Foundations of the Modern Age
Winter Semester 2002

Guide for Historical Writing

For a guide to electronic databases relevant to historical research, see the History Department's Electronic Databases. Other references can be found at the Department's Research and Writing.

Introduction and Thesis

An interpretive paper should be problem-oriented. It must pose a question that lends itself to multiple answers. If you cannot imagine multiple answers, if you cannot imagine counter-arguments to your argument, then your thesis may not be sufficiently problem-oriented.

The introduction articulates the question or problem and provides some context for understanding the thesis. The thesis statement is your answer to the question, your solution to the problem.

Try to see the introduction and thesis working together. Use the introduction to set up the thesis. If the thesis embodies complex ideas or themes, define them in the introduction so that in your thesis statement you need only to refer back to them.

Paragraphs and topic sentences: Paragraphs should embody a coherent theme. Typically, the topic sentence captures the essence of the paragraph and, at the same time, connects, at least indirectly, the content of the paragraph with the thesis and with the previous paragraph. The key logical points in your argument are typically expressed in the topic sentences.

Evidence: You need to support all of your assertions with evidence or proof. The most compelling type of evidence comes from primary sources. References to scholars are also essential, especially in establishing context. An unwritten convention among historians is to quote primary sources liberally and secondary sources sparingly. Ideally quotations should consist of phrases integrated into your own text.

Context: Background material is essential in almost every historical argument. Background material includes (1) essential historical context (patterns, developments, events, ideas essential to understand your argument) and (2) historiorgraphy (what previous historians and scholars have said about your topic). While certain sections of the paper may carry the burden of providing context, it is not uncommon to find context developed in paragraphs throughout the paper.

Counter-arguments and counter-evidence: In the course of developing your argument, you should give consideration to interpretations that are different from your own and to evidence that doesn't fit or undermines your own argument. Note that counter-arguments need not be complete comprehensive alternatives to your own argument. They may be small arguments over small portions of your argument. Also, while you may find historians who indeed take contrary positions, a good argument often creates counter-arguments.

The conclusion should not just encapsulize the argument but also provide larger insight into the significance of the question and arugment (often a return to the themes of the introduction).

Assume that you audience is an intelligent layperson (like a classmate) who is familiar with the material in the course but who lacks familiarity with the specific topic.

Research papers should be focused. It is all but impossible to prove arguments that are of a broad synthetic nature. When beginning a search for a topic, it is adviseable to follow your interest and to cast your net widely. As you become knowledgeable about your topic, you will want to narrow the scope. Ultimately, you want a topic that is both manageable (given your time and resources) and interpretive (lending itself to multiple interpretations). One of the most effective strategies in defining a topic, especially for a relatively short paper, is to focus on a single primary source or small group of primary sources.

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