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CONSOLIDATION ACTIVITY 2
HOW TO APPROACH A HISTORY ESSAY QUESTION
You need to:
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Use your skill at reasoning
Back up by selected evidence to make a case for and against an argument
Point out the advantages and disadvantages of the situation
Remember to arrive at a conclusion
REMEMBER
Step 1
• Take a stance (position) and refer to
question [Indeed, I agree, I disagree, I
partially agree]
Step 2
• State reason/s [because]
Step 3
• Indicate orientation [this essay…]
QUESTION: VIETNAM
‘ ... All the military might of a superpower could not defeat a small nation of
peasants.’
Critically discuss this statement in the light of United States of America’s involvement
in Vietnam between 1965 and 1975. Use relevant examples to support your
answer.
EXAMPLE OF AN INTRODUCTION
To a great extent the United States of America was largely unsuccessful in
containing the spread of communism in the period 1965 to 1975. [There are also
numerous instances where the USA struggled to contain the spread of
communism because they used unpopular military tactics and they
underestimated their opposition.] The greatest indication of their failure to
contain communism was the unification of North and South Vietnam in 1975
under Communism. This essay explains the USA’s failure to contain
communism by discussing the period 1965 to 1975.
ELABORATION
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Reasons why the United States became involved in the Vietnam War (contain
the spread of communism, fear of the 'Domino Effect')
Focus on why the USA was unsuccessful in containing communism:
The USA supported Diem’s corrupt capitalist regime in South Vietnam
Failure of 'Operation Rolling Thunder' (Example)
Guerrilla warfare by the Vietminh/Vietcong confused and undermined morale
of USA (Example)
Ho Chi Minh Trail and its significance (Example)
Failure of 'Operation Ranch Hand' (Conventional tactics used by the USA's
army were not effective because of dense vegetation) forced to use napalm,
agent orange - destroyed the environment (Example)
Conclusion
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Wrap up your argument
Refer to your introduction
Sum up the main points you’ve made in various paragraphs
Confirm your stance (position)
EXAMPLE OF A CONCLUSION
Therefore one can conclude that to a great extent the United States of America
was unsuccessful in containing the spread of communism during the period
1965 to 1975. There are also numerous instances where the USA struggled to
contain the spread of communism because they used unpopular military
tactics and faced great opposition to the war in the USA. They also
underestimated their opposition. The greatest indication of their failure to
contain communism was the unification of North and South Vietnam in 1975
under Communism. This essay explained] the USA’s failure to contain
communism by discussing the period 1965 to 1975.
SUMMARY
FORMAT OF ESSAY:
INTRODUCTION: LINKED TO THE KEY QUESTION
ELABORATION (BODY OF ESSAY)
EXAMPLES
CONCLUSION: SUM UP THE MAIN POINTS