Opinion
H&P opinion pieces
Historians' views on the latest policy issues.
- Can compulsion work? What history has to say about raising the school leaving age.
Nicola Sheldon (26 June 2008) - The 'ziz-zagging' Of British Prime Ministers
Andrew Blick and George Jones (3 April 2008)
Opinion pieces in the media
Articles by History & Policy contributors published in the national press:
- Polyclinics in London: historical issues
Virginia Berridge (London Journal of Primary Care, simultaneously published as Polyclinics: haven't we been there before? by the British Medical Journal, 23 May 2008) - Avoiding past mistakes
Jim Moher (Guardian Unlimited, 9 September 2007) - Past opportunities
Virginia Berridge (Guardian Society, 20 June 2007) - Enlist the Blitz spirit, get out the carbon ration book [pdf file, 32KB]
Mark Roodhouse (Financial Times, 14 March 2007) - Blair Must not repeat Attlee's pensions mistake [pdf file, 25KB]
Pat Thane (Financial Times, 24 May 2006)
Advice for historians on writing opinion pieces
To be accepted for publication on this website, contributors should observe the following guidelines:
- Articles should be 700-900 words of text in short, clear paragraphs
- Use a punchy, accessible style with no wasted words
- Get to the point in the first sentence and hook your argument firmly into the current issue
- This is an opportunity to give your opinions, but not to rant
- Focus on the current issue, with history used sparingly to make your case
- Deploy brief historical examples and quotations where appropriate
- Read recent press coverage of the issue at hand and make sure your angle is original
- The last paragraph should reinforce your point and the relevance of history
The History News Service website provides excellent advice for historians on writing opinion pieces, with samples and style guidelines. If you have an idea for an article and would like to discuss it, or to submit a draft, please contact Sonia Christie (sonia.christie@sas.ac.uk). We can also help you to place articles with newspapers.