how to write a history essay leaving cert

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• Feb 16, 2023

Mastering Leaving Cert History: A Guide to Writing Sample Essays

Updated: Feb 17

Leaving Cert History is one of the most challenging subjects for Irish students, especially when it comes to writing essays. The exam requires students to write two essays on topics chosen from a list of options. These essays carry a significant amount of marks and can make or break a student's chances of securing a good grade. However, with the right approach, mastering Leaving Cert History essays is possible. In this blog, we will provide tips and insights on how to write sample essays for Leaving Cert History.

1. Understanding the Essay Structure

The first step to writing a great essay is to understand its structure. An essay has three parts: introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction should grab the reader's attention and provide background information on the topic. The body should include the main argument, supported by evidence and examples. The conclusion should summarise the main points and restate the thesis.

2. Choosing the Right Topic

Choosing the right topic is crucial for a successful essay. The Leaving Cert History syllabus provides a list of options for essays. It is essential to choose a topic that interests you and that you are familiar with. The topic should be narrow enough to provide a focused argument but broad enough to allow for enough research and analysis.

3. Research and Analysis

Research and analysis are crucial for a well-written essay. Start by reading through relevant texts and taking notes. Use primary sources, such as diaries, letters, and speeches, to support your argument. It is also essential to analyze the information and present a clear argument, using evidence to support your claims.

4. Writing Style and Grammar

Writing style and grammar are essential for a good essay. Use clear and concise language, avoiding slang and colloquialisms. Avoid long and complex sentences that can be difficult to understand. Make sure to proofread your work to avoid spelling and grammatical errors.

5. Time Management

Time management is crucial during the Leaving Cert exam. Make sure to allocate enough time to each section of the exam, including essay writing. Plan your essay before you start writing, including a clear thesis statement, main argument, and supporting evidence. Leave enough time for proofreading and editing.

In conclusion, writing a Leaving Cert History essay can be challenging, but with the right approach, it is possible to master it. Understanding the essay structure, choosing the right topic, research and analysis, writing style and grammar, and time management are all essential components of a successful essay. Practice writing sample essays, and seek feedback from your teachers to improve your writing skills. With these tips and insights, you will be well on your way to writing successful Leaving Cert History essays. Good luck!

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Kommentarer

• CHRONICLES TEXTBOOK
• Research Study Report (RSR)
• The Pursuit of Sovereignty and the Impact of Partition, 1912-49
• Government, Economy and Society in the Rep. of Ireland, 1949-89
• Dictatorship and Democracy, 1920-45
• The United States and the World, 1945-89
• Leaving Cert History Exam Centre
• Leaving Cert History Exam Papers and Marking Schemes
• Junior Cycle History
• Teacher Mailing List
• Useful Links for History Teachers
• Archived: Junior Cert History Exam Papers

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History matters 365 blog.

Christian O'Connor, history teacher, St. Mary's Secondary School, Mallow, Co. Cork.

All Chronicles Curriculum Reform Educational Technology General Interest History Teaching Strategies Junior Cert Resources [OLD] Junior Cycle Resources Leaving Cert Resources Promoting History

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Leaving Cert History Essay Booklet

This 216 page booklet boasts 50 H1 essays from the Leaving Cert History course across Sovereignty and Partition, Government Economy and Society in Ireland, Dictatorship and Democracy (DBQ), United States and the Wider World and Politics and Society in Northern Ireland. This booklet is suitable for teachers and students.

• Historian/Archaeology
• Renaissance
• Plantations
• Industrial Revolution
• Age of Revolutions: French Revolution
• Social Change in 20th Century Ireland
• Junior Certificate Examination Overview
• 20th C. Ireland: FF in power 1932-1948
• The Cold War
• Hitler's Foreign Policy
• Europe After WW1
• Leaving Certificate History
• Ireland 1912-1949: Sovereignty & the impact of partition
• Research PROJECT
• LC History: Dictatorship & Democracy
• US History 1945-1989
• Case Studies LC History: RTE, FPEE, Fisheries

Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

• [email protected]
• 085-148-1252
• 🎉 Now enrolling! Primary and secondary school grinds, online & in-person.

Online Essay Writing Course

About course.

This self-paced online Essay Writing Course will teach Higher and Ordinary level Leaving Cert students how to write EVERY essay in the 2022 Leaving Cert English exam.

Check out our course outline below. The first lesson is free! ⬇️

Don’t Lose Valuable Marks

Essay writing is the single most important skill that is required for the Leaving Cert English exam but it’s one that very few students have learned to perfect.

In fact, poor essay writing skills is very often the difference between a passing grade and an honours one.

If you’re putting 100% effort into doing your homework and preparing for your exams but still not seeing the results that you’re capable of achieving then this course is for you!

This course teaches Leaving Cert students how to write every essay required for papers 1 and 2 of the Leaving Cert English exam.

It also teaches students how to write introductions and conclusions and structure paragraphs – the basics which often cost students valuable marks in the exam.

Still undecided? The first lesson is free! ⬇️

Anywhere, Anytime, Any Device

This online Essay Writing Course consists of 9 on-demand classes which can be accessed anywhere, anytime and on any device.

Each class is approximately 20 -30 minutes long and students can pause and rewind the classes as many times as they’d like.

At the end of each class, students are given a writing task to practice the tips and techniques that they learned for that specific genre/essay question.

Students also have access to an online forum where they can ask the teacher questions they about the course or their own writing material. 

Expert Teacher

Helena is a fully qualified and experienced English and History teacher. She holds a First Class Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from Mary Immaculate College where she received the Excellence in English Language & Literature award, having obtained first place in the subject amongst her graduating B.A. class. She completed her Professional Master of Education (PME) degree in Trinity College Dublin.

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What will you learn.

• How to write each essay required in papers 1 & 2 (poetry/comparative/single text/composition)
• How to write an introduction
• How to write a conclusion
• How to structure paragraphs
• How to structure essays
• How to use quotes effectively
• How to recognise and utilise the features of the five genres of language

Course Content

How to write an introduction this lesson will teach you how to write clear, concise and well written introductions for essays in papers 1 and 2 of the english leaving cert exam. it will identify the features of a good introduction, show you examples of good introductions and give you the task of writing an introduction for a single text essay., understanding paragraphs this lesson will help you to understand the importance of paragraphs. it will identify the main features of a paragraph and show you how to construct a paragraph. you will also be given the task of writing a paragraph for a prescribed poetry essay. , how to write a conclusion this lesson will teach you how to write clear, concise and well written conclusions for essays in papers 1 and 2 of the english leaving cert exam. it will identify the features of a good conclusion, show you examples of good conclusions and give you the task of writing a conclusion for a single text essay., paper 1 – composition (part 1) this lesson will teach you how to write a personal essay, a short story and a speech. it will identify the main features of each of these 3 essay types, show you samples of each essay type and teach you how to structure each essay type. this lesson will also help you to use and understand three of the five language genres: the language of narration, aesthetic language and the language of persuasion., paper 1 – composition (part 2) this lesson will teach you how to write feature articles, debates and diary entries. it will identify the main features of each of these 3 essay types, show you samples of each essay type and teach you how to structure each essay type. this lesson will also help you to use and understand two of the five languages genres: the language of information and the language of argument., paper 2 – single text this lesson will teach you how to write an essay for the single text. using king lear as an example, it will identify areas that you should focus on when studying your single text, such as characters and themes. this lesson will show you how to structure a single text essay, give you an example of a good single text essay and give you a writing task based on your single text., paper 2 – comparative (part 1) this lesson will teach you how to write an introduction and conclusion for the comparative essay. it will teach you how to structure paragraphs for the comparative essay and show you a sample paragraph for this type of essay. this lesson will also go through the different types of questions asked for this particular essay at both higher and ordinary levels. the mode of theme or issue will be focused on for higher level students while the mode of theme will be focused on for ordinary level students., paper 2 – comparative (part 2) this lesson will revisit the simple structure of a paragraph in the comparative essay. the modes of general vision and viewpoint and cultural context will be focused on for higher level students. the modes of social settings and relationships will be focused on for ordinary level students. samples will be shown and a writing task is given at the end., paper 2 – prescribed poetry this lesson will teach you how to write an essay for the prescribed poetry question for both higher and ordinary levels. it will go through the structure of this type of essay, show you a sample paragraph to help you identify the main features and provide you with a writing task at the end. , student ratings & reviews.

Enrolment validity: Lifetime

• 4 hours 15 minutes Duration

Requirements

• Internet access
• Mobile phone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer
• Exam papers
• Writing materials
• Leaving Cert
• 4th, 5th and 6th year students who want to perfect their essay writing skills
• Higher and Ordinary levels

History - Higher

Late Modern History (1815-1993) is divided into 6 Irish topics and 6 European topics. 

Leaving Cert History is a challenging course and requires essay style answers. Good English skills, the ability to do research and an interest in History are all important if you do this subject. Up to 20% of your final result will be based on your research project done before the exam. 

History (Late Modern) Course Content

Irish History (1815-1993) 

• Ireland & the Union,
• Movements for political and social reform
• Sovereignty & the impact of partition
• The Irish diaspora
• Politics and society in Northern Ireland
• Republic - government, society, economy

History of Europe and the Wider World 1815-1993 

• Nationalism and State Formation
• Nation states and international tensions
• Dictatorship and democracy
• Division and realignment in Europe
• European retreat from Empire and the aftermath
• The US and the World.
• Written Exam (80%)
• Research Study Report (20%)

At both levels, the examination paper features a documents-based question (linked to the documents-based study) and three general questions. All four questions carry equal marks. The paper is 2 hours and 50 minutes long.

Research Study Report

Students must choose a research topic and write up their findings under three headings:Outline Plan (15 marks); Evaluation of the Sources (25 marks); Extended Essay with a review of the research process (60 marks). 

Future Careers with Leaving Certificate History

Leaving cert History is not an essential requirement for any courses in the CAO system. History can be used in a wide variety of careers including Archaeology, Writing, Research, Education and Tourism.

Download the Leaving Cert History Syllabus

Download the Leaving Cert History Chief Examiner's Report  (2017) 

Download the Leaving Cert History Guidelines for teachers

Past Papers

Created by studyclix.

Community Activity

Leaving Cert History: Documents and Essays 2020

This page remains for information only – this course is not currently examinable. For the up to date course, see Complete Guide: H1 Leaving Cert History Guide 2021/22 and 2022/23

This our concise History edition. Our  full guide  include this and more. This version comprises tips, document notes and essays. This is a printable guide of approximately 20,000 words over 64 pages.

LEAVING CERTIFICATE HISTORY: LATER MODERN COURSE

General study and exam tips 

Course layout

Study and revision tips

Section 1: Answering Document-based Questions

Exam timing

Assessing the sources

General skills for answering questions

Question 1: Comprehension

Question 2: Comparison

Question 3: Criticism

Question 4: Context 

Section 1: Document Case Study

The Montgomery bus boycott

Lyndon B. Johnson and the Vietnam war

The Moon landing, 1969

Sample answer:  What was the reaction to the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1956?

Sections 2 and 3: Essay Writing 

Essay skills

Planning and laying out an essay

Other tips and tricks

Sample plan

Section 2: Irish History 

Topic 1: Ireland and the Union, 1815 – 1870

Sample essays: 

a. What were the responses of Charles Trevelyan and/or Asenath Nicholson to Famine in Ireland? (2017)

b. What were the aims of Daniel O’Connell and to what extent did he achieve them?  (2016)

Topic 2: Movements for political and social reform.

Sample essay:

a. How did Unionism develop during the period 1886 – 1914? (2011)

b. What did one or more of the following contribute to cultural revival during the period 1870- 1914: the GAA; the Gaelic League; the Anglo-Irish Literary Revival? (2012)

Topic 3: The pursuit of sovereignty and the impact of partition.

Sample Essay: What was the significance of the Eucharistic Congress, 1932?

Topic 5: Politics and society in Northern Ireland

Religion, Culture and Science

Sample essay:  What was the contribution of the Apprentice Boys of Derry to the celebration of religious and cultural identity among that city’s unionist minority? (2006)

Topic 6: Government, economy and society in the Republic of Ireland, 1949 – 1989:

Sample essay: How did Anglo-Irish relations develop during the period 1949-1989? (2012)

Section 3: Europe and the Wider World 

Topic 3: Dictatorship and Democracy in Europe

Sample essay:  How effective were Stalin’s moves for change during his time as leader of Russia?

The rise of Fascism (Italy and Germany)Sample essay: How did dictators use propaganda and/or terror to maintain their power?

With our guide on History, you will get:

access to general LC History quiz on 625points

access to our informal History FAQ video

priority access to 625Lab: we will give you feedback on one typed up answer corrected. Use the  625Lab submission form  and your essay will be moved to the top of the queue

priority access for Leaving Cert study advice. Email [email protected] with your query

the notes as detailed above

Does it come in the post? 

It’s a pdf download, so no need to wait for the postman. You automatically get a download link straight into your email inbox. If you run into any problems with the download, we will sort you out – simply reply to the email you get from us.  

Can I print it? 

Yes. All notes are printable.