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WRITING A THESIS
STATEMENT
Mr. Goethals
AP US History
&
AP World History
What is a Thesis Statement?
An answer to the question your paper or
essay explores.
A substantial generalization that can stand
by itself as the foundation of the essay.
An assertion of what the writer believes is
right or wrong and why.
A statement that can be either true or false.
Why do you need a thesis
statement?
To test your ideas by boiling them down
into one or two effective sentences.
To better organize and develop your
argument or position on the topic.
To provide your reader with a “guide” to
your argument.
What a Thesis Statement is NOT!
It is NOT the Title of your essay.
It is NOT an Announcement of your intent
It is NOT a Statement of fact
It is Not a mere Description of the Subject
Thesis Statements Should be
Implicit NOT Explicit
An Implicit Thesis Statement Implies the
paper’s main idea
Does NOT use First Person “I, Me, or My”
An Explicit Thesis Statement Announces
the paper’s main idea in the First Person.
Generating your
Thesis Statement
Think about your essay topic or prompt.
Consider all the Facts that you know about
the topic.
Reduce topic or prompt to a single
question.
Compose one or two complete sentences
that effectively answer question.
A Strong Thesis Statement
The Author must Take a Stand or Position
on the topic
The Thesis must Justify your Discussion
The These must Express one Main Idea
but May Include sub-categories of analysis
The Thesis must Be Specific
A Thesis Must be a Specific
Statement not a General One
GENERAL STATEMENT
Global warming will have many negative
consequences for the environment.
SPECIFIC STATEMENT
Global warming will cause ice caps and
glaciers to melt, oceans to warm, and sea
levels to rise.
What Does a Good Thesis
Look Like?
Prompt: Compare and Contrast the reasons
why the North and South fought the Civil War
WORST THESIS
I think the North and South fought the Civil
War for many reasons that were both good
and bad.
What Does a Good Thesis
Look Like?
Prompt: Compare and Contrast the reasons
why the North and South fought the Civil War
BAD THESIS
The North and South fought the Civil War for
numerous reasons, some that were the
similar and some that were different.
What Does a Good Thesis
Look Like?
Prompt: Compare and Contrast the reasons
why the North and South fought the Civil War.
BETTER 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 and state’s rights.
What Does a Good Thesis
Look Like?
EVEN BETTER THESIS
While both Northerners and Southerners
believed they fought against tyranny and
oppression, Northerners focused on the
oppression of slave, while Southerners
defended their own rights to property and
self-government.
What Does a Good Thesis
Look Like?
Prompt: Was the New Deal of the 1930;s a liberal
plan to create a welfare state in America, or a
conservative defense of American Capitalism?
WORST THESIS
I Think the New Deal was a conservative
defense of American capitalism.
What Does a Good Thesis
Look Like?
Prompt: Was the New Deal of the 1930;s a liberal
plan to create a welfare state in America, or a
conservative defense of American Capitalism?
BAD THESIS
The New Deal was really a strong conservative
defense of American capitalism in the 1930’s.
What Does a Good Thesis
Look Like?
Prompt: Was the New Deal of the 1930;s a liberal
plan to create a welfare state in America, or a
conservative defense of American Capitalism?
A GOOD THESIS
Although the New Deal incorporated both
work programs and free market strategies,
it helped to preserve America capitalist
economy more than anything else.
What Does a Good Thesis
Look Like?
A GREAT THESIS
Despite its work relief elements, the New
Deal is best understood as a defense of
American capitalism because its main
programs attempted to create a stable
environment for private enterprise.
HINTS: Try some of these words
Because
Since
So
In Contrast
Unless
However
Although
Unlike
Likewise
Similarly
In Conjunction
While
Remember:
You are writing an analytical History
essay not an essay for English Class.
You are writing for a specific audience
(Fellow Historians).
Refer to your Essay Rubric or Writing
Handouts for detailed guidance on
writing better essays for History.