How to Write a High School History Report
History reports entail facts about events and historical accounts of what happened during a specific time period. People, culture and government are typical topics of discussion. To write a high school history report, you need to consider the main idea or purpose of the paper. To better prepare you for college papers in your future, your teachers want to improve your analytical and writing skills in an assignment like this. Therefore, you will likely have to draw a conclusion and find support for your suppositions about the historical events and people you studied in school.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Study the report topic by researching the era and major events in it. Use reputable sources on the Internet, and visit your school library to find historical textbooks and academic journals. Read through the material, and look for facts, events and dates that relate to your subject matter. In addition to the library, go to a local museum. Often, you will find information regarding historical people and artifacts that relate to your topic of discussion. Or, go to the Smithsonian website to find time lines and other pertinent information (see Resources). Have a clear understanding about the historical topic and era.
-
2
Research the historical period from different perspectives and then choose a position or angle. Find important dates, numbers and related quotes. Include a time line as well as historical individuals who had a profound effect in some way. For example, if your topic revolves around the new constitution in 1789, include what role Alexander Hamilton played in developing a national government. Take notes about all of your findings and try to find details that are new and interesting.
-
-
3
Take notes about the historical issues and leading concepts of the day. Look in academic journals to find experts who have discussed similar issues. Start your bibliography at this point, and keep track of all your references.
-
4
Begin to carefully organize your notes into time lines and related categories. Filter out unrelated or irrelevant information at this point. Review your assignment once more by focusing on the requirements and guidelines that your teacher gave you.
-
5
Write a brief outline with subheads entitled introduction, body and conclusion. Write a thesis statement in the introduction portion. Think about patterns of discussion in this step. For example, you might want to compare and contrast different historical figures, or you may want to focus on the advantages and disadvantages of a newly implemented system in a particular era. Continue with the body portion of your outline by splitting this section up into three or four different paragraph topics. For example, organize this section into subheads that revolve around the extent of a problem, who was affected and the consequences of a historical event.
-
6
Include a main topic idea or purpose, also called your thesis statement, and declare the position or angle you have chosen in your report. Provide a brief synopsis of the facts and events you will further elaborate on in the body of the report. Logically set up the ensuing discussion, and list the body paragraph topics in order. Make sure to follow this arrangement in the body of your paper as well. For example, if your introduction includes "art, culture and family life" as the main topic ideas in the body of your paper, begin your first body paragraph with "art" and continue with subsequent paragraphs that focus on "culture" and "family life," respectively.
-
7
Move onto the body portion of your report. Write about specific events that took place, and elaborate on each paragraph's subject matter. Create a smooth transition, if possible, between paragraphs so your report flows in systematic, cohesive manner. History reports often include facts, so focus on events, people and societal norms of the day. Use facts from your list of references and quotations to support your statements and ideas when necessary.
-
8
Focus on the conclusion at this point. The conclusion is a general summary of the content you used in your report. Sum up the topic, questions and facts in a succinct manner, and briefly touch on your original thesis statement in your closing statements. Include a well-organized bibliography. Follow the works cited writing format -- for the list of references used in your report -- given to you by your teacher.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit George Washington University image by dwight9592 from Fotolia.com
