Steps to writing a good ‘Bad Guys in History’ essay
Essay topic – The history of the world is full of evil people, however, Hitler is not the worst of these evil people. Do you agree?
Introductions
- Should include background information to give the readers a context
- Should include your contention (your main overall idea)
- Should include your main supporting ideas
History is littered with murderers, tyrants and psychopaths. From the ancient times to modern daythe world has known evil people. Genghis Khan slaughtered entire cities brutally executing or ordering the execution of innocent people. During his time in charge of the Soviet Union Josef Stalin annihilated millions. In the 1970s Pol Pot was responsible for arranging the genocide of his own people. To suggest that Hitler is somehow out of the ordinary when it comes to evil is simply outrageous. Yes he killed people, a lot of people in fact, but compared to others in world history Hitler is simply just another murderous villain.
Supporting Paragraph (Good Year 9 Standard)
Topic sentence
Evidence
Explanation
Linking
In his attempt to create a communist society Pol Pot brutalised the people of Cambodia. His time in charge “resulted in the deaths of 25 percent of the country's population from starvation, overwork and executions.”[1] At least in Hitler’s case he was trying to destroy other nations rather than his own people. Pol Pot killed 2,000,000 of his own people while also forcing them into 18 hour days of hard labour with minimal food. Based on these facts, when compared to Hitler, Pol Pot can more than hold his own.
Supporting Paragraph (Good Year 10 Standard)
Topic sentence
Evidence
Explanation
Linking
Genghis Khan made Hitler look relatively normal compared to the way he butchered populations around the world. The Inquisitor suggests that “perhaps as many as 15 million deaths were directly attributable to Mongol slaughter, with possibly tens of millions of additional deaths occurring indirectly due to famine in the wake of the Mongol conquests”[2]. The awesome nature of such large scale slaughter easily rivals any body count Hitler is able to produce. Genghis Khan cannot be considered evil to Hitler if he has an equal of superior tally of murder. Worse still is the mindset of Khan compared to Hitler. Khan himself said “The greatest happiness is to vanquish your enemies… to see those dear to them bathed in tears...”[3] Even Hitler himself never expressed such ruthlessness. When compared to Hitler, both Khan’s body count and his lack of mercy, makes him an equally evil historical figure.
Conclusion
- Should repeat your contention
- Should be a strong summary of all your main ideas
When compared to many other figures in world history Adolf Hitler is not some sort of extraordinary evil doer. Hitler was a warmonger, a racist and ordered the deaths of millions of people. He brought war and death to other countries and even his own. However, in Genghis Khan, Josef Stalin and Pol Pot he found his equals. Each of these men were equally blood thirsty and equally cruel to their own people and others. To suggest Hitler is out of the ordinary in the pages of history is purely fantasy.
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