Historical Writing

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Historical Writing
I. Sources --expectations for
professional history -Journal length -all
sources available -all credible interpretations
-as primary as possible -cite virtually
everything
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Expectations for Students

• II. Expectations for students
• -best sources available
• --variety
• --most credible
• --as primary as possible
• -encyclopedias
• -minimum and beyond

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Note Taking

• III. Writing drafts
• -outline
• -writers block/spit it out
• -tinker, tinker, tinker
• -time and perspective

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IV. Organizational structure

• --initial inspiration/it may likely change
• --two types
• -chronological/everything in the order that
  what youre writing about is in
• -topical/ group everything into topical
  categories

IV.
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IV. Organizational structure

• --initial inspiration/it may likely change
• --two types
• -chronological/everything in the order that
  what youre writing about is in
• -topical/ group everything into topical
  categories

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-example

• Gulf War
• -order by sequential occurrence

• Gulf War
• -causes or motivation
• -tactics
• -regional
• -equipping soldiers
• -public reaction

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-Introduction -body -conclusion
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V. The mechanics of writing

• -sentence types
• --simple
• -I made a mistake by not coming to class.