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A thread should begin with an introduction (or thesis statement) that clearly states the main argument of your research work and provides necessary historical context or background information. A strong thesis is not just a statement of fact but an arguable claim that requires evidence to back it.
Be Debatable: Ensure a historian,or opponent to your argument,could disagree with your interpretation.
Be Comprehensive: The introduction should hint at the main arguments you will use to support your claim without listing them all in detail. This opening section should also include a brief outline of the key points or chronological periods you will cover to support your argument - the use of bullet points is useful here.
Here is an excellent resource to help you get started writing an introduction .
The core of the thread consists of body paragraphs where each section analyses primary and secondary sources to support your argument. Using paragraphs is essential for readability, do not write a wall of text,most people just won’t read it.
When including quotes,follow with hyperlinks to their source where available and/or name the person and/or book title you are quoting.
Always use the site quote formatting function for adding quotes.
Here is a breakdown of how to structure your body paragraphs and craft a strong statement for your thread:
Your thread should finish with a conclusion that combines your findings,restates your argument in light of the evidence,
and discusses the broader historical (or otherwise) significance explaining why it is relevant and important for the community to discuss.
Here is a great guide to help with writing your conclusion writing a conclusion
Finish with a bibliography or works cited if you have not included them as the works were mentioned ( most members prefer to add title and source as they cite rather than use a bibliography, as it makes for a smoother read).
TIPS:
Integrating Citations Effectively
Don’t be lazy. When referring to source, use the hyperlink function if it is a web page, and take the time to write the name of the book,author,web page etc in the text section.
Take your time. Research,compiling,gathering supporting images and quotes,and organising it all into a readable and interesting article can be a time consuming job. Walk away when you feel you have to refresh your thinking,edit where you feel it needs it,and don't rush to post it because you are excited to share new information. It’s best to get it right before you publish.
A last but quite important tip,is to not let ego rule responses.
Remember your thread is here for discussion,which may include disagreement and debate. Any criticisms should be constructive and respectful,if they are not,use the report button. You may have put months into forming your thread which can create a tendency to take criticism personally. Rise above that and answer as best as you can in support of your position. It is the position that may be being challenged, not you or your work personally. We’ve lost a couple of brilliant minds and valuable posters in the past because they couldn't separate their ego’s from their work.
Choosing where to post your thread can be daunting. Go to the Forum list and see where your thread best fits ( You will see the green 'post a thread' button in the top right hand corner).
Don’t worry too much if you're unsure about your choice of subs, Mod’s may move it for you to a more appropriate place during the approval process if they think it will fit better there.
Here are some examples of well put together posts to help you get started.
the Nature of the Beast
How Fake is Roman Antiquity
The parthenon mosque an alternative view
Field Memory
Be Specific: Avoid vague language like "important" or "significant"; instead, specify why it matters e.g. "The French Revolution fundamentally altered social class structures by…".Be Debatable: Ensure a historian,or opponent to your argument,could disagree with your interpretation.
Be Comprehensive: The introduction should hint at the main arguments you will use to support your claim without listing them all in detail. This opening section should also include a brief outline of the key points or chronological periods you will cover to support your argument - the use of bullet points is useful here.
Here is an excellent resource to help you get started writing an introduction .
The core of the thread consists of body paragraphs where each section analyses primary and secondary sources to support your argument. Using paragraphs is essential for readability, do not write a wall of text,most people just won’t read it.
When including quotes,follow with hyperlinks to their source where available and/or name the person and/or book title you are quoting.
Always use the site quote formatting function for adding quotes.
Here is a breakdown of how to structure your body paragraphs and craft a strong statement for your thread:
- Point: Start with a clear sentence that states the paragraph's main argument and links it back to your topic.
- Evidence: Provide specific evidence (quotes,images,maps,events) from primary or secondary sources.
- Explanation: Analyse the evidence; explain how and why it supports your point rather than just listing facts.
- Link: Conclude the paragraph by connecting the analysis back to your overall thesis or transitioning to the next point.
Your thread should finish with a conclusion that combines your findings,restates your argument in light of the evidence,
and discusses the broader historical (or otherwise) significance explaining why it is relevant and important for the community to discuss.
Here is a great guide to help with writing your conclusion writing a conclusion
Finish with a bibliography or works cited if you have not included them as the works were mentioned ( most members prefer to add title and source as they cite rather than use a bibliography, as it makes for a smoother read).
TIPS:
Integrating Citations Effectively
- Signal Phrases:Introduce quotes with the author's name and their relevance (e.g. As historian George Hilton argues; “the economic shifts were...”).
- Contextualise: Never drop a quote without explaining its significance. Always follow a quote with your own analysis connecting it back to your topic’s statement.
- Paraphrasing: When summarising ideas, ensure you still cite the source to avoid plagiarism, even if you are not using direct quotation marks.
Don’t be lazy. When referring to source, use the hyperlink function if it is a web page, and take the time to write the name of the book,author,web page etc in the text section.
Take your time. Research,compiling,gathering supporting images and quotes,and organising it all into a readable and interesting article can be a time consuming job. Walk away when you feel you have to refresh your thinking,edit where you feel it needs it,and don't rush to post it because you are excited to share new information. It’s best to get it right before you publish.
A last but quite important tip,is to not let ego rule responses.
Remember your thread is here for discussion,which may include disagreement and debate. Any criticisms should be constructive and respectful,if they are not,use the report button. You may have put months into forming your thread which can create a tendency to take criticism personally. Rise above that and answer as best as you can in support of your position. It is the position that may be being challenged, not you or your work personally. We’ve lost a couple of brilliant minds and valuable posters in the past because they couldn't separate their ego’s from their work.
Choosing where to post your thread can be daunting. Go to the Forum list and see where your thread best fits ( You will see the green 'post a thread' button in the top right hand corner).
Don’t worry too much if you're unsure about your choice of subs, Mod’s may move it for you to a more appropriate place during the approval process if they think it will fit better there.
Here are some examples of well put together posts to help you get started.
the Nature of the Beast
How Fake is Roman Antiquity
The parthenon mosque an alternative view
Field Memory
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