Cover: A Pocket Guide to Writing in History, 11th Edition by Mary Lynn Rampolla

A Pocket Guide to Writing in History

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Eleventh  Edition©2026  Mary Lynn Rampolla

ISBN:9781319597368

ISBN:9781319417352

About

Even if you’ve taken a first-year writing course, writing in history is different. It’s not just about grammar or essay structure—it’s about how to ask good historical questions, work with primary and secondary sources, and make evidence-based arguments the way historians do. A Pocket Guide to Writing in History by Mary Lynn Rampolla delivers clear, practical guidance that shows you exactly how to do that. It breaks down what’s expected in history assignments, explains how to cite sources using the latest Chicago Manual of Style, and includes tips for using AI tools responsibly. Whether you’re writing a short response or a full research paper, this book will help you do it with confidence.

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction: Why Study History
1a Asking historical questions
1b Developing historical reading skills
Chapter 2 Working with Sources
2a Identifying historical sources
2a-1 Primary sources
2a-2 Secondary sources
2a-3 Primary or secondary? The changing status of a source
2a-4 Accessing sources in history
2a-5 Uses of primary and secondary sources
2b Evaluating sources
2b-1 Evaluating primary sources
2b-2 Evaluating secondary sources
2b-3 Evaluating online sources
2b-4 Identifying false or misleading information
Chapter 3 Writing Short History Assignments
3a Reading actively in history
3b Writing about reading
3b-1 Summaries
3b-2 Annotated bibliographies
3c Writing about primary sources
3c-1 Single-source analysis
3c-2 Comparative papers
3d Writing about secondary sources
3d-1 Critiques and book reviews
3d-2 Comparing secondary sources
3e Writing about film
3f Taking history exams
3f-1 Answering identification questions
3f-2 Taking an essay exam
Chapter 4 Writing a History Essay: Process and Conventions
4a Approaching a history assignment
4b Thinking like a historian
4c Developing a thesis
4d Constructing an argument
4d-1 Supporting your thesis
4d-2 Responding to counterevidence and anticipating opposing viewpoints
4e Drafting your paper
4e-1 Drafting an introduction
4e-2 Organizing your paper
4e-3 Writing clear and connected paragraphs
4e-4 Writing an effective conclusion
4f Revising for content and organization
4g Editing and proofreading
4g-1 Choosing respectful and nonbiased language
4g-2 Choosing clear, academic language
4g-3 Choosing the appropriate tense
4g-4 Using active voice
4g-5 Using pronouns
4g-6 Editing to conform to academic English
4g-7 Proofreading and formatting the final document
Chapter 5 Writing a Research Paper
5a Moving from topic to research question
5a-1 Choosing a topic
5a-2 Focusing on a research question
5b Developing a research plan
5b-1 Scheduling time for research
5b-2 Gathering and managing sources
5c Conducting research
5c-1 Consulting human resources
5c-2 Using the library’s online catalog
5c-3 Using print and electronic reference sources
5c-4 Locating primary sources
5c-5 Locating secondary sources
5c-6 Using AI research tools
5c-7 Finding internet sources
5c-8 Distinguishing among electronic sources
5d Taking effective research notes
5e Developing a working thesis
5f Making an outline
5g Revising and editing your paper
Chapter 6 Ethical Writing
6a Identifying academic dishonesty
6b Avoiding plagiarism
6b-1 Citing sources to avoid plagiarism
6b-2 Paraphrasing to avoid plagiarism
6b-3 Downloading internet sources carefully to avoid plagiarism
6c Ethical writing with AI
Chapter 7 Quoting and Documenting Sources
7a Using quotations
7a-1 When to quote
7a-2 How to quote
7b Documenting sources
7b-1 Footnotes and endnotes
7b-2 Bibliography
7b-3 Documenting nonwritten materials
7c Documentation models
7c-1 Formatting guidelines for footnotes and endnotes
7c-2 Formatting guidelines for bibliographies
7c-3 Models for notes and bibliography entries
7d Sample pages from a student research paper

Mary Lynn Rampolla

Mary Lynn Rampolla (PhD, University of Toronto) is associate professor of history at Trinity Washington University in Washington, D.C.. Her scholarly work focuses on medieval and early modern Europe. She is active in the fields of history and composition and frequently presents papers at the annual International Medieval Congress at the University of Western Michigan.