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• C. When you're writing about History, some different principles apply.

   

  1. As a general rule, most of what you say in history papers will be narrative couched in some form of the past tense.

     * Although Lodge once had supported a post-war league, he reversed himself after Wilson linked such a plan to the concept of a "peace without victory."

      

     This principle applies to thoughts as well as actions.

     * Many progressives, who thought well of Wilson's dream of a new world order, drew back in revulsion when the terms of the treaty were published.

      

     Accordingly (revisiting an earlier example), in a history essay you'd likely say

     * Pope satirized the frivolity of a privileged society.

      

     Here you would talk not about his timeless literary intent, but about specific things he said or did in a real time and place.

      

  2. In general, reserve the present tense for presenting opinions current among historians today.

     * Link contends that Wilson's critics have minimized the difficulties he faced.

  3. As one further point, unless you've good reason otherwise, it's probably better to couch your historical statements in sentences that discuss directly the actions of historical actors, not the content of sources.

      

     So rather than saying

     *Document 7 shows Voltaire's contempt for priests

      

     you might instead say

     *Voltaire held priests in utter contempt (Doc. 7).

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