Yup...this is history... old pics with big hats!

History can be quite a boring subject, but if you're taking it, too bad, you have to get used to it. But your biggest problem is that you're not good at that cursed subject. Calm down. It's not hard to be good in history and like the subject at the same time. Just follow these tips and watch yourself rise.

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[edit] Steps

Do a brainstorm, covering the things that you don't like about history, or have difficulties understanding. You might even link two or three ideas together if they are caused by the same reason. Don't hesitate, scribble everything down (including about that 'horrible' teacher of yours) and any of those noisy classmates of yours.
Take this brainstorm to your teacher. Explain everything very clearly to him/her, covering every single negative aspect. Be honest and open with your teacher. Ask them for their help, even if you highly dislike them, because this is not about opinions, this is about achieving good results. Plus, remember, your teacher will only understand and help you if you are polite at all times.
Follow your teachers advice immediately and don't just put it at the back of your mind. Make a list of what your targets are (which your teacher should have given you) and set a realistic date of when you should achieve them. The most basic targets, should be achieved by a maximum of 1 week. Also jot down what you need to do to achieve them by the deadline.
Do a brainstorm about the positive aspects about history and your strengths in the subject. Take advantage of your strengths; for example, you might be good at speaking at arguing (not the 'rough' type) and thus, you should be taking part in class discussions; this not only makes you feel good (as in 'useful') but it increases your confidence. Next, improve in the positive aspects about history (only if you're weak in them, but it would also be a good idea to practice your strengths as well once in a while). To prosper even more, ask your teacher to lend you some revision guides, extra homework or practice tests; it may seem like a lot of work but to behind brilliant grades always lies practice and dedication, which you must have!
Be inquiring. A good historian always does extra research to find out more about a certain topic/subject. Go behind the details of your topic and possibly go back until you reach the base of the topic (where it all started from) because you may be doing something in the middle of an era in school. Alternatively, come up with your own questions when writing an essay; this will earn you good marks and it will also increase independent learning.
Remember that when doing a topic, come up with some realistic predictions. Decide what the results are going to be, depending on what's happening now. Don't come up with silly predictions or obvious predictions, because that won't get you any good grades (just very sarcastic remarks from your teacher and peers). Deduct and analyze information from the present information to come up with your predictions.
Know that when writing an essay (whatever the subject may be), include these techniques/questions to improve your essay's quality:
- Use your previous knowledge to analyse relationships between a wide range of events, people, ideas and changes and between the features of past societies.
- Your explanations for, and analyses of, the causes and consequences of events and changes are well substantiated and set in their wider historical context (meaning that you have to explain the topic a little bit more than you would).
- You must analyse links between events and developments which took place in different countries and in different periods.
- You must make balanced judgements about the value of differing interpretations of historical events and developments in relation to their historical context.
- You must draw on your historical knowledge and understanding and use historical sources critically, carry out enquiries about historical topics and independently reach and sustain substantiated and balanced conclusions.
- Finally, you must select, organise and deploy a wide range of relevant information to produce consistently well-structured narratives, descriptions and explanations, making appropriate use of dates and terms.
When you have written an essay, ask someone to evaluate it, before you hand it in to your teacher; a good person to ask would be either your parents, any other close relative or even better your friends. This helps as you get someone else's suggestion thus that gives you an approximation of your grade and your teacher's comments. Ask them (the person commenting on your work) the positives and the negatives about it so you may improve in the future.
Regularly check the progress you've made( meaning weekly), with your teacher. Realise the progress you've made and be proud of your achievements. Be realistic and positive about it and don't be utterly disappointed if you've failed to achieve a target. You can always work towards the same target again, if only you feel that you didn't work hard enough or if your teacher feels the same thing.
Know that when you get your final grade in an essay, test or exam, be proud of it. If you didn't get the grade you feel you should have gotten, talk to your teacher. Discuss your strengths and your weaknesses in that essay/test/exam. Don't get angry with your teacher and start telling him/her that he/she is unfair. Your grade is the result of your work; you teacher are just doing their job... fairly!
Remember to stay calm! Relax, follow your regular routine and take a break from all of this! Don't become a total workaholic or start ignoring your friends. Do all of this normally. Plus, you can have fun and work hard at the same time; so to avoid this making it all tedious and boring, do this in a fun way. Occasionally go to after school clubs or go to history websites and have some fun with games! Work hard and be proud of your achievements!

[edit] Tips

Once again, stay polite at all times whenever speaking to your teacher. Do not get rude or impolite at any time. Remember, your teacher also wants the best for you, although, they are not your personal tutor; they are there to help everyone but if you request them really nicely for extra lessons after or before school, they might agree.
Sometimes, obviously, you might need to do those brainstorms more than once, if you get confused or simply need to add more things and the paper is absolutely full (hopefully the positive brainstorm will be full!).

[edit] Warnings

Now, if you do get a good grade and start to, hopefully, prosper in this subject, you might get called some names; for e.g. 'Geek', 'Dork, 'Nerd' or 'Teacher's pet'. Yeah sure, it will affect your reputation a little bit, but just ignore them. This is about your education and how it will affect your future (seriously, your grades will affect your career), not about whatever rubbish others throw at you.
However, if your friends are the ones that also say those stupid comments, tell them that you just don't care what they say and if they are your true friends, they would support you (cheesy and dramatic, but it really does work, trust me!)
When you do get a good grade, do not get big-headed or start acting like a know-it-all. This will surely arouse some negativity and you will have no-one to blame except your behaviour. Yes your grade is something to be proud of (only if you get a good one!) but there are still more tests to come and there are people better than you.

[edit] Things You'll Need

A positive mind
Dedication, courage and a little bit of pride!
A big thick book for the brainstorms and all that practice (and obviously pencils, pens, etc).
Politeness