Defining your topic is undoubtedly the most crucial and frequently the most challenging aspect of history essay writing. A poorly defined topic will never result in a quality paper. A good history essay is much more than a list of facts about previous occurrences; it must also explain. In addition to reiterating what other historians have already concluded, it must also give your interpretation. A good history essay focuses on a narrow subject. Ask who, what, where, when, and/or why something occurred as it did to focus your topic.