History analysis papers are written to defend an argument. They are academic and technical papers that must be written objectively, precisely, and supported with adequate evidence. Facts must back up every argument in a historical analysis paper. The writer is expected to use primary and secondary sources to support his claims.
Although history analysis papers aren’t regular or typical essays or papers, they are relatively easy to write. This article will show you how to write an excellent history analysis paper. So, let’s get at it!
How to write a history analysis paper
When writing a history analysis paper, the first thing to do is to state the main arguments. This is otherwise known as the thesis statement. Everything that will be written in the paper is going to prove the argument that has been stated at the beginning. The following steps should be taken to write a good history analysis paper.
- Begin well
Starting your history analysis paper dully and flatly is not a good idea. From your introduction, it should be clear what your idea is. It would be best to give the reader a good start for your work. If the introduction of your work is already dull, the reader will lose interest.
- Ensure you analyze
You will need more than just summarizing to get a good mark. You must analyze all the facts and draw relationships between ideas. A history analysis paper involves synthesis and critical thinking. An analysis of food, for instance, will include the analysis of the components and nutrients.
The same applies to a historical paper. Most of these papers are expected to be synthesis and analysis history papers. You are supposed to analyze all the facts and then synthesize or generate new concepts. You might also need to examine opposing ideas and justify your own.
- Be critical of pieces of evidence
You need to cross-check every piece of evidence you get. Sometimes, historians could write based on their interests and this can affect the authenticity of the information. So, the more evidence you can get, the more varying you will find them. Do your investigations and get a solid judgment.
- Be specific
You cannot afford to make ambiguous statements and you cannot overgeneralize. This will show that you still need to do proper research. You need to pay special attention to cause and effect. Don’t use general terms like ‘people,’ ‘countries,’ ‘government,’ etc. Be specific about what people you’re referring to, what government, etc.
- Be mindful of chronology
Your historical analysis paper must be based on a time frame. It would be best to avoid hopping in and out of a period, confusing your reader. Ensure you have a clear timeframe and scope within which your work will be situated.
- Cite carefully
Parenthetical citations are okay in humanities and sciences. However, it is better to use footnotes. For a historical analysis paper, using parenthetical citations will break the flow of the idea and make your work hard to understand. You can always ask your Librarian or course supervisor for help.
- Make use of primary sources
The best kind of sources to use are primary sources. This refers to resources generated by direct participants or witnesses in the event written about. It could be in diaries, memoirs, newspaper articles, government records, etc.
Primary sources could also include buildings, churches, landmarks, etc. For a historian, there is no limit to what can interest you.
- Use academic secondary sources
Secondary sources refer to those sources that are written by other historians who were not direct participants. Before using a scholarly source, you must do your findings. It would be best to ask who wrote it, where it appeared, who published it, and so on.
Be mindful that some scholarly articles may not be done correctly. It is left to you to sniff out the good and the bad.
What format should an analysis paper have?
A historical analysis paper has its own format. Typically, it should have an introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction will usually include the opening sentence and the thesis statement. The opening sentence should have supporting sentences that will explain the main idea.
The body of the historical analysis paper should have all the arguments. Each argument should be written in individual paragraphs. Each argument should be explained, proven, and connected to the thesis statement.
The conclusion of a historical analysis paper should not include any new ideas. Instead, the thesis statement should be restated, and all the arguments should be summarized and reinforced.
Conclusion
There are history analysis paper examples online that can guide your own writing. Do your research and follow the guidelines here. Don’t carry out lazy research. Make sure you are thorough enough to get that A!
