How have the theories of Carl Von Clausewitz and/or Henri Jomini influenced the birth of combined arms warfare? In your conclusion, suggest the significance to today’s military professional.

Tips for Writing History Essays

A good historical essay argues a point. The author asserts a position (thesis), offers evidence in support, accounts for opposing facts and opinions, and ends with a conclusion that restates the thesis. Use the writing “tips” below to start. For more in-depth reference, refer to The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White.

1. Use verbs in simple past tense in active mode (he went, she thought, etc.). Passive voice fulfills a need sometimes. Yet, as a rule, writers should use active verbs for greater clarity and precision. To write, “Napoleon was surprised at the Battle of Waterloo” is factually correct. However, an active verb expresses a more complete thought: “The arrival of the Prussian army surprised Napoleon.”

2. Avoid jargon and slang. Do not use unofficial abbreviations, such as “WWI” for World War I.

3. Use quotations judiciously, particularly in short papers. It is possible and usually preferable to write the paper without any quotations. Remember, a history essay assesses the student’s writing skills.

a. Single-space and indent quotations that are five lines and longer, without quotation marks.

b. Introduce a person into the text by full name and title or position at first mention. For example— Entertainment editor Eddie Izzard observed, “France does not have any stand-up comedians.”

4. Extensive stringing together of loosely paraphrased sentences is unacceptable. Citing references protects the writer from a charge of plagiarism but not from an assessment of failing to analyze the material. Demonstrate the student’s writing and analytical skills, not those of another author. Use direct quotations or preferably the student’s own words to articulate someone else’s position.

5. Keep papers within length guidelines. Be succinct.

6. Times New Roman, 12-point font is standard for formal paper submissions. Double-space all papers unless told otherwise.

7. Italicize and, if necessary, define foreign words, ship names, book titles, journal titles, etc. Enclose the titles of chapters within a book or articles within a journal with quotation marks.

8. Rewriting creates clarity. Proofread carefully. Spell check and grammar check programs do not identify correctly spelled words used incorrectly. Let time pass before re-reading the work. Read the essay aloud; if a word, phrase, or sentence appears awkward, revise. If pressed for time, ask someone else to read it aloud. Reduce wordiness.

9. The student can write an “A” paper based on mandatory course readings. Outside research is permitted; sources must be reliable and given credit. Be careful about Internet sources. If in doubt, ask the instructor.

10. On the title page, include the student’s name, student number, staff group, date, and course title. The page total does not include the title page, footnotes (endnotes), or the bibliography.

11. Use either chronological or topical organization. Usually a chronological discussion works better. Outlines help to enhance logical presentation.

12. Clear transitions between topics signal change. Avoid the overuse of subheadings.

13. Topic sentences are important. If a sentence does not relate to the first sentence of a particular paragraph, change the topic sentence or move the statement to another paragraph.

14. Avoid overuse of a word or phrase. Consult a dictionary or thesaurus for appropriate synonyms. There are two exceptions: when the exact word is necessary for clarity or no other word conveys the same idea; and when an author repeats the same word or phrase for dramatic emphasis.

15. A paragraph consists of at least three sentences. Vary sentence structure and length.

16. Follow subject-verb agreement. A singular subject takes a singular verb. A plural subject takes a plural verb.

17. Use connections such as “however,” “yet,” “unfortunately,” “rather,” “on the contrary,” etc., to signal a change in the direction of the argument and/or contrasting ideas.

18. Identify speakers, authors, actors, and new terms in the narrative. When introducing a new actor, the first reference should include first and last name as well as job position. Any subsequent reference should give last name only. When introducing a specific term or abbreviation, define clearly or spell out fully. Subsequent references consist of the term itself or the abbreviated form.

Examples:

First reference: Second reference: historian John Keegan Keegan Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF) OEF

19. Avoid first person and qualified statements.

20. The conclusion should summarize the student’s argument but NOT repeat the introduction word-for- word.

21. Commonly noted problems in history essays:

No thesis or introduction Failure to follow essay format Disregard for rules of style and grammar Lack of authority (use of first person or unnecessarily qualified statements) Flaw in organization (logical development) No bottom line up front (BLUF) or weak topic sentences Weak conclusions (no restatement of thesis, summary of evidence, and/or lack of significance)