[MhmMhm]

Hello,

We've been given summer homework where, we've been asked to write an essay, with our own resources (notes & textbooks) and we can choose our own questions. The thing is, I'm not really sure how to write an essay at Higher level, nor structure it. I'm good at writing Introductions and Conclusions, it's just the main part I'm worried about. Would it be anything like this?

Firstly, the National Insurance Act dealt with unemployment. Most insured workers were given seven shillings (35 pence) unemployment benefit a week for a maximum of 15 weeks in any year if they became unemployed. This scheme was also contributory - financed through a combination of worker and state contributions to the scheme, BUT this Act only provided for the insured employee and not his family. Also, the Act was meant only to cover temporary unemployment and only applied to seven trades, most of which suffered from seasonal unemployment.



Is that anything like a main point in a Higher History essay, or have I went off in a complete tangent?

[MrJohnDClare]

There's loa about structuring essays on the forum.
Type in a forum search for:
+essay +structure
and follow the likely-looking links.

Get back to us if you need any more.

[MhmMhm]

MrJohnDClare, on Jul 19 2009, 10:45 AM, said:

There's loa about structuring essays on the forum.
Type in a forum search for:
+essay +structure
and follow the likely-looking links.

Get back to us if you need any more.

Thanks, managed to find you commenting on a A-level style essay

[MrJohnDClare]

There are a number of different 'kinds' of essay, depending on the question.
Until you get to university, it's probably best to go about them in a painting-by-numbers way - you answer this question in this way, that question in that way etc. Grim, I know, but safe - get 'the advised method' sorted in your head, and only then experiment with breaking the rules.

If you get a particular type of question and you aren't clear about how to address it, you can always write in here.

All the best next year!

[glitterglitter]

Quote

Is that anything like a main point in a Higher History essay, or have I went off in a complete tangent?

Hi,

I've done Higher!!!

First, is it not a bit weird your teacher telling you to think up your own question??? Sounds like a cop out.
Second, I'd like to help, but I'm it's not possible to say if your paragraph is good without knowing the question!!

Higher History questions have some element of debate or analysis in them, and unless you do that you won't get a good mark. Google 'SQA Higher History Marking Instructions'. You should find the marking instructions given to teachers along with advice on what teachers are looking for. We were told to look at this and it was really useful. The essays are often more like the EV than KU questions at Standard Grade.

The easiest structure is 'for / against / conclusion' or 'thesis / antithesis / synthesis' as this site has called it. Synthesis is good cos you have to draw all the threads together.

What question were you thinking of doing?

Good luck!