Three Views of a Controversy
Confront a historical controversy or conspiracy theory by presenting three differing perspectives from the time. Include interpreted facts, hypothetical dialogue, and the implications of each standpoint on subsequent historical outcomes.
Suggested length: An essay or article: 800 to 2,500 words
Start the clock
Pick a sprint, press start and keep going until it stops. Momentum beats polish on a first draft.
Make it yours
Three ways to take this prompt somewhere nobody else will.
- Use one example from your own life.
- Open with a specific story, then widen out to the big idea.
- Write for a curious friend, not an expert.
Writing history books
What happened, why, and why it still matters.
History books explain the past, from sweeping surveys of civilizations to microhistories of a single object or day. The bestsellers read like novels: real people, real stakes, and an argument about what it all meant.
What readers expect
- Rigorous research and sources
- People at the center of events
- An argument, not just a timeline
- Connections to the present
A tip before you start
Build it around people and turning points, not dates. A reader follows a person through a decade far more willingly than a decade by itself.
More History prompts
- Why Ancient Empires FallWrite an analysis of an ancient civilization's decline, drawing parallels to modern societal issues. Explore factors like technology, economic…
- A City at the CrossroadsCreate a detailed profile of a city at a turning point in its history, such as during the Industrial Revolution, wartime occupations, or during…
- A Tradition Through TimeImagine you are a historian tasked with documenting a lesser-known but significant cultural tradition from any time period and location. Explain the…
- The Invention That Reshaped SocietyExamine the impact of a historical invention or discovery over several centuries. Discuss not only the invention itself but also how it changed…
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