As American historian David McCullough once said, “History is who we are and why the way we are.” Admittedly, writing about history is a challenge. But it is also one that can teach you about human psychology and decision-making, the ways we respond to crises, and how we react with creativity. The Concord Review is considered one of the most prestigious journals that publishes history papers from high school students. If you are writing a paper for the Concord Review, be prepared to write about the kind of history McCullough is talking about—one that is a vast exploration of how and why events take place. The Concord Review has high standards: it only accepts five percent of the submissions it receives. This means that anything you submit to it should be your best possible work. If you want to write an excellent Concord Review paper, here are some things you should consider: Topic: The number one thing to keep in mind when preparing a topic for your Concord Review paper is to be innovative. The Concord Review has published papers on topics as unique as “Swiss Watches,” “Cadillac and Black Americans,” and “Anti-Nuclearism in the U.S.” While all of these topics are related to interesting historical events, they also have layers, covering issues such as politics, race, economics, education, and technology. A great Concord Review topic is creative but can also discuss more than just its main focus. Length: Don’t be intimidated when we say that the minimum for a Concord Review paper is 8,000 words. We mean it. If your paper is anywhere between 8,000 to 10,000 words, you are in good shape for the Concord Review. But remember, a strong, creative topic that expands into multiple aspects of history is one that you can easily write thousands of words on. Research: Writing a Concord Review paper requires extensive research. We recommend using a minimum of 60 sources. The more sources you use, the easier it will be to deeply engage with your topic and write more. As you select sources, be sure to use only scholarly ones: this means journal articles, books, and dissertations are all great examples. Structure: As your paper should be lengthy and well-researched, it is important to have a strong structure that allows you to organize your ideas. We recommend beginning with an outline first and splitting your research up into three main “chapters,” the way you might read a book. You can then split up each chapter into paragraphs, and figure out which information should go where. The level of detail you include in your outline is up to you but you will need strong guidelines to keep on track. Tone: The Concord Review doesn’t want “op-ed” papers, nor does it want persuasive arguments. Instead, aim for an objective, factual, yet analytical tone that allows you to introduce your sources, insights, and findings from a scholarly perspective. Remember, history is more than a story. It is an examination of how humans exist; what we choose to remember is what shapes our future.
