Exam Skills - Essays

Question 1

How do you write an Introduction?

Answer 1

• 2 background facts to give context.
• Link the background facts to the wording of the question.
• Examples of historians’ views.
• The factors you will discuss.
• A line of argument.

Question 2

How do you write a Main Section? (FIDHO)

Answer 2

Factor - Introduce the Factor you will discuss

Information - Describe 2 relevant facts about the issue

Debate - Give an argument why the issue is relevant to the question
- Give an argument why the issue is not relevant

Historians - describe a historian’s view on the issue

Overall - Make a decisions about the factor (most important, least important, more than…) in terms of the question + provide evidence

Question 3

How do you write a Conclusion?

Answer 3

• Directly answer the specific question.
• Summarise the main points of the essay and compare each factor’s importance based on your line of argument.
• Finish with a sentence that clearly answers the question.