Questions: What were the three ​most​ important causes of the 

French Revolution? 
 
Historiography of the Causes: How has the story changed and 
why? 
 
​ ake notes (on index-cards) using minimum ​8 s​ ources. The Choices packet counts 
1. T
as ​one​ source. However Documents 1-4 (pages 33-40) each count as unique sources. 
You must use a minimum of three book sources. You should feel free to use Bertrand 
Russell. 
 
2. Size: 12, Font: Times New Roman, Spacing: 1.5 
 
3. All essays must have footnotes at the bottom of each page and a b ​ ibliography​ at the 
end of the essay. 
 
4. A
​ ll essays need a title. 
 
5. Number your pages. 
 
 
Write your essay using the following format: 
 
Note: this is a six paragraph essay. 
 
Fill in this outline: 
 
 
DO NOT START y ​ our essay with some absurdly huge statement like “People have 
always” or “In every civilization” since these say nothing and are usually debatable. 
 
 
A.​ I​ ntroduction and Thesis (1 paragraph) 
 
 
The introduction is the most important part of your paper since it contains the main 
point and 
 
introduces the key ideas that will help guide your reader through the remainder of 
your essay. In 
 
the introduction to your essay, you should make a clearly stated argument, or thesis, 
and outline 
 
the main points you intend to prove and to defend in the essay. Without a sufficient 
introduction, 
 
your whole essay will not hold together because here you establish your main 
argument, or 
 
thesis, and show how you intend to prove it. It is in essence, the signpost for the rest of 
your 
 
paper. 
 
  
 
 
1. Briefly introduce the period and geographical location of your study. Discuss the 
main issues that your study will address. The idea is to take your readers, who you 
must presume know very little about your thesis subject, and teach them the basics of 
what they need to know in order to understand and follow your research question: 
 
 
 
2. Introduce your thesis question: 
 
 
 
3. Answer your research question (THIS IS YOUR ​THESIS​): 
Although many historians have argued that ______, closer examination shows that 
"Phenomenon X" is a result of the combination of ______, ______, and ______. 
 
  
  
 
B. Body (3 paragraphs) 
 
 
The body of your essay provides the substantive support of your thesis. It is a 
step-by-step 
 
process in which you comprehensively prove your thesis using supporting material 
from your 
 
primary and secondary sources. 
 
 
 
 
1. C
​ reate thematic paragraphs with single arguments.​ Each paragraph should be 
devoted 
 
to ​one and only one​ theme or idea.   
 
  
 
2. U​ se Topical Sentences​. Each new paragraph should be a kind of mini essay with 
a thesis or topical sentence that supports the main thesis of your essay. 
 
  
 
3. S ​ upport your assertions with evidence (three pieces of evidence for each 
paragraph) 
 
4. A​ nalyze your examples​. Never use a quote without showing the significance of 
what you have pointed out. You must discuss every quote, why it is significant, and how 
it supports your broader arguments.​ But DO NOT​ restate the quote. 
 
 
 
 
 
a. Introduce and Explain Claim 1: 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
b. Present and Explain Evidence (1) for Claim 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
c. Present and Explain Evidence (2) for Claim 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
d. Present and Explain Evidence (3) for Claim 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
----------------- 
 
a. Introduce and Explain Claim 2: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
b. Present and Explain Evidence (1) for Claim 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
c. Present and Explain Evidence (2) for Claim 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
d. Present and Explain Evidence (3) for Claim 2 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
------------- 
 
a. Introduce and Explain Claim 3: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
b. Present and Explain Evidence (1) for Claim 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
c. Present and Explain Evidence (2) for Claim 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
d. Present and Explain Evidence (3) for Claim 3 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
---------------- 
 
C. Counter Arguments (1 paragraph): 
 
What do other historians argue? 
 
MIN. 3 pieces of evidence here. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
D. Conclusion 
 
The conclusion summarizes what you have proved. You should reinforce, and restate 
your thesis statement and show its significance (Why are you right?).