Essay+Tips

** IB Essay Tips **
· Think like an examiner, look at your essay through an examiner’s eyes · Use IB-ese (their vocabulary, technical terms) · Always try to improve your essay · Learning from each other is **very** useful and important · KISS- keep it simple stupid

· UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION · Address the demands of the question · Consider other implications · Be EXPLICIT, not IMPLICIT · Be clear, show what you know · Decode the question · Define the parameters
 * When you get a question, you…**

· What are they really asking here? o Look for hidden implications, read between the lines, decode · Decode the question o Looks for command terms, know what they mean
 * Example: To what extent was nationalism responsible for changing European society in the late 19th century?**

· Get information, facts (narrative) · Do something with that information, ask yourself HOW and WHY (analysis) · Do something new and/or creative with that information · Extra: Fundamental and basic analysis- compare and contrast
 * Three (basic) steps for writing a history essay**

Think of writing a history essay as a pyramid. At the bottom, you have the fundamental things like understanding the question, and you build your way up in complexity, like with the markbands.

· There is a statement “nationalism is responsible for changing European society in the late 19th century.” How true is that? Why is it true? How did it happen?
 * Question: To what extent was nationalism responsible for changing European society in the late 19th century?**

· What is the command term? - (To what extent) · Show understanding of the BIG IDEA (there is always one) in the question - (nationalism) · What are the parameters? - (European society, late 19th century)
 * Ask yourself:**

· No first person · No bullshit · Relevant info to the question, accurate info · Must have a thesis -->--> address the question · Opening paragraph shows understanding, addressing the question · MUST have an outline, can save you on the exam · Narrative vs. Analysis – the former is telling a story, the latter is applying your knowledge · No rhetorical questions · Short paragraphs, each represents one idea, one point · Focus on the demands of the question · NO “etc” · NO “in conclusion” · Accurate info- if you base it on inaccurate knowledge, it’s WRONG · Prove statements with facts and information
 * Avoid common mistakes:**

Tips for writing- · Remember to state why and how certain things happened (important for IB exam) · A good way of organizing these causes is by short term and long term effects

· Terminology is very important · Know terms · Make arguments on essays · Imitate vocabulary from IB, P + C, and Europe book · Be accurate even when you aren’t sure of something.
 * Ex. 75%, 80%, 85% -> vast majority

September 23rd- Essays returned: More tips
 * 1st thing to do --> 'decode' the question
 * __Command terms__ (Bring on tuesday!)
 * Understand what they want you to do!
 * Don't 'write around' the question
 * Throughout essay- relate to question & thesis
 * good to do at the end of each paragraph, related __explicitly__ to your thesis, so that it's __clear__
 * **Introduction**: SHORT (be efficient), ADDRESS THE QUESTION (do so clearly, and say what you're going to prove- no flowery language necessary), DEFINE KEY TERMS (show that you understand the key ideas. ex: for Alex II, //reform// is a key idea)
 * **Main Body:**
 * Each paragraph --> a new point/argument
 * A P doesn't need to be long
 * 1st sentence of each P -- an argument you're making
 * Each paragraph should refer to the question
 * use detailed knowledge! be specific, explicit
 * Use the following to make structure your paragraphs:
 * Statement --> an argument, not narrative or fact
 * Evidence --> selecting facts that back up your argument
 * eXplain --> show why they back up argument - analysis
 * **Conclusion:** DON"T give anything new. Restate thesis.
 * **OUTLINE - refer to that while you're writing**

Analyzing sources Tips:
(By Nathalie St.)

How to analyze a chart o Don’t need to over analyze 9about 5 lines) write in complete sentences  o On documents you can say as much as you want   o On essays you should write the   o Think to yourself “So What?”   o You need 2 good so what points?   o Learn how to self assess   o WHY   · Don’t give obvious answers   o Get info   o Do something with it