Basic questions that should inform any good historical op-ed include:
How does the past help us better understand today's world?
In what ways do past events clarify the origins problems we face in the present?
Do past events parallel present-day controversies?
How does an understanding of the historical origins of a current problem help us solve the problem?
How might we learn from the mistakes and triumphs of the past?
How do I approach and structure an op-ed?