History of Western Culture

Instructions 

Choose one of the essay questions listed below and write a 1500-1750 word essay answering it. Essays must cite all the sources you consult, in Chicago Style, and include Footnotes and Bibliography.

• State your overall response to the essay question succinctly and clearly in the opening paragraph. This may mean you end up writing your introduction when you’ve finished the rest of the essay, or you might rewrite the introduction after writing the body

• Write simply and clearly: short sentences, simple language – you get a lot of marks for sophisticated thought, but not that many for a sophisticated writing style

• Have an argument, not just a set of ‘facts’

• Use evidence to demonstrate to your reader why your interpretations and arguments are right: you must convince your reader, tell us why we should think the same as you.

• Paragraphing: each paragraph should have a main point. When you have a new point, start a new paragraph

• Group related information / discussion / issues together. If you structure the essay well the discussion won’t jump around randomly between different points – what’s related goes together

• That said, there’s no perfect structure. Usually there are at least a few good options for structures

• Every footnote will have a page number, unless you’re citing a website.

• Use the spell check on your word processor – it’s not always correct but it will probably pick up some typos

• Make sure you answer all the parts of the essay question