Best Examples of History Research Paper Outline Examples for Students

Instead of talking theory, let’s jump straight into actual examples of history research paper outline examples you can adapt for your own work. I’ll keep the wording realistic, like something a strong high school or first-year college student would turn in.

Example of a Short Argumentative History Research Paper Outline

Topic: Was the New Deal a success for the American economy?

Thesis statement: While the New Deal did not fully end the Great Depression, it successfully stabilized the banking system, reduced unemployment, and permanently expanded the federal government’s role in protecting economic security.

Outline:
Introduction

• Hook: Brief description of the economic collapse of 1929–1932
• Context: Bank failures, unemployment, and public fear
• Thesis statement

Body Paragraph 1 – Banking and financial reforms

• Emergency Banking Act and bank holiday
• Creation of the FDIC and restored public confidence
• Evidence from banking recovery statistics

Body Paragraph 2 – Unemployment relief and work programs

• Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and Works Progress Administration (WPA)
• Number of jobs created and types of projects
• Criticisms and limitations

Body Paragraph 3 – Long-term expansion of federal power

• Social Security Act and unemployment insurance
• Shift in expectations of government responsibility
• Ongoing programs that still exist today

Conclusion

• Restate thesis in fresh words
• Summarize main arguments
• Brief reflection on how New Deal policies influence modern debates about government and the economy

This is one of the best examples for students who need a clear, three-body-paragraph structure with a focused argument.

Analytical Example of History Research Paper Outline Examples: Civil Rights Movement

Topic: The role of television in shaping public opinion during the Civil Rights Movement.

Thesis statement: Television coverage of nonviolent protests, violent backlash, and federal interventions during the Civil Rights Movement transformed national public opinion by making racial injustice visible to Americans who had previously ignored it.

Outline:
Introduction

• Hook: Description of a televised event (e.g., Birmingham protests)
• Brief background on the Civil Rights Movement
• Thesis statement

Body Section 1 – Early television and limited coverage

• Growth of TV ownership in the 1950s–1960s
• How news programs were structured at the time
• Early, cautious coverage of racial issues

Body Section 2 – Televised protests and police violence

• Birmingham, Selma, and other key events
• Images of police dogs, fire hoses, and marchers
• Reaction from viewers outside the South

Body Section 3 – Political impact

• How televised images influenced President Kennedy and President Johnson
• Connection to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965
• Evidence from speeches, polls, or congressional debates

Conclusion

• Restate thesis
• Reflect on media power in later movements (e.g., Black Lives Matter)
• Suggest how historians use media sources as evidence

Examples like this show how to organize an analytical paper around causes and effects rather than just telling a story.

Longer, Detailed Examples of History Research Paper Outline Examples

For upper-level high school, AP, IB, or introductory college courses, you’ll usually need a more detailed outline. Let’s look at a few real examples of history research paper outline examples that go beyond the five-paragraph essay.

Example: Long Research Paper on the Origins of World War I

Topic: To what extent did alliances cause World War I?

Thesis statement: While the alliance system created a dangerous environment that made a large-scale war more likely, World War I ultimately resulted from a combination of nationalism, militarism, imperial rivalries, and poor crisis management.

Outline:
I. Introduction

• Hook: Short quote or statistic about casualties in WWI
• Background: Overview of Europe in 1914
• Research question and thesis

II. The Alliance System Before 1914

• Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy)
• Triple Entente (Britain, France, Russia)
• How alliances were supposed to prevent war

III. Nationalism and Ethnic Tensions

• Nationalist movements in the Balkans
• Serbian nationalism and the Black Hand
• Pan-Slavism and Russian interests

IV. Militarism and the Arms Race

• Naval rivalry between Britain and Germany
• Growth of standing armies and war plans
• Cultural glorification of war

V. Imperialism and Economic Competition

• Conflicts in Africa and Asia
• Germany’s late arrival to imperial competition
• Economic rivalries among great powers

VI. Crisis Management and the July Crisis

• Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
• Austria-Hungary’s ultimatum to Serbia
• Miscalculations, mobilization plans, and diplomatic failures

VII. Weighing the Role of Alliances

• How alliances turned a regional conflict into a world war
• Why alliances alone cannot explain the war
• Synthesis of factors

VIII. Conclusion

• Restate thesis and main points
• Reflect on how historians’ interpretations have changed over time
• Brief note on how this history shapes modern alliances (e.g., NATO)

This kind of outline works well for a 10–12 page paper, and it’s one of the best examples for showing how to break a huge topic into manageable sections.

Example: Thematic History Research Paper Outline on the Cold War

Topic: How did the Cold War shape U.S. domestic politics between 1945 and 1965?

Thesis statement: The Cold War reshaped U.S. domestic politics by fueling anti-communist hysteria, expanding federal power in education and science, and redefining debates about civil rights.

Outline:
I. Introduction

• Hook: Short description of a Cold War-era classroom drill or political speech
• Background: Post–World War II tensions with the Soviet Union
• Thesis statement

II. Anti-Communism and McCarthyism

• House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC)
• Senator McCarthy’s hearings
• Impact on Hollywood, labor unions, and public opinion

III. Education, Science, and the Space Race

• Sputnik and American fears about falling behind
• National Defense Education Act (NDEA)
• Growth of federal funding for science and technology

IV. Civil Rights and Cold War Image

• How segregation hurt U.S. image abroad
• Federal government’s response (e.g., Brown v. Board, Little Rock)
• Use of civil rights progress in Cold War propaganda

V. Political Realignments and Long-Term Effects

• Shifts in party positions on foreign policy
• Growth of the national security state
• Lasting influence on debates about government power

VI. Conclusion

• Restate thesis
• Connect Cold War domestic politics to later events (Vietnam, Reagan era)
• Suggest areas for further research

When you’re hunting for examples of history research paper outline examples that focus on themes rather than strict chronology, this Cold War model is a strong reference.

Topic-Specific Examples Include Social, Cultural, and Global History

Not every history paper is about war and politics. Let’s look at some topic-specific examples of history research paper outline examples that highlight social, cultural, and global trends.

Example: Social History – Women’s Roles in World War II

Topic: How did World War II change women’s work in the United States?

Thesis statement: World War II dramatically expanded women’s participation in paid industrial work, but many of these gains were rolled back after the war, laying the groundwork for later feminist movements.

Outline:
I. Introduction

• Hook: “Rosie the Riveter” as a cultural icon
• Background on women’s work before the war
• Thesis

II. Labor Shortages and Government Recruitment

• Men leaving for military service
• Government propaganda campaigns
• Industries that hired women (aircraft, munitions, shipbuilding)

III. Experiences of Women Workers

• Wages, hours, and working conditions
• Racial segregation and unequal treatment
• Examples from oral histories and letters

IV. Postwar Pushback and Return to Domesticity

• Demobilization and pressure on women to leave jobs
• Advertising and the ideal of the suburban housewife
• Women who stayed in the workforce

V. Long-Term Impact

• Influence on second-wave feminism in the 1960s–1970s
• How historians interpret World War II’s impact on gender roles

VI. Conclusion

• Restate thesis
• Connect to modern debates about gender and work

Example: Global History – Decolonization in Africa

Topic: Why did decolonization in Africa accelerate after 1945?

Thesis statement: Decolonization in Africa accelerated after 1945 due to weakened European powers, rising African nationalism, changing international attitudes toward empire, and Cold War pressures.

Outline:
I. Introduction

• Hook: Date of independence for a well-known African country (e.g., Ghana 1957)
• Brief explanation of colonial rule
• Thesis

II. Impact of World War II on European Powers

• Economic exhaustion
• Loss of moral authority
• Weakened military presence

III. Growth of African Nationalism

• Role of educated elites
• Political parties and independence movements
• Use of strikes, protests, and negotiations

IV. International Pressure and the United Nations

• UN support for self-determination
• Role of newly independent countries
• Global criticism of colonialism

V. Cold War Context

• U.S. and Soviet competition for influence
• Superpowers’ mixed attitudes toward empire
• Aid, arms, and diplomatic support

VI. Case Study Section

• Ghana as an early, relatively peaceful example
• Algeria as a violent example
• Comparison of paths to independence

VII. Conclusion

• Restate thesis
• Reflect on ongoing challenges after independence

These topic-focused outlines are real examples that show how to keep a clear structure even when your subject stretches across continents.

Using Modern Trends and Digital Sources in Your History Outline

History research in 2024–2025 looks different from what your parents did. You’re expected to use digital archives, online primary sources, and updated scholarship. When you build your outline, it helps to plan where these sources will go.

Here’s how to weave that into your outline:

• In your introduction section, note where you’ll use a key statistic, quote, or primary source to hook the reader. For example, you might cite a digitized letter from the Library of Congress or a poll from the 1960s.
• In each body section, list at least one primary source and one secondary source you’ll use as evidence. For U.S. topics, you can often find primary documents via the Library of Congress or the National Archives.
• For education-related history topics (like school desegregation or curriculum changes), you might bring in research or context from universities. Sites like Harvard University’s history resources can help you locate scholarly work.

When teachers talk about the best examples of history research paper outline examples, they usually mean outlines that clearly show where evidence will come from, not just lists of vague ideas.

How to Turn These Real Examples into Your Own Outline

Seeing examples of history research paper outline examples is helpful, but the real payoff is learning how to adapt them. Here’s a simple way to do that:

Start by writing a working thesis. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Something like: “The Black Death changed European society by weakening feudalism, altering religious beliefs, and transforming the economy.”

Then, copy the basic pattern you’ve seen in the best examples:

• Introduction with background + thesis
• Three to five main sections, each focused on one part of your thesis
• Each section broken into specific points or pieces of evidence
• Conclusion that pulls everything together and reflects on significance

If your instructor wants a longer paper, add more sections or subpoints instead of making one section overloaded. The real examples above show that a good outline reads like a map of your argument, not a pile of disconnected facts.

FAQ: Examples of History Research Paper Outline Examples

How detailed should an example of a history research paper outline be?
For a short paper (4–6 pages), a one-page outline with main headings and a few bullet points under each is usually enough. For a longer paper (10+ pages), your instructor will expect more detail: subheadings, planned sources, and clear connections to your thesis. Look back at the World War I and Cold War models as examples of how detailed a longer outline can be.

Can I use these examples of history research paper outline examples for any topic?
Yes, the structure is flexible. You can plug in topics like the French Revolution, the fall of the Soviet Union, or the history of public health. Just keep the same basic pattern: introduction, themed body sections that support your thesis, and a conclusion.

What are some examples of reliable sources I should plan into my outline?
For U.S. topics, consider government and educational sites. The National Archives, the Library of Congress, and major universities are all strong options. For health-related historical topics, organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or NIH can provide historical timelines and context you can reference.

Is it okay if my final paper doesn’t follow my outline exactly?
Absolutely. Every example of a history research paper outline is a starting point, not a prison. As you research, you may discover stronger evidence or a better way to organize your points. Update your outline as you go so it stays useful instead of becoming a fossil.

Where can I find more examples of history research paper outline examples?
Check your school or university writing center website, many of which share sample outlines and papers. You can also look at online guides from major universities’ history departments. Use the examples here as a model, then compare them with samples you find from trusted .edu or .gov sites.

If you use these real examples of history research paper outline examples as templates—rather than scripts—you’ll find that planning a history paper stops feeling mysterious and starts feeling like a logical, repeatable process you can use in every class.