Be sure your facts are correct and that they support your argument. Use good grammar. If you have taken an English composition class, bring those skills into your essay. Write analytically, not descriptively. Do not just explain what happened, but also try to explain why it happened and why it is significant.
Facts are important, but without interpretation they become meaningless.
Rather, it is more important that you are able to use the material to develop an argument which supports your point of view. You will be rewarded for independent and original thought. Be critical of your readings and the lectures. Look for new ways of approaching the material. When you disagree with an author's views, say so.