Annotating Text.pdfAnalyze Historical Text.pdfEthos Pathos Logos.pdfClose Reading and Contextualization.pdfIn-Text Citation.pdfWriting Transitions.pdfMEAL Plan Writing.pdfChicago Style Guide.pdfEmbeding Evidence.pdfWhen to Cite.pdfThese documents will be helpful when conducting research writing.
The above slides will introduce you to the M.E.A.L. form of paragraph writing that will help you construct well-crafted paragraphs that introduce ideas, provide evidence, gives an analysis of the evidence, and creates transitions between your ideas.
INCLUDING EVIDENCE - The document to the left will help you in how to embed evidence into your writing and will explore a variety of ways you can achieve this.
CITATION GUIDE - Knowing when, where, and how to cite a source is a vital skill. Use the document to the left to help you avoid citation issues and accusations of plagiarism.
Chicago Formatting Resarch Paper Checklist.pdfTHEY SAY / I SAY TEMPLATES
“THEY SAY, I SAY” TEMPLATES.pdf
WRITING IS THINKING.pdfWRITING PROCESS.pdfASKING QUESTIONS.pdf1
Narrative Writing: Telling a Clear and Meaningful Story
Narrative writing in history is more than just telling what happened. It's about helping readers understand how events connect over time.
Make the timeline clear. Always show when things happened. Use dates and time markers so your reader doesn’t get confused. If you move around in time, explain that clearly.
Start strong. Your introduction should tell the reader the basics: Who the story is about, what happened, where, and most importantly when. Try to create some tension or a big question that your story will answer.
Be selective. Don’t include every little detail. Focus on what really matters to your story—cut anything that distracts from your main point.
Connect the dots. Don’t just list one thing after another. Show how events are connected. What caused what? What were the key turning points? What patterns do you see?
End with purpose. Think carefully about where to end the story. Don’t stop too early. For example, if you’re writing about the American Revolution, don’t end in 1776—follow the story through major events like the peace treaty or even the Constitution.
2
Argument Writing: Making and Supporting a Claim
Argument writing is about making a strong claim—and backing it up with evidence and logic.
State your argument early. Clearly share your main claim in the first paragraph (but not usually the very first sentence). Start by explaining the question or issue you're addressing.
Support your ideas. When you make a key point, back it up with examples, evidence, or sources.
Be fair. Try to understand the other side’s point of view. Show that you’ve thought about opposing arguments.
Admit weak spots. All arguments have parts that are harder to defend. Be honest about them and explain why your position still holds up.
Stay focused. Don’t get lost in unrelated details. Make sure everything you include helps support your main argument.
3
Expository Writing: Explaining Ideas and Events
Expository writing is used to explain something—like how or why something happened, what an idea means, or how a group or institution worked.
Start with context. Your intro should clearly say what you're explaining, when and where it happened, and why it matters. You might also include a main idea or thesis.
Break it down. Divide the topic into clear parts or subtopics. Explain each one fully and clearly.
Connect the pieces. Use transitions to help your reader follow how the parts relate to each other.
Interpret, don’t just describe. Go beyond just listing facts—explain what they mean. What are the deeper reasons behind what happened? What are the possible causes or effects?
Keep it manageable. Sometimes, you’ll need to simplify complex topics to help your reader understand. That’s okay—just make sure you don’t leave out the most important ideas.
4
Descriptive Writing: Bringing the Past to Life
Descriptive writing helps readers see, feel, and imagine what the past was like. It’s about using sensory details to make history vivid and real.
Use sensory details. Try to describe how things looked, sounded, smelled, or felt. Give your reader something they can picture.
Less is more. Don’t overload your writing with too many details. Choose just enough to create a strong image or feeling.
Share impressions. Sometimes, a metaphor or comparison can help describe the mood or tone of a moment. For example, saying a courtroom was “not forbidding” or that an officer acted like a “benevolent shepherd.”
Stick to the truth. Never make things up. Good historical writing is based on facts and real observations, even when it’s vivid and descriptive.
Adapted from Richard Marius, A Short Guide to Writing About History, 3d ed. pp. 50-55
