1. Developing a Thesis ?? ?? ?? ? ? ?? ?? ?? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

2. The Thesis The thesis statement is the single most important aspect of your paper; it is, essentially, the justification for its very existence.

3. Generating Questions Your thesis statement needs to answer a question about the topic you’d like to explore. Your job is to figure out what question you’d like to answer... For example...

4. A research question... addresses an issue, problem, or controversy and is answered with a conclusion, otherwise known as a thesis. The thesis... is based on an analysis and interpretation of information and materials.

5. Research Question What led to the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe?

6. Formula for a Strong Thesis Specific topic + Attitude/Angle/Argument + A little tension = THESIS

7. For political, economic, social and cultural reasons, communism collapsed in Eastern Europe.

8. Communism collapsed in Eastern Europe because of the ruling elite's inability to address the economic concerns of the people. Easy way to ensure ANALYSIS

9. While cultural forces contributed to the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, the disintegration of economies played the key role in driving its decline.

10. Topic: Civil War Narrowed focus: The Confederate defeat Research questions: Why was the Confederate army defeated in the Civil War? What was the primary reason, or major factors, that lead to the Confederate defeat in the Civil War?

11. Why was the Confederate army defeated in the Civil War? The Confederate defeat in the Civil War was the result of poor military strategy and economics - mainly the South’s lack of industrial centers due to its failure to keep up with the North during the Industrial Revolution. The answer to your question becomes your thesis...

12. The answer to your question becomes your thesis... What was the primary reason or major factors that lead to the Confederate defeat in the Civil War? Although poor military strategy contributed to the Confederate defeat in the Civil War, the primary reason for the loss was the South's lack of an industrial base which is a necessity in modern warfare.