Essaying the Past

The second edition of Essaying the Past features a varietyof updates and enhancements to further its standing as anindispensible resource to all aspects of researching and writinghistorical essays.* Includes expert advice on writing about history, conductinggood research, and learning how to think analytically* Includes a new chapter addressing common situations thatrepresent steps in the transition from a rough first draft to afinal version* Covers important topics such as framing questions, developing astrong introduction and topic sentences, choosing good evidence,and the crucial role of revision* Includes an annotated case study that takes the reader throughone student's process of writing an essay, illustrating howstrategies in the text can be successfully implemented* New edition features updates to cultural references, a newlywritten preface, and reorganized table of contents

Acknowledgments ixPreface to the Second Edition xiiIntroduction to the Student: Why Would You Look at a Book LikeThis? 1Part I Thinking and Reading About History 51. History: It's About Time 72. What's the Story with History? 143. Th e Sources of History 214. Good Answers Begin with Good Questions 305. Search Engines, Research Ingenuity 376. How to Read a Book without Ever Getting to Chapter One 47Part II Writing About History 617. Analysis: Th e Intersection of Reading and Writing 638. Making a Case: An Argument in Three Parts 729. Defi ning Introductions 8010. Strong Bodies (I): Th e Work of Topic Sentences 9211. Strong Bodies (II): Exposition and Evidence 10112. Strong Bodies (III): Counterargument and Counterevidence11213. Surprising Conclusions 12014. Scaling the Summit: Crystallizing Your Argument 12715. Writing is Rewriting: Th e Art of Revision 13216. Putting It All Together: Th e Research Essay (A Case Study)140Conclusion: The Love of History 160AppendicesA Writing an Essay: Ten Easy Steps in Review 164B Essay Varieties: DBQs, Reviews, and Comparison Assignments166C Let's Give a Hand: Bibliographies and Footnotes 173D Credit Scams: Th e Dangers of Plagiarism 184E Web of Lies? Weighing the Internet 189F A Glossary of Key Terms 193G More Reading About Writing 198Index 200