Thesis Statements

What is a thesis statement? Definition - A one sentence main idea (usually at the end of your first paragraph) that directly answers your historical question or the question asked of you. - It acts like a roadmap or blueprint for your paper – it sums up the whole argument and everything is tied back to it. - Because of this, it cannot be a simple statement of fact, because a statement of fact does not require persuasive argument - It states a claim plainly and directly that you are trying to persuade your reader to believe, but, they may dispute. - A thesis is your interpretation of a question or subject (e.g. World War II), not the subject itself.

What makes a thesis in a historical essay good? Answers the question Complex Nuanced Analysis-driven Answers the “why” question (usually in the form of a “because” clause) Answers the “how” question (usually in the form of a “by”, “through”, or “in that” clause) ↑ Abby Cadabby & friends doing a “twinkle think”

Sometimes students mistake facts for thesis statements…

Differentiating “fact” from “thesis” Example of a fact: “The number of cases of skin cancer per thousand U.S. citizens has increased steadily since the 1920s.”

Differentiating “fact” from “thesis” Example of a thesis: “That rates of skin cancer have increased steadily since the 1920s reveals the danger of the American obsession with getting a ‘healthy’ tan.” This is a thesis because it requires argument and support. Note that alternative theses are possible: “The increase in the rate of skin cancer since the 1920s derives more from Americans’ longer average lifespan than from the popularity of tanning”; “The thinning of the ozone layer has potentially devastating long-term effects on the public health, as shown by the increase in the rate of skin cancer” etc!

Critiquing a Thesis Statement Based on the previously discussed criteria, is this a strong thesis statement? If not, how can we revise it? Historical issue: Compare and contrast the reasons why the North and South fought the Civil War. Thesis Statement: “The North and South fought the Civil War for many reasons, some of which were the same and some different.”

Revised Thesis “While both sides fought the Civil War over the issue of slavery, the North fought for moral reasons while the South fought to preserve its own institutions.” Now you have a working thesis! Included in this working thesis is a reason for the war and some idea of how the two sides disagreed over this reason. As you write the essay, you will probably begin to characterize these differences more precisely, and your working thesis may start to seem too vague. Maybe you decide that both sides fought for moral reasons, and that they just focused on different moral issues.

Final revised thesis: You end up revising the working thesis into a final thesis that really captures the argument in your paper: “While both Northerners and Southerners believed they fought against tyranny and oppression, Northerners focused on the oppression of slaves while Southerners defended their own right to self-government.” Compare this to the original weak thesis. This final thesis presents a way of interpreting evidence that illuminates the significance of the question. Keep in mind that this is one of many possible interpretations of the Civil War—it is not the one and only right answer to the question.

Critiquing a Thesis Statement Based on the previously discussed criteria, is this a strong thesis statement? If not, how can we revise it? Historical Question: How and why did Anne Hutchinson pose a threat to the established structures of power and authority in Puritan Massachusetts? Thesis Statement: Anne Hutchinson posed a threat to the Puritan leadership in the Massachusetts colony.

Critiquing a Thesis Statement Based on the previously discussed criteria, is this a strong thesis statement? If not, how can we revise it? Historical Question: Were the colonists justified in their revolution against the British Crown? Thesis Statement: The colonists rebelled against King George III because of high taxes, imposed controls on their self government, and their lack of representation in Parliament.

Critiquing a Thesis Statement Based on the previously discussed criteria, is this a strong thesis statement? If not, how can we revise it. Historical question: How stable and sound were the financial goals of the supporters of the Populist movement (e.g. William Jennings Bryan)? Thesis Statement: “Populism’s financial goals were unfeasible and unstable because it setup inflation for years to come, increasing prices, and thus increasing farmer’s debt, so they would want inflation in the future.”

Critiquing a Thesis Statement Based on the previously discussed criteria, is this a strong thesis statement? If not, how can we revise it? Historical Question: How did early 20 th century Progressivism create a model of reform for the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and 1970s? Thesis Statement: “By providing an example of successful grassroots reforms that trickled upwards from the people to the highest levels of government, Progressivism showed that even disenfranchised people could change the political system through intensive and long-term campaigning and violent action.”

Do NOT do these things in a historical thesis Use absolutes: “George Marshall was the greatest Secretary of State in U.S. history” A too-general thesis: “Slavery was the main cause of the Civil War.” Never use the first person in your thesis, even if your professor permits it elsewhere. Never phrase your thesis in the passive voice. Never refer to your assignment in the thesis Never attribute your thesis to someone else, or to general opinion. A thesis that says “Many people believe” or that some famous scholar or critic believes something is necessarily about “many people” or the famous scholar or critic, not about the point being made, or more importantly the point you are trying to make. Do not base your thesis on a hypothetical: “If the atomic bomb were never designed, Japan would not have seen millions of their people killed at the end of World War II, because…”

How do I know if my thesis is strong? When reviewing your first draft and its working thesis, ask yourself the following: Do I answer the question? Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? Is my thesis statement specific enough? Does my thesis leave the readers saying “so what”? Does my essay support my thesis specifically and without wandering? Is my thesis complex, nuanced, and analysis driven? Does my thesis pass the "how and why?" test?