How do I make my essay less narrative?

This is a very common question for those studying history, even I sometimes find myself asking the same question when approaching essays at university. Its natural to fall into a narrative style, as we often learn different historical events/periods chronologically. So don't panic, this just means you're absorbing the information - which is a good thing! It is also important to remember that as part of your essays you are typically supposed to show your understanding of the events/dates, so infusing parts of your narrative tendencies will help part of your analysis. The most effective way of making your essay less narrative is by approaching your essays thematically. Typically in history, the main themes will revolve around the social, political, economic factors. Of course, it becomes more specific when focusing on a particular question, but this is a good place to start and it works well for me at an undergraduate level, as these themes are NOT chronological, they interlink with each other. A concise example of this with the question "Explain why there were widespread strikes in America during the 1890s?" SOCIAL - workers were living in poverty, poor working conditions and poor pay left them with "knife and fork" issues. As a result of this, many workers became part of unions, which took action by striking. POLITICAL - the political leadership of the Republican party tended to favour big businesses, rather than workers, meaning that they increased import tariffs (making products more expensive for the Americans). They also had a 'laissez-fair' approach to immigration laws, meaning that there was a swift rise in "economic migrants" arriving in America, ready to work more hours, for less money. ECONOMIC - Influx of immigration meant that there was increased work competition, which drove down wages. This led to many workers striking for more pay, and tighter immigration laws. Above is a simplistic example, and in an exam style essay, it would be complimented with essential dates/events and a conclusive paragraph to link up the argument. However, it allows us to see that through the thematic format, it becomes easier to guide yourself away from the narrative structure. Which is great because it then gives you time and space to focus on the essential analysis!