How to Write a Social Studies Essay

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How to Write a Social Studies Essay

• Mrs.Page

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Rule 1

• FORGET EVERYTHING YOU LEARNED IN JUNIOR HIGH

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Rule 2

• PROOFREAD
• EVERYTHING
• YOU WRITE!!

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Rule 3

• NEVER USE
• I, my, I am, you, or any form of This essay is
  going to be about

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Rule 4

• ALWAYS WRITE AS NEATLY AS POSSIBLE AND BE AS
  SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE

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Rule 5

• NEVER EVER PLAGERIZE BY USING THE THEMEOR THE
  HISTORICAL CONTEXT!!!!!!

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Rule 6

• ALWAYS CITE YOUR DOCUMENTS IN YOUR DBQs

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Rule 7

• NEVER MAKE UP INFORMATION OR TRY TO BS TO MAKE
  YOUR ESSAY LONGER

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Rule 8

• ALWAYS USE HISTORICALLY ACCURATE INFO AND GIVE
  DETAILED NAMES,DATES, AND PLACES WHERE YOU CAN

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THEMATIC ESSAYS

• A Thematic Essay is similar to many other types
  of essays required in school. However, it also
  has specific requirements. First of all, it is
  called Thematic because it identifies a theme
  from Social Studies (for example- Change). It
  also presents some kind of general statement
  about that theme (for example- The contributions
  and achievements of ancient civilizations have
  helped to influence and change the world.) Then
  it requires you to complete a specific task in
  your essay response.

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DBQ essays

• DBQ Essays are composed of two sections. In the
  first part, documents are provided for you to
  read, analyze, and then answer questions about
  each one. ALWAYS USE COMPLETE SENTENCES WHEN
  ANSWERING SCAFFOLDING QUESTIONS! In the second
  part, you are provided with a specific task which
  must be addressed in an essay response. The essay
  MUST use evidence from the documents to complete
  the task.

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• Whether you are writing a Thematic or a DBQ
  essay in Social Studies, you will always follow
  the same essay format. Your essay will always
  include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a
  conclusion.

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Introduction Paragraph

• MUST include at least THREE sentences
• MOTIVATOR Gets readers attention in an
  interesting way that is relevant to the topic you
  will discuss. (This is also known as you topic
  sentence.)
• THESIS Clearly states the main idea you will
  support/prove. In this essay, it will be your
  controlling idea. (What is the purpose of writing
  this essay?)
• BLUEPRINT Specifies HOW you will support your
  thesis you will identify the examples you are
  going to use in your essay

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Body Paragraphs

• Each begins with a topic sentence
• Links ideas together smoothly with transitional
  words and phrases.
• Each ends with a concluding sentence that sums up
  your evidence and re-states its effect.
• DBQ Essays Use specific facts from one more than
  half of the documents in part one to answer the
  task throughout body paragraphs as well as
  including specific examples of outside
  information.
• Thematic Essays Fully answers ALL aspects of the
  task using historically accurate information that
  is relevant to the task and theme throughout body
  paragraphs

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conclusion

• Re-states your thesis
• Makes a conclusion based upon the evidence
  presented a FINAL comment or evaluative
  statement
• Should be 3-5 sentences long