What structure should I use in a history essay?

The first essential component of a history essay is a strong introduction. Within the introduction, you must define any key terms which are used in the question and summarise the main arguments. Most importantly, you must provide your judgement (which side you are going to argue for).After the introduction, you enter the main body of your essay. For either a 12 or 16 mark essay, I would recommend writing 6 paragraphs in total; 3 in favour of the argument, and 3 against. Try and operate to the system of one mark per minute. It is vital to ensure that your argument is balanced. Each paragraph should follow the same structure; PEEL. P stands for point. To introduce a paragraph, a concise point which presents the argument must be made. The next step (E) is to outline the evidence which supports this argument. What in the source helped you to develop the argument? The next step (E) is to explain this. In the explanation, you can include your historical knowledge and discuss the effects of the source. The final step is to link this back to the question. What makes your argument relevant? This is often forgotten yet is vital as it both strengthens the argument you are making, and it ensures that you stay focussed on the question asked. The final step which must be carried out in a history essay is a conclusion. The conclusion must clearly outline which side you are arguing in favour of and why. It is important to ensure that you are not making new points in your conclusion as it should be brief, and you will not be able to sufficiently explain them; it will not gain you marks!