-- SECTION I
Reading & Annotation Tools
Use these before and during class to get more out of every text you read. Annotating actively is not optional — it's how you show up at the Harkness table with something real to say.
Embedded Files
-- SECTION II
M.E.A.L. Plan Paragraph Writing
The M.E.A.L. framework helps you construct well-crafted paragraphs that introduce ideas, provide evidence, analyze it, and create transitions. Every body paragraph in this class should follow this structure.
-- SECTION III
Citation & Formatting (Chicago Style)
This course uses Chicago style — footnotes, not parenthetical citations. Knowing when and how to cite is a skill, not a formality. Use these resources to get it right.
-- SECTION IV - THE MOST IMPORTANT SENTENCE
Thesis Help
A thesis is not a topic sentence. It is a contestable claim — a statement someone could disagree with, that you spend the rest of the paper defending.
-- SECTION V
Four Modes of Historical Writing
Historical writing isn't one thing. Depending on the task, you'll need to tell a story, make an argument, explain a process, or bring a moment to life. Knowing which mode you're in — and shifting deliberately — is what makes writing feel intentional rather than accidental.
-- COURSE WIDE-FRAMEWORK
They Say / I Say
Throughout any social science course, we use They Say / I Say as a shared framework — templates that help you enter a conversation, position your argument, and respond to other voices with precision.
"When you're stuck on your paper, you're not stuck on writing — you're stuck on thinking. Go back to the text."
TEACHBARKER.COM · WRITING RESOURCES
ANNOTATING TEXT
ANNOTATING TEXT
Annotating Text.pdfThe document above is helpful for you to use while reading primary and secondary text. You should use these for all documents we read in class.
ANALYZE HISTORICAL TEXT
ANALYZE HISTORICAL TEXT
Analyze Historical Text.pdfUse the above document to help you analyze historical resources to drill down to the vital information of the source.
ETHOS, PATHOS, LOGOS
ETHOS, PATHOS, LOGOS
Ethos Pathos Logos.pdfThis document will help you understand persuasive arguments.
CLOSE READING
CLOSE READING
Close Reading and Contextualization.pdfA cheat sheet to help you in being able to examine a document closely in historical context.
CHICAGO CITATION
CHICAGO CITATION
In-Text Citation.pdfThis document will help you with in-text citation methods, including footnotes and what they should look like.
SENTENCE TRANSITIONS
SENTENCE TRANSITIONS
Writing Transitions.pdfWriting paragraph and sentence transitions are hard. This document will help you avoid the dreaded FIRST, SECONDLY, THIRDLY, IN CONCLUSION
M.E.A.L. PLAN WRITING
M.E.A.L. PLAN WRITING
MEAL Plan Writing.pdfA mini handout to help you when writing in MEAL format. This is the same as the slideshow below.
CHICAGO STYLE GUIDE
CHICAGO STYLE GUIDE
Chicago Style Guide.pdfSimilar to the slide show below, this will help you format your paper and keep things orderly.
EMBEDDING TEXT
EMBEDDING TEXT
Embeding Evidence.pdfCITATION GUIDE
CITATION GUIDE
When to Cite.pdfRESEARCH WRITING HELP
RESEARCH WRITING HELP
These documents will be helpful when conducting research writing.
M.E.A.L. PLAN
M.E.A.L. PLAN
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.pdfFORMAT STYLE CHECKLIST
Print this document and use it as a checklist to ensure you have proper style, format, and citation for your research paperFORMAT STYLE CHECKLIST
THEY SAY / I SAY TEMPLATES
“THEY SAY, I SAY” TEMPLATES.pdf
WRITING IS THINKING.pdfWRITING PROCESS.pdfASKING QUESTIONS.pdfFOUR MODES OF HISTORICAL WRITING
FOUR MODES OF HISTORICAL WRITING
1
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.
Tips for Strong Narrative Writing:
Tips for Strong Narrative Writing:
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.
Tips for Strong Argument Writing:
Tips for Strong Argument Writing:
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.
Tips for Strong Expository Writing:
Tips for Strong Expository Writing:
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.
Tips for Strong Descriptive Writing:
Tips for Strong Descriptive Writing:
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
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