postulates of his ideology?
• The Civil Rights Movement by Martin Luther King .
• From the modern point of view, did Lenin fulfill his intentions by introducing communism?
• Einstein and his Contribution to Science .
• If we abstract from the issues of morality, was Hitler a positive figure for his country?
• Hitler’s Interests: Nazi Germany and the Jews .
• What was the role of Margaret Thatcher’s activity in the process of entailing deep divisions in British society?
• Leadership Management: The Case of Mahatma Gandhi .
• Analyze the life story of Sigmund Freud that brought him to become the father of psychoanalysis.
• How did Anne Boleyn help to create the Church of England?
• US Foreign Policies from Eisenhower to Kennedy .
• How did Jane Austen’s stories about unremarkable situations turn into social satire?
• George Washington: Life, Presidency, Challenges as a Commander .
• How did El Greco transform icon painting by using ordinary people as models?

Central Figures of Contemporary History

• Mao Zedong drew inspiration from the Soviet Communistic ideology. How did his principles differ from the USSR scenario? Analyze the policy of Mao Zedong from the modern Chinese point of view.
• Albert Einstein changed our perception of reality through his theory of relativity . It explained how objects behave in space and time. The approach gave us a chance to predict the future.
• Analyze the personality of Usama bin Ladin as the founder of Al-Qaeda and the most famous terroristic leader. Explore his ideology and motivation for killing civil citizens. Can we change this ideology through education?
• Stanley N. Cohen was the first person who managed to cut DNA into pieces. But Paul Berg is considered the father of genetic engineering. Which personality did more for genetics?
• Harry Truman was a Vice President only for several weeks. Truman, the 33rd US President, ordered the dropping of the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Why did he do so?
• Queen Elizabeth’s II contributions to the UK we know now.
• Truman Doctrine in the United States History .
• Anne Frank: The girl whose diary united millions of human tragedies.
• Barack Obama’s Political Doctrine and Its Elements .
• Describe the role of Douglas MacArthur in Japan’s restoration after WWII .
• Maria Curie : The woman who taught us to use X-rays.
• Merkel’s Germany and Trump’s Us Stances on Migration Policies .

• How did Grace Kelly contribute to the image of Monaco as a touristic paradise?
• Why did Gorbachev win the Nobel Peace Prize?

🏳️‍🌈 Argumentative History Topics on Significant Movements

Each epoch has had some movements that perform the leading ideas and soul of the corresponding time. Political, social, religious, and other movements have left multiple traces in different spheres of life. The necessity to explore these traces is pretty obvious, right? Let’s do it together.

Political Movements

• Why does extreme libertarianism reject the authority of the state?
• Anarchy and Sovereignty in International Relations .
• Is it correct to regard feminism as a political movement ?
• Analyze the incorrect interpretation of Nietzsche’s philosophy by the German Nazi.
• “Manifesto of the Communist Party” by Karl Marx .
• How do eugenic policies entail the loss of genetic diversity?
• Discussion of Capitalism and Socialism .
• Why are there two major parties in US politics?
• Explore the development of the Women’s Suffrage movement in your local area.
• Why does any political movement require access to state power to be successful?
• Islamism: Political Movement & Range of Ideologies .
• Does lobbying influence the development of various political movements in power?
• Democratic Regime and Liberation Movements .
• Describe communism as a secular religion.
• Is anti-capitalism a viable ideology?

Social Movements

• What are the achievements of the animal rights movement?
• White Society’s Reaction to Civil Rights Movement .
• Which women’s rights movements do you know, and what are their goals?
• Civil Rights and #BlackLivesMatter Social Movements .
• Do you believe that some psychological problems make people participate in social movements?

• What did the Black Power Movement (1960 – 1980s) achieve?
• Women’s Rights Movement Impact on Education.
• What are the psychological effects of volunteering in hospices?
• The Strategy of the National Popular Vote Movement .
• Analyze the success of the Black Lives Matter movement.
• Greta Thunberg : The inspirer of the international movement against climate change.
• Free Movement of Workers in the EU Single Market.
• Why does the majority of the population negatively look at all sorts of social movements?
• #MeToo movement and its results: The cancellation culture.

Art Movements

• How did the return of the African culture to the natives after WWII give birth to a new art movement?
• Why are modern art movements so numerous, and what does this fact characterize?
• Futurism. Artistic and Social Movement.
• Which art movement do you consider the most recognizable?
• Do you think Cubism is an art or a protest against artistic tradition?
• An artistic movement: Copying geniuses or drawing inspiration from them?
• Andy Warhol’s Paintings .
• How did the Hudson River School of Art shape American painting?
• Why did art in late Medieval Europe face decay?
• Art Movements in History: Baroque .
• What is the difference between the Baroque and Rococo styles?
• Which artistic movement initiated the use of perspective in painting, and why did it happen?

Religious and Spiritual Movements

• Explore the influence of fundamentalism on evangelicalism in America.
• Look for similar features between new religious movements and radical Islamic groups .
• Describe the distinctive traits of new religious movements that differentiate them from older religions.
• Which methods does the Religious Right movement use against the LGBT community?
• Do religious movements favor or impede globalization ?
• Which psychological reasons drive young people to Satanism?
• Why do people create new cults , and are they detrimental to society?
• Explore the difference between a spiritual and religious movement.
• Relation Between God, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit .
• Is it correct to consider atheism as a religious movement?
• Modern spiritual movements: business or altruism?

📿 Interesting History Essay Topics on Traditions

No matter the military history of a state or region, cultural heritage and traditions are something every society has. Now, the most exciting part is to explore these traditions and rituals. It can be a long journey!

• Trace the difference between Vlad the Impaler as a historical and mythical figure.

• Which events and traditions shaped the way we imagine a witch?
• False and Folk Etymologies of Words .
• Analyze Baba Yaga as the symbol of mother nature in Russian folklore.
• How does German folklore reflect in the tales of the Brothers Grimm ?
• The Thousand & One Nights: Folk Collection Overview .
• Is there any scientific explanation for weather prediction by natural signs is present in many cultures’ folklore?
• Witch-Hunt in Europe During the Middle Ages .
• Half-human creatures of ancient times: Who were they, and which archetype did they represent?
• Explore the folklore origins of the Swastika , which became the Nazi symbol.
• The mythology of Achilles’ heel: What does it symbolize?
• The Epic of Gilgamesh – A Classic Tale .
• Describe the meaning of fireflies in Japanese culture.
• “The Tale of Kieu” by Nguyen Du .
• What is the link between zombies and voodoo?
• Discover the origins of putting a pickle ornament on Christmas trees in Germany.
• Why Saturnalia, Mithras, and Hanukkah were the precursors of modern-day Christmas?
• What is the link between the Festival of Lanterns and Chinese New Year?
• What are the origins of Imbolc in Celtic tradition?
• Chinese Spring Festival .
• Which African-American harvest celebrations were unified under the name of Kwanzaa?
• What does Jewish Hannukah commemorate, and why does it last eight days?
• Why does the US celebrate Veterans Day at the 11th hour on the 11th day and 11th month?
• Why did the US presidents start racing Easter Eggs?
• What is the relation between Daylight Savings time and WWI?
• Analyze the geography and calendar of Christmas in different parts of the world.
• Why are most rituals practiced in modern world religions?
• Buddhism: History, Origins, and Rituals .
• Describe human sacrifice rituals in Ancient Rome .
• Why do civilized countries use rituals in politics, for example, during the presidential inauguration?
• Crusades from a Christian Viewpoint .
• Compare male and female initiation rituals in African countries.
• How do funeral rituals help humans overcome the pain of loss?
• Marriage rituals in Japan: History that is preserved to nowadays.
• Explore pagan rituals that remained in the Christian culture.
• Is Baptism a ritual of initiation?
• What do the burial rituals of native Americans tell us about their culture?

👁️‍ Essay Topics on Historical Mysteries

Have you ever thought about how many things around us are still covered with layers of questions? Humanity has still not resolved some events, places, and people that took place throughout history. Let’s have a look at some breathtaking historical mysteries.

• Think of the reasons for the Great Leap Forward . Why did people start painting caves and making jewelry?
• During the Middle Ages, English speakers changed the way they pronounced vowels. What are the theories of the Great Vowel Shift ?
• The Green Children of Woolpit: A scary folk tale or a historical event?
• The Inca civilization: Highway and postal system, skull surgeries, and other signs of culture.
• The Sea Peoples caused the Bronze Age Collapse. Who were they? Where did they come from?
• What are the available explanations of the Phoenix Lights?
• The Salem Witch Trials and Their Impact on Massachusetts .
• Analyze the theories explaining the Baghdad batteries and select the most true-to-life version.
• What do we know about the “ Nazi Bell. ” Why is there so little information about the secret weapon?
• What do we know about the Philadelphia Experiment ? Discuss the major theories and opinions on that case.
• The Tunguska event: Military experiments or a meteoroid impact?
• The mystery of Yonaguni Island and its underwater structures: Who were their creators?
• The Bermuda Triangle: Human error camouflaged as a mystery.
• Was the uncanny nature of The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park created by Stephen King?
• Delano Roosevelt’s bomb shelter : Why did the President order to construct the chamber in 1941?
• What is known about the secret passageways and hiding rooms of the British Queen?
• The chief designer of the “hall of records” in Mount Rushmore died before completing his work. Was it a conspiracy?
• Why do the scientists believe that the secret of Stonehenge will be revealed in some decades?
• Find out the facts that point to the existence of Atlantis.
• The Lock Ness Lake and the monster: A non-extinct dinosaur?
• Money Pit on the Oak Island : A geologic formation or a place to hide treasures?
• What traits make Jack the Ripper so attractive to historians and fiction writers?
• Italian Americans Portrayed as Mafia Members in Films .
• Keth Arnold saw some “flying saucers” that traveled faster than jet airplanes. Was it a UFO or a flock of birds?
• David Blair: The person who was guilty in the Titanic catastrophe.
• Was Joan of Arc executed for heresy or for dressing in male clothes?
• The mystery of Amelia Earhart: Dead or alive?
• Was Grigori Rasputin really capable of predicting the future?
• Did the lost Grand Duchess Anastasia die when the rest of the Romanov family was killed?
• Explore the mystery of the Babushka Lady , who recorded the assassination of John F. Kennedy. What is known about her and the purposes of her filming?
• The Man in the Iron Mask and his sentence in the Bastille: Who could he be?
• Perseus in the Manhattan Project: How did he manage to hide from the US for so long?

📝 Historical Topics to Write About – 2024

• Geopolitical consequences of the USSR collapse for the world.
• The influence of Confucianism on modern society in China.
• How did the formation of NATO impact the Cold War?
• The significance of Napoleon Bonaparte in European history.
• The development of democracy in ancient Athens.
• Reagan’s tax reform and its impact on the modern economy.
• What were the key consequences of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings?
• The September 11th events and their impact on global security.
• The Manhattan Project and the development of nuclear weapons.
• The influence of slavery on African American families.
• Mahatma Gandhi and his influence on the ideology of modern India.
• What was the role of the first moon landing in astronomy?
• The ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its value.
• The true history of the Confederate flag.
• How much regulation is necessary for capitalism to function?
• The main causes of the Vietnam War.
• Historical events should be reexamined through a contemporary ethical lens.
• The debate over the role of the United States in the Middle East.
• The controversy behind the Israel-Palestine conflict.
• Operation “Barbarossa”: aggression or attack prevention?
• The reasons for Martin Luther King’s assassination.
• The efficiency of the United Nations.
• Christopher Columbus: heroic explorer or the harbinger of genocide?
• The disputes about the origins of Shakespeare.
• Was Donald Trump an effective president?
• The benefits of communism in Eastern Europe.
• Is the world doing enough to prevent the destruction of historical sites?
• The real motive behind the Watergate scandal.
• South Korean provocations of the Korean War.
• Should the United States have entered World War I?
• Princess Diana’s death as the subject of a conspiracy theory.
• The effect of the Cuban Missile Crisis on the Cold War.
• Is the international community doing enough to commemorate the Holocaust?
• The debate over the use of internment camps during WWII.
• The factors contributing to the Nazi Party’s rise in Germany
• Did the attack on Pearl Harbor push the USA into WWII?
• The leading causes of the Roman Empire’s fall.
• Mysteries of the disappearance of the Mayan civilization.
• Disputes about the role of women in medieval society.
• The corruption of the Catholic Church: myth or truth?
• Capitalism is the best economic system.
• The injustices experienced by Muslims after 9/11.
• What would have happened without Hitler?

👉 History Essay Topics: How to Choose

Selecting the proper essay topic can sometimes be rather tricky. Especially after reading all these fascinating questions above😏

Jokes aside, perfect topic choice is crucial if you want to write a good essay or a research paper and get a high grade. Here are some useful tips that will help you make the right choice and write a great history essay.

♟️ Strategies for Historical Argument Topics

When it comes right to writing a historical essay, you should consider several scenarios of how to build your text. Depending on your topic and the point of view, you might need different strategies.

Now, let’s see the differences between descriptive and research argumentative essays on historical topics.

• Historians debate my topic. I agree with some of them, and I’m going to prove that. I will use their arguments to show their correctness.
• Historians disagree on my topic. I think they shall start their debate all over again, as they have reached a dead end.
• Historians relatively agree on my topic. I have developed a better interpretation of the events in question.
• Historians disregarded my topic. I will explain its topicality and list what should be researched.
• Several historians have examined my topic, but their findings are inconsistent. I will present more constructive evidence to clarify things.
• Many historians have studied my topic. However, I will take a fresh look at the subject matter from the perspective of new research or methodologies.

And we are done here.

Now, have a break if you’ve read all 396 topics. Though, wait, did you find something fitting you? In that case, you are free for a break 👼

In case if you are still not sure what to write about, we recommend you to read these topic compilations:

• The Best Argumentative Essay Topics for 2024
• Hot Problem-Solution Essay Topics
• 250+ Interesting Topics to Research
• Cause & Effect Essay Topics for Students
• Top 138 Awesome Sociology Essay Topics & Questions for 2024

We are pretty sure there’s no hopeless situation. It’s just a matter of time and effort. And everyone needs a different amount of each. So, keep calm, and let’s rock this history essay!

Good luck, friends 🍀

Research Paper Analysis: How to Analyze a Research Article + Example

Film analysis: example, format, and outline + topics & prompts.

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 3 strong argumentative essay examples, analyzed.

General Education

Need to defend your opinion on an issue? Argumentative essays are one of the most popular types of essays you’ll write in school. They combine persuasive arguments with fact-based research, and, when done well, can be powerful tools for making someone agree with your point of view. If you’re struggling to write an argumentative essay or just want to learn more about them, seeing examples can be a big help.

After giving an overview of this type of essay, we provide three argumentative essay examples. After each essay, we explain in-depth how the essay was structured, what worked, and where the essay could be improved. We end with tips for making your own argumentative essay as strong as possible.

What Is an Argumentative Essay?

An argumentative essay is an essay that uses evidence and facts to support the claim it’s making. Its purpose is to persuade the reader to agree with the argument being made.

A good argumentative essay will use facts and evidence to support the argument, rather than just the author’s thoughts and opinions. For example, say you wanted to write an argumentative essay stating that Charleston, SC is a great destination for families. You couldn’t just say that it’s a great place because you took your family there and enjoyed it. For it to be an argumentative essay, you need to have facts and data to support your argument, such as the number of child-friendly attractions in Charleston, special deals you can get with kids, and surveys of people who visited Charleston as a family and enjoyed it. The first argument is based entirely on feelings, whereas the second is based on evidence that can be proven.

The standard five paragraph format is common, but not required, for argumentative essays. These essays typically follow one of two formats: the Toulmin model or the Rogerian model.

• The Toulmin model is the most common. It begins with an introduction, follows with a thesis/claim, and gives data and evidence to support that claim. This style of essay also includes rebuttals of counterarguments.
• The Rogerian model analyzes two sides of an argument and reaches a conclusion after weighing the strengths and weaknesses of each.

3 Good Argumentative Essay Examples + Analysis

Below are three examples of argumentative essays, written by yours truly in my school days, as well as analysis of what each did well and where it could be improved.

Argumentative Essay Example 1

Proponents of this idea state that it will save local cities and towns money because libraries are expensive to maintain. They also believe it will encourage more people to read because they won’t have to travel to a library to get a book; they can simply click on what they want to read and read it from wherever they are. They could also access more materials because libraries won’t have to buy physical copies of books; they can simply rent out as many digital copies as they need.

However, it would be a serious mistake to replace libraries with tablets. First, digital books and resources are associated with less learning and more problems than print resources. A study done on tablet vs book reading found that people read 20-30% slower on tablets, retain 20% less information, and understand 10% less of what they read compared to people who read the same information in print. Additionally, staring too long at a screen has been shown to cause numerous health problems, including blurred vision, dizziness, dry eyes, headaches, and eye strain, at much higher instances than reading print does. People who use tablets and mobile devices excessively also have a higher incidence of more serious health issues such as fibromyalgia, shoulder and back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and muscle strain. I know that whenever I read from my e-reader for too long, my eyes begin to feel tired and my neck hurts. We should not add to these problems by giving people, especially young people, more reasons to look at screens.

Second, it is incredibly narrow-minded to assume that the only service libraries offer is book lending. Libraries have a multitude of benefits, and many are only available if the library has a physical location. Some of these benefits include acting as a quiet study space, giving people a way to converse with their neighbors, holding classes on a variety of topics, providing jobs, answering patron questions, and keeping the community connected. One neighborhood found that, after a local library instituted community events such as play times for toddlers and parents, job fairs for teenagers, and meeting spaces for senior citizens, over a third of residents reported feeling more connected to their community. Similarly, a Pew survey conducted in 2015 found that nearly two-thirds of American adults feel that closing their local library would have a major impact on their community. People see libraries as a way to connect with others and get their questions answered, benefits tablets can’t offer nearly as well or as easily.

While replacing libraries with tablets may seem like a simple solution, it would encourage people to spend even more time looking at digital screens, despite the myriad issues surrounding them. It would also end access to many of the benefits of libraries that people have come to rely on. In many areas, libraries are such an important part of the community network that they could never be replaced by a simple object.

The author begins by giving an overview of the counter-argument, then the thesis appears as the first sentence in the third paragraph. The essay then spends the rest of the paper dismantling the counter argument and showing why readers should believe the other side.

What this essay does well:

• Although it’s a bit unusual to have the thesis appear fairly far into the essay, it works because, once the thesis is stated, the rest of the essay focuses on supporting it since the counter-argument has already been discussed earlier in the paper.
• This essay includes numerous facts and cites studies to support its case. By having specific data to rely on, the author’s argument is stronger and readers will be more inclined to agree with it.
• For every argument the other side makes, the author makes sure to refute it and follow up with why her opinion is the stronger one. In order to make a strong argument, it’s important to dismantle the other side, which this essay does this by making the author's view appear stronger.
• This is a shorter paper, and if it needed to be expanded to meet length requirements, it could include more examples and go more into depth with them, such as by explaining specific cases where people benefited from local libraries.
• Additionally, while the paper uses lots of data, the author also mentions their own experience with using tablets. This should be removed since argumentative essays focus on facts and data to support an argument, not the author’s own opinion or experiences. Replacing that with more data on health issues associated with screen time would strengthen the essay.
• Some of the points made aren't completely accurate , particularly the one about digital books being cheaper. It actually often costs a library more money to rent out numerous digital copies of a book compared to buying a single physical copy. Make sure in your own essay you thoroughly research each of the points and rebuttals you make, otherwise you'll look like you don't know the issue that well.

Argumentative Essay Example 2

There are multiple drugs available to treat malaria, and many of them work well and save lives, but malaria eradication programs that focus too much on them and not enough on prevention haven’t seen long-term success in Sub-Saharan Africa. A major program to combat malaria was WHO’s Global Malaria Eradication Programme. Started in 1955, it had a goal of eliminating malaria in Africa within the next ten years. Based upon previously successful programs in Brazil and the United States, the program focused mainly on vector control. This included widely distributing chloroquine and spraying large amounts of DDT. More than one billion dollars was spent trying to abolish malaria. However, the program suffered from many problems and in 1969, WHO was forced to admit that the program had not succeeded in eradicating malaria. The number of people in Sub-Saharan Africa who contracted malaria as well as the number of malaria deaths had actually increased over 10% during the time the program was active.

One of the major reasons for the failure of the project was that it set uniform strategies and policies. By failing to consider variations between governments, geography, and infrastructure, the program was not nearly as successful as it could have been. Sub-Saharan Africa has neither the money nor the infrastructure to support such an elaborate program, and it couldn’t be run the way it was meant to. Most African countries don't have the resources to send all their people to doctors and get shots, nor can they afford to clear wetlands or other malaria prone areas. The continent’s spending per person for eradicating malaria was just a quarter of what Brazil spent. Sub-Saharan Africa simply can’t rely on a plan that requires more money, infrastructure, and expertise than they have to spare.

Additionally, the widespread use of chloroquine has created drug resistant parasites which are now plaguing Sub-Saharan Africa. Because chloroquine was used widely but inconsistently, mosquitoes developed resistance, and chloroquine is now nearly completely ineffective in Sub-Saharan Africa, with over 95% of mosquitoes resistant to it. As a result, newer, more expensive drugs need to be used to prevent and treat malaria, which further drives up the cost of malaria treatment for a region that can ill afford it.

Instead of developing plans to treat malaria after the infection has incurred, programs should focus on preventing infection from occurring in the first place. Not only is this plan cheaper and more effective, reducing the number of people who contract malaria also reduces loss of work/school days which can further bring down the productivity of the region.

One of the cheapest and most effective ways of preventing malaria is to implement insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs).  These nets provide a protective barrier around the person or people using them. While untreated bed nets are still helpful, those treated with insecticides are much more useful because they stop mosquitoes from biting people through the nets, and they help reduce mosquito populations in a community, thus helping people who don’t even own bed nets.  Bed nets are also very effective because most mosquito bites occur while the person is sleeping, so bed nets would be able to drastically reduce the number of transmissions during the night. In fact, transmission of malaria can be reduced by as much as 90% in areas where the use of ITNs is widespread. Because money is so scarce in Sub-Saharan Africa, the low cost is a great benefit and a major reason why the program is so successful. Bed nets cost roughly 2 USD to make, last several years, and can protect two adults. Studies have shown that, for every 100-1000 more nets are being used, one less child dies of malaria. With an estimated 300 million people in Africa not being protected by mosquito nets, there’s the potential to save three million lives by spending just a few dollars per person.

Reducing the number of people who contract malaria would also reduce poverty levels in Africa significantly, thus improving other aspects of society like education levels and the economy. Vector control is more effective than treatment strategies because it means fewer people are getting sick. When fewer people get sick, the working population is stronger as a whole because people are not put out of work from malaria, nor are they caring for sick relatives. Malaria-afflicted families can typically only harvest 40% of the crops that healthy families can harvest. Additionally, a family with members who have malaria spends roughly a quarter of its income treatment, not including the loss of work they also must deal with due to the illness. It’s estimated that malaria costs Africa 12 billion USD in lost income every year. A strong working population creates a stronger economy, which Sub-Saharan Africa is in desperate need of.  

This essay begins with an introduction, which ends with the thesis (that malaria eradication plans in Sub-Saharan Africa should focus on prevention rather than treatment). The first part of the essay lays out why the counter argument (treatment rather than prevention) is not as effective, and the second part of the essay focuses on why prevention of malaria is the better path to take.

• The thesis appears early, is stated clearly, and is supported throughout the rest of the essay. This makes the argument clear for readers to understand and follow throughout the essay.
• There’s lots of solid research in this essay, including specific programs that were conducted and how successful they were, as well as specific data mentioned throughout. This evidence helps strengthen the author’s argument.
• The author makes a case for using expanding bed net use over waiting until malaria occurs and beginning treatment, but not much of a plan is given for how the bed nets would be distributed or how to ensure they’re being used properly. By going more into detail of what she believes should be done, the author would be making a stronger argument.
• The introduction of the essay does a good job of laying out the seriousness of the problem, but the conclusion is short and abrupt. Expanding it into its own paragraph would give the author a final way to convince readers of her side of the argument.

Argumentative Essay Example 3

There are many ways payments could work. They could be in the form of a free-market approach, where athletes are able to earn whatever the market is willing to pay them, it could be a set amount of money per athlete, or student athletes could earn income from endorsements, autographs, and control of their likeness, similar to the way top Olympians earn money.

Proponents of the idea believe that, because college athletes are the ones who are training, participating in games, and bringing in audiences, they should receive some sort of compensation for their work. If there were no college athletes, the NCAA wouldn’t exist, college coaches wouldn’t receive there (sometimes very high) salaries, and brands like Nike couldn’t profit from college sports. In fact, the NCAA brings in roughly $1 billion in revenue a year, but college athletes don’t receive any of that money in the form of a paycheck. Additionally, people who believe college athletes should be paid state that paying college athletes will actually encourage them to remain in college longer and not turn pro as quickly, either by giving them a way to begin earning money in college or requiring them to sign a contract stating they’ll stay at the university for a certain number of years while making an agreed-upon salary.  

Supporters of this idea point to Zion Williamson, the Duke basketball superstar, who, during his freshman year, sustained a serious knee injury. Many argued that, even if he enjoyed playing for Duke, it wasn’t worth risking another injury and ending his professional career before it even began for a program that wasn’t paying him. Williamson seems to have agreed with them and declared his eligibility for the NCAA draft later that year. If he was being paid, he may have stayed at Duke longer. In fact, roughly a third of student athletes surveyed stated that receiving a salary while in college would make them “strongly consider” remaining collegiate athletes longer before turning pro.

Paying athletes could also stop the recruitment scandals that have plagued the NCAA. In 2018, the NCAA stripped the University of Louisville's men's basketball team of its 2013 national championship title because it was discovered coaches were using sex workers to entice recruits to join the team. There have been dozens of other recruitment scandals where college athletes and recruits have been bribed with anything from having their grades changed, to getting free cars, to being straight out bribed. By paying college athletes and putting their salaries out in the open, the NCAA could end the illegal and underhanded ways some schools and coaches try to entice athletes to join.

People who argue against the idea of paying college athletes believe the practice could be disastrous for college sports. By paying athletes, they argue, they’d turn college sports into a bidding war, where only the richest schools could afford top athletes, and the majority of schools would be shut out from developing a talented team (though some argue this already happens because the best players often go to the most established college sports programs, who typically pay their coaches millions of dollars per year). It could also ruin the tight camaraderie of many college teams if players become jealous that certain teammates are making more money than they are.

They also argue that paying college athletes actually means only a small fraction would make significant money. Out of the 350 Division I athletic departments, fewer than a dozen earn any money. Nearly all the money the NCAA makes comes from men’s football and basketball, so paying college athletes would make a small group of men--who likely will be signed to pro teams and begin making millions immediately out of college--rich at the expense of other players.

Those against paying college athletes also believe that the athletes are receiving enough benefits already. The top athletes already receive scholarships that are worth tens of thousands per year, they receive free food/housing/textbooks, have access to top medical care if they are injured, receive top coaching, get travel perks and free gear, and can use their time in college as a way to capture the attention of professional recruiters. No other college students receive anywhere near as much from their schools.

People on this side also point out that, while the NCAA brings in a massive amount of money each year, it is still a non-profit organization. How? Because over 95% of those profits are redistributed to its members’ institutions in the form of scholarships, grants, conferences, support for Division II and Division III teams, and educational programs. Taking away a significant part of that revenue would hurt smaller programs that rely on that money to keep running.

While both sides have good points, it’s clear that the negatives of paying college athletes far outweigh the positives. College athletes spend a significant amount of time and energy playing for their school, but they are compensated for it by the scholarships and perks they receive. Adding a salary to that would result in a college athletic system where only a small handful of athletes (those likely to become millionaires in the professional leagues) are paid by a handful of schools who enter bidding wars to recruit them, while the majority of student athletics and college athletic programs suffer or even shut down for lack of money. Continuing to offer the current level of benefits to student athletes makes it possible for as many people to benefit from and enjoy college sports as possible.

This argumentative essay follows the Rogerian model. It discusses each side, first laying out multiple reasons people believe student athletes should be paid, then discussing reasons why the athletes shouldn’t be paid. It ends by stating that college athletes shouldn’t be paid by arguing that paying them would destroy college athletics programs and cause them to have many of the issues professional sports leagues have.

• Both sides of the argument are well developed, with multiple reasons why people agree with each side. It allows readers to get a full view of the argument and its nuances.
• Certain statements on both sides are directly rebuffed in order to show where the strengths and weaknesses of each side lie and give a more complete and sophisticated look at the argument.
• Using the Rogerian model can be tricky because oftentimes you don’t explicitly state your argument until the end of the paper. Here, the thesis doesn’t appear until the first sentence of the final paragraph. That doesn’t give readers a lot of time to be convinced that your argument is the right one, compared to a paper where the thesis is stated in the beginning and then supported throughout the paper. This paper could be strengthened if the final paragraph was expanded to more fully explain why the author supports the view, or if the paper had made it clearer that paying athletes was the weaker argument throughout.

3 Tips for Writing a Good Argumentative Essay

Now that you’ve seen examples of what good argumentative essay samples look like, follow these three tips when crafting your own essay.

#1: Make Your Thesis Crystal Clear

The thesis is the key to your argumentative essay; if it isn’t clear or readers can’t find it easily, your entire essay will be weak as a result. Always make sure that your thesis statement is easy to find. The typical spot for it is the final sentence of the introduction paragraph, but if it doesn’t fit in that spot for your essay, try to at least put it as the first or last sentence of a different paragraph so it stands out more.

Also make sure that your thesis makes clear what side of the argument you’re on. After you’ve written it, it’s a great idea to show your thesis to a couple different people--classmates are great for this. Just by reading your thesis they should be able to understand what point you’ll be trying to make with the rest of your essay.

#2: Show Why the Other Side Is Weak

When writing your essay, you may be tempted to ignore the other side of the argument and just focus on your side, but don’t do this. The best argumentative essays really tear apart the other side to show why readers shouldn’t believe it. Before you begin writing your essay, research what the other side believes, and what their strongest points are. Then, in your essay, be sure to mention each of these and use evidence to explain why they’re incorrect/weak arguments. That’ll make your essay much more effective than if you only focused on your side of the argument.

#3: Use Evidence to Support Your Side

Remember, an essay can’t be an argumentative essay if it doesn’t support its argument with evidence. For every point you make, make sure you have facts to back it up. Some examples are previous studies done on the topic, surveys of large groups of people, data points, etc. There should be lots of numbers in your argumentative essay that support your side of the argument. This will make your essay much stronger compared to only relying on your own opinions to support your argument.

Summary: Argumentative Essay Sample

Argumentative essays are persuasive essays that use facts and evidence to support their side of the argument. Most argumentative essays follow either the Toulmin model or the Rogerian model. By reading good argumentative essay examples, you can learn how to develop your essay and provide enough support to make readers agree with your opinion. When writing your essay, remember to always make your thesis clear, show where the other side is weak, and back up your opinion with data and evidence.

What's Next?

Do you need to write an argumentative essay as well? Check out our guide on the best argumentative essay topics for ideas!

You'll probably also need to write research papers for school. We've got you covered with 113 potential topics for research papers.

Your college admissions essay may end up being one of the most important essays you write. Follow our step-by-step guide on writing a personal statement to have an essay that'll impress colleges.

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

• For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

History Essay Examples

Top History Essay Examples To Get Inspired By

Published on: May 4, 2023

Last updated on: Jan 31, 2024

Share this article

History essays are a crucial component of many academic programs, helping students to develop their critical thinking, research, and writing skills. 

However, writing a great history essay is not always easy, especially when you are struggling to find the right approach. This is where history essay examples come in handy. 

By reading and examining samples of successful history essays, you can gain inspiration, learn new ways to approach your topic. Moreover, you can develop a better understanding of what makes a great history essay.

In this blog, you will find a range of history essay examples that showcase the best practices in history essay writing. 

Read on to find useful examples.

On This Page On This Page -->

Sample History Essays

Explore our collection of excellent history paper examples about various topics. Download the pdf examples for free and read to get inspiration for your own essay.

History Essay Samples for Middle School

The Impact of Ancient Civilizations on Modern Society

The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire

The Causes and Consequences of the American Revolution

History Writing Samples for High School Students

The Impact of the Industrial Revolution on Society

Grade 10 History Essay Example: World War 1 Causes and Effects

Grade 12 History Essay Example: The Impact of Technology on World War II

Ancient History Essay Examples

The Societal and Political Structures of the Maya Civilization

The Role of Phoenicians in the Development of Ancient Mediterranean World

The Contributions of the Indus Civilization

Medieval History Essay Examples

The Crusades Motivations and Consequences

The Beginning of Islamic Golden Age

The Black Death

Modern History Essay Examples

The Suez Crisis and the End of British Dominance

The Rise of China as an Economic Powerhouse

World History Essay Examples

The Role of the Silk Road in Shaping Global Trade and Culture

The Rise and Fall of the Ottoman Empire

The Legacy of Ancient Greek Philosophy and Thought

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

American History Essay Examples

The Civil Rights Movement and its Impact on American Society

The American Civil War and its Aftermath

The Role of Women in American Society Throughout History

African History Essay Examples

The Impact of Colonialism on African Societies

The Rise and Fall of the Mali Empire

European History Essay Examples

The Protestant Reformation and the Rise of Protestantism in Europe

The French Revolution and its Impact on European Politics and Society

The Cold War and the Division of Europe

Argumentative History Essay Examples

Was the US Civil War Primarily About Slavery or States

The Effects of British Colonization on Colonies

Art History Essay Examples 

The Influence of Greek and Roman Art on Neoclassicism

The Depiction of Women in Art Throughout History

The Role of Art in the Propaganda of Fascist Regimes

How to Use History Essay Examples

History essay examples are a valuable tool for students looking for inspiration and guidance on how to approach their own essays. 

By analyzing successful essays, you can learn effective writing techniques that can be expected in a high-quality history essay. 

Here are some tips that will help you take full advantage of the samples above.

Tips for Effectively Using History Essay Examples

• Analyze the Structure:

Pay close attention to how the essay is organized, including the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Look for how the author transitions between paragraphs and the use of evidence to support their argument.

• Study the Thesis Statement:

The thesis statement is the backbone of any successful history essay. Analyze how the author crafted their thesis statement, and consider how you can apply this to your own writing.

• Take Note of the Evidence: 

Effective history essays rely on using strong evidence to support their arguments. Take note of the sources and types of evidence used in the essay. Consider how you can apply similar evidence to support your own arguments.

• Pay Attention to the Formatting and Other Academic Formalities:

The sample essays also demonstrate how you can incorporate academic formalities and standards while keeping the essay engaging. See how these essays fulfill academic standards and try to follow them in your own writing.

• Practice Writing:

While analyzing history essay examples can be helpful, it is important to also practice writing your own essays. Use the examples as inspiration, but try to craft your own unique approach to your topic. 

History essays are an essential aspect of learning and understanding the past. By using history essay examples, students can gain inspiration on how to develop their history essays effectively. 

Furthermore, following the tips outlined in this blog, students can effectively analyze these essay samples and learn from them. 

However, writing a history essay can still be challenging. 

Looking for an online essay writing service that specializes in history essays? Look no further!

Our history essay writing service is your go-to source for well-researched and expertly crafted papers.

And for an extra edge in your academic journey, explore our AI essay writing tool . Make history with your grades by choosing our online essay writing service and harnessing the potential of our AI essay writing tool.

Get started today!

Cathy A. (Law, Marketing)

For more than five years now, Cathy has been one of our most hardworking authors on the platform. With a Masters degree in mass communication, she knows the ins and outs of professional writing. Clients often leave her glowing reviews for being an amazing writer who takes her work very seriously.

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That’s our Job!

Legal & Policies

• Privacy Policy
• Cookies Policy
• Terms of Use
• Refunds & Cancellations
• Our Writers
• Success Stories
• Our Guarantees
• Affiliate Program
• Referral Program
• AI Essay Writer

Disclaimer: All client orders are completed by our team of highly qualified human writers. The essays and papers provided by us are not to be used for submission but rather as learning models only.

Historical Transactions

Royal historical society, blog and online resources.

These justifications are, of course, especially relevant in 2024, as the RHS has previously pointed out . The Prime Minister’s call last year for an end to ‘Mickey Mouse’ degrees and the erroneous conflation of the Humanities with low-earning graduate positions is the latest round of governmental belittlement of these degrees. At a time when the sector is facing unprecedented financial pressures, when jobs are at risk and departments face closure — and when the success of degree programmes is judged predominantly by the short-term economic gains of their graduates, rather than their longer-term earning prospects or less tangible outcomes — the need to communicate exactly how and why History is valuable to individuals and communities has never felt more necessary.

We are teaching a generation of students whose educational and personal development has been more disrupted than any in recent times .  

Yet for students already undertaking a History degree, such arguments are, we would like to think, mostly unnecessary. At every Welcome Week at my institution, York St John University, our incoming first-year undergraduates fill in a survey that asks why they chose us as an institution and for their degree program. The results, every year, are almost uniformly similar.

Our students are passionate about their subject; they want to study it in a supportive environment; and they wish to learn more about it in a historic place. They do not articulate the many and varied transferrable skills and experiences that a History degree offers, and are more concerned with the more immediate worries of managing money, new friendships, deadlines and independent learning. The past is interesting to our students for its own sake; their curiosity and engagement fuels their study. Our students do not need to be convinced of the value of the discipline; instead, they need to be convinced of their role within it.

As historians and educators, we can only encourage and support our students to develop their argument creation and research skills. Presenting opportunities to articulate arguments in different ways, and to different audiences; to advocate for themselves using evidence; to ask questions that challenge their thinking to craft stronger assertions, are all opportunities that students need not necessarily take, but that they deserve, and we need to offer. To make an argument, to craft a well-expressed, well-supported and convincing case in answer to a question, to be active and present in the debate and in debates about the future because their voice is worth hearing, is surely the ultimate goal of our learning and teaching.

Yet achieving this sometimes feels very difficult. We are teaching a generation of students whose educational and personal development has been more disrupted than any in recent times. Many first-year students starting in Autumn 2023 spent the majority of their GCSE studies during the Covid-19 pandemic; many who graduate this summer took their A-Levels during national lockdowns. Studies addressing children and young people in the last few years have pointed to a surge in cases of social anxiety, depression and isolation . Many students are working far more than part-time hours to offset the cost-of-living crisis . Students who are first-generation university attendees, or who are from widening participatory backgrounds, may lack the cultural capital and associated confidence of undergraduates of the past. These combined elements mean that for some, a sense of confidence and empowerment feels far removed from their educational experiences.

And such confidence has never been more necessary once these students have their degrees, given the old-fashioned but pervasive view of Humanities degrees as divorced from the skills necessary for ‘real world’ employment. The HE strategies for graduate employability do not always marry together coherently with the important need for an inclusive, fair-for-all learning experience. These contradictions can be difficult to negotiate. I wonder if it is in the inherently empowering ability to build, and the skill to assert, arguments that an ideological and practical middle ground exists.

“Historians are dangerous and capable of upsetting everything.”  – Nikita Khrushchev, 1956

The training a History graduate receives, after all, can be applied to any evidence in any situation. Confidently making arguments goes far beyond crafting analyses about the past. History graduates are ideally placed to advocate for themselves; their skills and experiences are the very primary sources necessary to make an argument as to why they deserve an interview, why they ought to get the job, why they have earned this promotion. The ability to make, and recognise, thoughtful, well-evidenced arguments are essential in a world of fake news, deep-fakes, and misinformation. Appreciating the nuances of an issue, to interpret and communicate complexity, and to engage in evidence-based persuasion, is indispensable when addressing increasingly polarised and emotive topics. These are fundamentally ‘real world’ attributes – inherent to, rather than additional, to the learning experience and skills of History graduates.

In their Welcome Week talk, first-year historians will hear me quote the (in)famous 1956 line attributed to Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev: ‘Historians are dangerous and capable of upsetting everything.’ It is a theme I try and come back to often, explicitly and implicitly throughout their degree – you can upset the status quo because you have powerful skills. Without appropriate evidence, an argument looks weak and assumptive. Weak and assumptive arguments will not convince anyone. How can we bolster this argument? Why are you arguing the way you are? What nuances can you draw out? When we communicate the power of a History degree to students, we are communicating the power that they themselves have the potential to hold. Their skills in and experiences of argument creation and communication are not just valuable, but inherently, emphatically, powerful.

You can – and you absolutely should – say ‘I argue’ in an essay.

About the Author

She completed her PhD at and taught at the University of Sheffield, as well as teaching at the Universities of Birmingham and Loughborough, before starting at York St John in 2018.

Currently, Elizabeth is the Learning and Teaching Lead in the School of Humanities at York St John, and holds Senior Fellowship of the HEA.

IMAGE CREDITS:

• HEADER: Olena Zagoruyko , iStock
• IMAGE 1: kaipong , iStock
• IMAGE 2: York Minister and Street scene, StephenBridger , iStock
• IMAGE 3: gorodenkoff , iStock

Follow This Blog