To write an essay about a historical event, I would do research. I would consult textbooks, the internet, and other resources that have information relevant to a historical event that I am writing an essay on. To write an informative essay about a historical event, I would want a strong thesis statement, and strong supporting body paragraphs. I would want the body of my essay to be full of detail and factual information from my research (which of course you want to sight :)) Additionally, I would want to use strong transition words and powerful vocabulary. Finally, I would want my essay to be engaging.
Hope this helps :)
The two sentences in this excerpt that reflect the main character's uneasiness with his family history are:
1) The full contents of the chest never came quite clear, perhaps because he didn't want to know.
and
2) His mother had once tried to explain the paper to him, but he hadn't wanted to listen.
Both sentences show that the main character, as a child, is not interested in the chest and its contents, because to him the family heirloom represents death and decay, so his family history, which is locked in that chest, makes him uneasy. As the story progresses (and the character grows), his view of the chest changes and varies, until he understands its importance.
