Essay Structure

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​Essentially, most essays follow a simple structure of introduction, main body and conclusion. Within this structure, the student is required to analyse and debate the issues contained within the question set, arriving at a clear judgement in the conclusion. Good essays will therefore have a clear and well explained argument or thesis running throughout.

Introduction
A good introduction will contain the following points and should also provide a transition to the first paragraph of your essay:

• Background Context: you should spend a number of sentences explaining the dates, events and people mentioned in the question and put them in historical context, explaining any key concepts. In essence, you are setting the stage and introducing the reader to the topic/question with specifics such as who, what, where and when.
• Raising the Question: you should then integrate the question into your introduction, laying out the scope of the question.
• Thesis: an introduction should always finish your specific argument. Your thesis statement should be one sentence with multiple parts (claims) that directly answers the question. These claims within your thesis then form the main paragraphs of the essay.

Main Body
The main body of your essay is made up of a number of paragraphs, each focused on a particular aspect or claim from your thesis. A good history paragraph should contain the following:

• Key Point/Claim Sentence: a clear opening sentence setting out one of the claims or arguments from your thesis.
• Logic/Explanation: you should then devote time to explain that claim.
• Evidence/Examples: you should then give evidence and historical examples to support your claim. This is where your historical knowledge plays an important part.
• Conclusion: a final sentence should then be written, summing up the argument/claim of the paragraph which should also provide a transition or link to the next paragraph.

Mnemonics like P.E.E. (Point, Evidence, Explain), P.E.E.C (Point, Evidence/Explain, Conclusion) or SEXC (Statement, Explanation, Examples/Evidence, Conclusion) can all be used to try and remember your paragraph structure.

Conclusion
The final part of your essay is the last part that your examiner will read so it is essential that you leave a good impression. In the conclusion you should:

• Restate your main argument/thesis

• Link back to the question to show that your thesis answers the question set
• Optional - you can also try to challenge the assumptions  of the question once you have restated your argument. Doing this will help you to get top level marks. Only do this after you are confident that you have proved your thesis.