Your paragraphs are the foundation of your paper, so it's important to put just the right amount of information in each one. Inconsistent paragraph format hinders the flow of your essay, and your points will suffer accordingly. Avoid short paragraphs with only one or two sentences; you should fit a topic, your evidence and the resulting conclusions inside of each one, and it's impossible to do that in two sentences. Likewise, avoid the long paragraphs that go on for an entire page. Stick with one topic per paragraph.
Before you are qualified to write a historical-based paper on any subject, you will need to develop your personal knowledge on the topic by reading. Keep in mind as you read that you will eventually need to discuss the events in your words. While reading, think of how you would explain the words to someone else without quoting directly from your source. Draw conclusions based on your reading and be prepared to expand on your thoughts in the paper that follows.
Although you may have developed a habit of writing your essays, particularly ones based on literature, in the present tense, this does not work for history papers. You want to recreate for the reader an exact time frame in history, one that obviously took place in a previous time. By using past-tense language, you are providing proper context for the event or person referred to in your paper.
When first introducing historical characters into your paper, be sure to mention them by their full name. After that point, you are free to drop the first name. Never refer to a famous person from the past by using the first name. For instance, Karl Marx is never "Karl," but rather "Marx." This rule applies for all historical persons regardless of gender.
Bear in mind that while your sources may demonstrate varying degrees of bias, your job as the writer is to neutralize all viewpoints and present your findings objectively. For example, the words of a writer with roots in the south will summarize the events of the Civil War very differently than those of a northerner. Be aware of any subtle details like these that may take away from the credibility of your paper.