How to write an essay

dealing with causation

The basic structure of an essay dealing with causation for AQA History should
be:

Introduction
Explain how many factors you believe there to be leading
the event or action your essay is about. For example, “I
believe there to be four main factors in the eventual
American withdrawal from Vietnam in 1973.”

Higher responses will indicate what your opinion is and

point towards the conclusion. For example, “I shall argue
that the most important factor in the American withdrawal
was the influence of the US media on public opinion back
home.”

Main body
Go on to explain, in separate paragraphs, how you believe each factor to be
related to the event or action. For example, your first point might be about the
US media, your second about the role of US Army veterans, and so on.

You must make sure that you link back to the question throughout. The aim is
not to ‘tell the story’ but to explain the factors that led to the event or
action. Higher responses will show an appreciation of how several different
factors linked together to lead to the event or action.

Conclusion
Your conclusion should not come as a surprise to the reader. It should be a
logical follow-on from what you have discussed in the main body of your
essay. If you have stated in your introduction what your opinion is, you should
return to it here and show how you have provided evidence to back up this
opinion.

For example, “It is my belief that the biggest factor in the US finally
withdrawing troops from Vietnam in 1973. I have shown this by…”
If you follow these instructions (and you know your stuff!) you should achieve
at least a Level 3 grade. Level 4 responses show that you understand how
the different factors worked together to bring about the event or action. 
How to write an essay
dealing with causation
The basic structure of an essay dealing with causation for AQA History should
be:

Introduction
Explain how many factors you believe there to be leading
the event or action your essay is about. For example, “I
believe there to be four main factors in the eventual
American withdrawal from Vietnam in 1973.”

Higher responses will indicate what your opinion is and

point towards the conclusion. For example, “I shall argue
that the most important factor in the American withdrawal
was the influence of the US media on public opinion back
home.”

Main body
Go on to explain, in separate paragraphs, how you believe each factor to be
related to the event or action. For example, your first point might be about the
US media, your second about the role of US Army veterans, and so on.

You must make sure that you link back to the question throughout. The aim is
not to ‘tell the story’ but to explain the factors that led to the event or
action. Higher responses will show an appreciation of how several different
factors linked together to lead to the event or action.

Conclusion
Your conclusion should not come as a surprise to the reader. It should be a
logical follow-on from what you have discussed in the main body of your
essay. If you have stated in your introduction what your opinion is, you should
return to it here and show how you have provided evidence to back up this
opinion.

For example, “It is my belief that the biggest factor in the US finally
withdrawing troops from Vietnam in 1973. I have shown this by…”
If you follow these instructions (and you know your stuff!) you should achieve
at least a Level 3 grade. Level 4 responses show that you understand how
the different factors worked together to bring about the event or action. 