HSY2601 PORTFOLIO
SEMESTER 1
ANSWERS 2025
HSY2601 PORTFOLIO SEMESTER 1
ANSWERS 2025
,HSY2601 PORTFOLIO
SECTION A: (10 Marks) Review of Assessment 1
Part 1: Writing an Introduction for an Essay
1. **How well did your introduction frame the historical question?**
My introduction arguably framed the historical question adequately but not
excellently. I laid out the context of Napoleon's invasion of Egypt, touching upon its
motivations (strategic, political, and intellectual). However, I think I could have been
more precise in articulating the *specific* historical question I was addressing.
Rather than just stating the invasion's historical significance, I should have made the
central debate or aspect I was exploring more prominent in the introduction itself.
2. **Did you find it challenging to balance historical background with a clear thesis
statement? Why or why not?**
Yes, I found it moderately challenging. The background information is necessary to
set the stage for readers who might not be familiar with the details of the invasion.
The challenge arose in ensuring that this background was concise and directly
relevant to the thesis statement. It’s easy to fall into the trap of including too much
general information, which can dilute the impact of the thesis. I felt I managed this to
some extent, but I felt I was lacking clarity with my thesis to make that jump to that
strong clear argument.
, 3. **What strategies did you use to make your introduction concise yet
informative?**
I tried to be strategic in my word choice, avoiding overly verbose phrasing. I also
focused on selecting only the most relevant details about the invasion's background,
omitting less crucial events or figures. I attempted to use each sentence to perform
multiple functions, such as introducing a key player while simultaneously hinting at a
larger theme. However, as mentioned above, my thesis and question did need to be
clearer.
4. **How did you ensure that your introduction set up a strong argument for the rest
of the “essay”?**
I attempted to ensure this by previewing the main points I would be discussing in the
body of the essay. I alluded to the different facets of the invasion (military, cultural,
scientific) and how they contributed to my overall argument. I tried to make it a
'roadmap' for the reader to follow, so they knew where the essay was heading.
However, again this would be aided by a clearer question.
5. **If you had to rewrite your introduction, what would you change or improve? (200
words)**
If I were to rewrite my introduction, I would focus on making the historical question
far more explicit and prominent. Instead of broadly stating that the invasion was
significant, I would frame it as a specific debate or inquiry. For instance, I could
frame the question around the long-term impact of the invasion on Egyptian society,
the extent to which Napoleon’s motivations were genuinely driven by enlightenment
ideals, or the effectiveness of the invasion as a colonial project. Then, I would tailor
the historical background to directly address this specific question, ensuring that
every piece of information serves to illuminate the central argument. I would then
SEMESTER 1
ANSWERS 2025
HSY2601 PORTFOLIO SEMESTER 1
ANSWERS 2025
,HSY2601 PORTFOLIO
SECTION A: (10 Marks) Review of Assessment 1
Part 1: Writing an Introduction for an Essay
1. **How well did your introduction frame the historical question?**
My introduction arguably framed the historical question adequately but not
excellently. I laid out the context of Napoleon's invasion of Egypt, touching upon its
motivations (strategic, political, and intellectual). However, I think I could have been
more precise in articulating the *specific* historical question I was addressing.
Rather than just stating the invasion's historical significance, I should have made the
central debate or aspect I was exploring more prominent in the introduction itself.
2. **Did you find it challenging to balance historical background with a clear thesis
statement? Why or why not?**
Yes, I found it moderately challenging. The background information is necessary to
set the stage for readers who might not be familiar with the details of the invasion.
The challenge arose in ensuring that this background was concise and directly
relevant to the thesis statement. It’s easy to fall into the trap of including too much
general information, which can dilute the impact of the thesis. I felt I managed this to
some extent, but I felt I was lacking clarity with my thesis to make that jump to that
strong clear argument.
, 3. **What strategies did you use to make your introduction concise yet
informative?**
I tried to be strategic in my word choice, avoiding overly verbose phrasing. I also
focused on selecting only the most relevant details about the invasion's background,
omitting less crucial events or figures. I attempted to use each sentence to perform
multiple functions, such as introducing a key player while simultaneously hinting at a
larger theme. However, as mentioned above, my thesis and question did need to be
clearer.
4. **How did you ensure that your introduction set up a strong argument for the rest
of the “essay”?**
I attempted to ensure this by previewing the main points I would be discussing in the
body of the essay. I alluded to the different facets of the invasion (military, cultural,
scientific) and how they contributed to my overall argument. I tried to make it a
'roadmap' for the reader to follow, so they knew where the essay was heading.
However, again this would be aided by a clearer question.
5. **If you had to rewrite your introduction, what would you change or improve? (200
words)**
If I were to rewrite my introduction, I would focus on making the historical question
far more explicit and prominent. Instead of broadly stating that the invasion was
significant, I would frame it as a specific debate or inquiry. For instance, I could
frame the question around the long-term impact of the invasion on Egyptian society,
the extent to which Napoleon’s motivations were genuinely driven by enlightenment
ideals, or the effectiveness of the invasion as a colonial project. Then, I would tailor
the historical background to directly address this specific question, ensuring that
every piece of information serves to illuminate the central argument. I would then
