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Year 12 History · Constructing a historical argument

Name: ______________________

Date: ____________

1. What is a thesis?
- ☐ (a) A list of sources
- ☐ (b) The central argument of an essay
- ☐ (c) A summary of events
- ☐ (d) The final paragraph only
2. The directive verb 'assess' asks you to…
- ☐ (a) describe events in order
- ☐ (b) list facts
- ☐ (c) make a judgement about value or extent
- ☐ (d) copy a source
3. Which is the strongest thesis for 'Was the Depression the main cause of the rise of Nazism?'
- ☐ (a) The Depression was in 1929.
- ☐ (b) Hitler was a Nazi.
- ☐ (c) This essay will talk about causes.
- ☐ (d) The Depression was the most significant cause because it turned the Nazis into a mass party, though it built on existing weaknesses.
4. What should a conclusion avoid?
- ☐ (a) Introducing new evidence
- ☐ (b) Restating the thesis
- ☐ (c) Giving a judgement
- ☐ (d) Linking to the question
5. Why address a counter-argument?
- ☐ (a) To make the essay longer
- ☐ (b) To show you have considered other views and strengthen your judgement
- ☐ (c) Because you agree with it
- ☐ (d) To avoid using evidence
6. The opening sentence of a paragraph that states its main point is the ____ sentence.
7. The instruction word in a question, such as 'evaluate', is called the ____ verb.
8. An opposing view acknowledged in an essay is a ____.

Answer sheet

1. The central argument of an essay — The thesis is the essay's main argument.
2. make a judgement about value or extent — Assess means weigh up and make a judgement.
3. The Depression was the most significant cause because it turned the Nazis into a mass party, though it built on existing weaknesses. — A strong thesis directly answers the question and is arguable.
4. Introducing new evidence — Conclusions should not introduce new evidence.
5. To show you have considered other views and strengthen your judgement — Engaging with counter-arguments shows depth of analysis.
6. topic — The topic sentence introduces the paragraph's point.
7. directive — Directive verbs tell you what to do.
8. counter-argument — Strong essays acknowledge and respond to counter-arguments.