Writing a Historical Essay: The Thesis & Introduction

The Thesis  The thesis is the sentence in the first paragraph that clearly states your answer to the prompt. By writing a good thesis, you will go a long way toward writing a good essay.  It is the most important sentence of any essay. By writing a good thesis, you will go a long way toward writing a good essay.  It must be clear, properly structured & in the correct place.

A thesis sentence is  a single  declaratory sentence  that “answers” the prompt  with a clearly and simply stated opinion  that does not restate the prompt

1: Formulating a Thesis  After reading the whole prompt, marking the important words (verbs, etc, & sketching out how you intend to proceed..  Answer the prompt in a single sentence before writing the essay. Multiple sentence theses tend to be too unfocused. Essays written without a clear thesis in mind tend to be unfocused.

1. Formulating a Thesis (continued)  Consider this prompt: To what extent was the U.S. Constitution a radical departure from the Articles of Confederation?  What do you think about this prompt? Was the Constitution a radical departure from the Articles of Confederation? Did it represent only a slight alteration? Or something in between?  You must take a clear position.

1. Formulating a Thesis (continued)  Avoid merely restating the wording of the prompt. For example: “The Constitution was a radical departure from the Articles of Confederation”, is a very weak thesis. Although it may be accurate and it is better than no thesis at all, it shows little depth of understanding. It explains very little and does not give your essay much direction. A good sophisticated thesis will reflect analysis of the question or real insight into the issue. (In other words, it shows the grader you know your stuff.)

1. Formulating a Thesis (continued)  If you think that the Constitution was a major change from the Articles, you could write something like the following: “The Constitution was a major change from the Articles because it replaced a weak confederation with a strong central government.” OR: “The Constitution significantly improved upon the Articles of Confederation by creating a strong and effective central government that unified the formerly sovereign states.”

2. Dealing with Complexity  APUSH essay questions always involve complex issues that historians debate, not simple questions that virtually everyone agrees on. Nevertheless...  You must take a clear position in the thesis. It should provide an explanation or insight (explain how or why) – not merely describe that “things happened” (who, what & where).  Other ways to take a clear position: Geographic differences (Ex: colonial settlement) Change over time (Ex: compromises over slavery)

2. Dealing with Complexity However, although your essay must take a clear position...  Avoid going to extremes – show that you understand complexity. One side is usually more true than another, but not completely true. (History is complex)  AP grading rubrics award high scores only to essays that analyze the entire question. To ensure that you address the complexity of questions, I also specifically require your essays to “(4) be balanced (you cannot “prove” your thesis merely by ignoring the major evidence that could logically be cited by someone who might challenge your thesis)”

2. Dealing with Complexity  But how can one reconcile taking a clear position with also showing an understanding that the issue is complicated? QUESTION ON COMPLICATED ISSUE TAKE A CLEAR POSITION ACKNOWLEDGE COMPLEXITY ???

2. Dealing with Complexity  One way to handle complexity is to begin your thesis sentence with the word “although.” Your clear opinion, your “answer” to the prompt, goes in the second half of the thesis sentence. Although both the Constitution and the Articles reflected the goals of the Revolution, the Constitution... OR Although both the Constitution and the Articles reflected the goals of the Revolution, the Constitution... OR Although the Constitution did not solve all of the problems of the young republic, it did establish… Although the Constitution did not solve all of the problems of the young republic, it did establish…

3. The Introductory Paragraph  A good introductory paragraph has: 1. An introductory sentence or two that “sets the stage.” 2. The thesis sentence 3. An “organizing” sentence that states the topics or categories that will be used in the essay to support the thesis.  The essay would then have a paragraph devoted to each of the topics or categories  Thus, for most AP U. S. History essays, an introduction may be 3-4 sentences.

3. The Introductory Paragraph  The thesis can be anywhere in the first paragraph, but it is usually better to first introduce the topic with a sentence or two that “sets the stage”. Adopted in 1781, the Articles of Confederation were a friendship of sovereign states. Reflecting their experience with George III, the states did not give the central government much authority and it therefore lacked an executive, could not regulate commerce, lacked the power to tax and could make amendments only with unanimous approval.

3. The Introductory Paragraph  A good introductory paragraph should enable the reader to know exactly where the essay will proceed.  In general, save all of the specific details (evidence/facts) that will support the thesis for the body paragraphs.  The thesis should guide the essay throughout. That is, each part of the body of the essay should in some way clearly support the thesis. The purpose of the body paragraphs is to prove your thesis with specific evidence, not merely describe what happened. (Make an argument – analyze, don’t describe)

SUMMARY  A thesis is a sentence that “answers” the prompt with your opinion.  A good thesis avoids merely restating the question.  The thesis should take a clear position.  The thesis must address the complexity in any prompt. One way of accomplishing all of this is to begin your thesis with the word “although.”  A good introduction includes an introductory sentence, the thesis, and an organizing sentence  AP essay rubrics award high scores to essays that have “a clear, well-developed thesis” that is “focused on the prompt”, “addresses the entire question” and “guides the essay throughout.”

Practice Question 1  In what ways did the French and Indian War ( ) alter the political, economic and ideological relations between Britain and its American colonies? Use your knowledge of the period along with the documents provided to answer the question.

Practice Question 2  Analyze the impact of the American Revolution on both slavery and the status of women in the period from 1775 to 1800.

Practice Question 3  Evaluate the relative importance of the following as factors promoting Americans to rebel: parliamentary taxation, restriction of civil liberties, British military measures and the legacy of colonial religious and political ideas.

Practice Question 4  “The United States Constitution of 1787 represented an economic and ideological victory for the traditional American political elite.” Assess the validity of that statement for the period 1781 to 1789.

Practice Question 5  How did economic, geographic, and social factors encourage the growth of slavery as an important part of the economy of the southern colonies between ?

Practice Question 6  To what extent was the election of 1800 aptly named the “Revolution of 1800”? Respond with reference to TWO of the following areas:  Economics  Judiciary  Foreign policy  Politics

Practice Question 7  “Although historically represented as distinct parties, the Federalists and the Whigs in fact shared a common political ideology, represented many of the same interest groups, and proposed similar programs and policies.” Assess the validity of this statement.

Practice Question 8  Analyze the extent to which TWO of the following influenced the development of democracy between 1820 and 1840  Jacksonian economic policy  Changes in electoral politics  Second Great Awakening  Westward movement

Tip #1  After reading the whole prompt, marking the verbs and conjunctions, and sketching out how you intend to proceed...  Answer the prompt in a simple sentence.  For instance, consider this DBQ prompt: How successful was organized labor in improving the position of workers in the period from 1875 to 1900? Analyze the factors that contributed to the level of success achieved.

Tip #1 (continued)  What do you think about this prompt? Were labor unions successful in improving working conditions and the power of working people during this time? At the end of the period had the lives of working people substantially improved due to organized labor? What factors caused or stopped improvement from happening?  YOUR OPINION IS ESSENTIAL!  And your opinion must be clear.  So...

Tip #1 (continued)  Let’s say that you think this time period was not a period of labor success.  Write a simple statement that answers the prompt with your opinion. Like this... Labor unions failed to improve the condition of working people at the end of the 19 th century.  Or... Government antagonism to labor unions kept them from effectively helping working people during this period.

Tip #1 (continued)  It’s extremely important to get your thinking clearly into a simple “answer” to the prompt.  Do NOT restate the wording of the prompt. Rather than “the time period 1875 to 1900,” write “the last decades of the 19 th century” or “the three decades following the Civil War.” Rather than “organized labor,” refer to labor unions.

Tip #2 Choosing a thesis structure  The key to writing a clear, strong thesis is to “answer” or address the prompt with your opinion clearly in front of you.  They you need to decide what shape your thesis sentence should take.  Your thesis will provide the reader’s first and guiding impression. Give great care with this sentence!

Tip #2 Choosing a thesis structure (continued) Two excellent ways of writing thesis sentences are 1. A concept thesis. 2. An organizational thesis. Sometimes this last is known as an organizational statement.

Concept Thesis  Now that you have your opinion, you can write a sentence that is both complex and specific.  One way of doing this is to write a sentence that begins with the word “although.”  This may seem odd, but recent AP grading rubrics award high scores only to essays that “address the complexity of the question.”

Concept Thesis (continued)  A thesis written like this may look like this: Although this was a period of intense labor pressure, unions failed to make the lives and status of workers better.  Or... Although this period saw increased labor involvement, state and federal government antagonism kept unions from being effective.

Concept Thesis (continued)  This kind of thesis sentence sets you up from the very beginning to acknowledge “complexity” in the essay prompt.  Your opinion, your “answer” to the prompt, goes in the second half of this thesis, after the comma. This is the point you are going to make, the destination at which you want the reader to arrive.

Organizational Thesis  Another way of writing a clear thesis is to use an “organizational statement.”  This is a sentence that specifically mentions what will be the topics of the following body paragraphs.  Look at the prompt one more time: How successful was organized labor in improving the position of workers in the period from 1875 to 1900? Analyze the factors that contributed to the level of success achieved.

Organizational Thesis (continued)  Some essay prompts lend themselves to organizational thesis sentences. For instance, consider the following prompt: Analyze the factors that contributed to the success or failure of organized labor’s efforts to improve the position of workers during the period 1875 to  An organizational thesis for this prompt could specify which three things were going to be discussed without re-stating the prompt.

Organizational Thesis (continued)  The following sentences specifically mention what will be the topic sentences of the next paragraphs. Labor unions failed because they were confused in their goals and were aggressively opposed by both state and federal governments. Organized labor unions were unsuccessful because they were not unified in their demands and were associated with radical European political groups.

Whether you choose a concept thesis or an organizational thesis, this sentence will shape the first impression you make on the reader. Think carefully about your task and make sure your thesis addresses the prompt.

Tip #3  Having written your thesis sentence, you are ready to put it into your essay introduction. For most AP U. S. History essays, an introduction “paragraph” may only be two or three sentences in length.  The thesis sentence should be the last sentence in your introduction paragraph.  Take a step back from your thesis and write a general sentence that introduces the topic.

Tip #3 (continued)  The general topic of this prompt is the effectiveness of organized labor.  Using a concept thesis sentence, the introduction might look like this: American workers have organized to improve pay and working conditions since the earliest period of industrialization. By the end of the 19 th century these unions made a major effort to make the lives of working people better. Although this was a period of intense labor pressure, unions failed to make the lives and status of workers better.

Tip #3 (continued)  Using an organizational thesis sentences, the introduction might look like this: American workers have organized to improve pay and working conditions since the earliest period of industrialization. By the end of the 19 th century these unions made a major effort to make the lives of working people better. They failed, however, since they were unclear in their demands and both state and federal governments used force to stop them.

Tip #3 (continued)  AP essay rubrics award high scores to essays that have “a clear, well-developed thesis” that is “focused on the prompt” and “guides the essay throughout.”  By clearly “answering” the prompt with your opinion, writing a strong thesis sentence, and putting it at the beginning of your essay, you do as much in two or three sentences as you can do to get yourself off to a great start.

Lesson 2 Summary  A thesis is a single declarative sentence that “answers” the prompt with your opinion.  The thesis should address the complexity in the prompt.  The thesis should be carefully crafted to fit the demands of the specific essay prompt.  The thesis should be the last sentence in the introduction paragraph.