Elements of a Strong Thesis:

Thesis statement can be…

-Apart of a longer introduction paragraph or it can stand alone

-One sentence or multiple sentences

Thesis statement must…

1. Take a position with regard to the question asked

2. Provide organization categories (broad or narrow) that will be used in the essay

3. Fully address the question

Common Faults

Question: To what extent did the American Civil War constitute a revolution in American society?

Thesis Types:

1. Simple Thesis: “The Civil War was a revolution in American society”. Rating: Poor. Thesis is too simple. Contains no categories

2. Complex-Simple Thesis: In some respects, Americans experienced profound changes during the war. After the war it was clear that society had also been changed dramatically in a number of important areas. Rating: Fair. Some of it is promising. However, no categories are established. Doesn’t indicate HOW American society was changed

3. Simple-split thesis: The Civil War was a revolution in America politically, socially and constitutionally. Rating: Fair. Thesis provides categories. Thesis lacks an explanation or analysis of each category

What factors were most responsible in producing the Great Depression of the 1930s?

The most important causes of the Great Depression were speculation in the stock market, leading to an overextension of credit, overproduction of goods causing a severe drop in business revenue and an inflexible federal government with shortsighted solutions.

Practice 1: Identify the 3 elements

Below are three thesis statements.

Identify the 3 elements based on the directions below:

Highlight a first color---Taking a position

Highlight a second color---Organization categories

Underline further analysis of the categories

If all are present then…

Circle “thesis” to indicate question was fully addressed

Question: Was the US justified in dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima?

Thesis: The US was justified in dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima for both military and moral reasons.

Thesis: The US was not justified in dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima for both military and moral reasons.

Thesis: The US was justified militarily because it ended the war but not morally due to the severe loss in life when it dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

Practice 2: Identifying what elements are missing

Below are three thesis statements: All three are missing one or more of the essential elements:

Read the essay question and identify which part(s) of an effective thesis statement is missing

Question: Was the US justified in dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima?

Thesis: The building of the atomic bomb was too expensive of a weapon in terms of money and politics ______

Thesis: The US was perfectly within its rights when it dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima ______

Thesis; The United States best example of advance technology was when it dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima ______

Practice 3: Ranking Thesis statements

Read the essay question and the 3 possible thesis statements. Rank them in order of effectiveness. 1 is most effective…3 is least effective. Based on the 3 parts of a thesis statement, identify what is missing from rankings 2 and 3. Write down for 1 that it contains all 3 elements

Question: The reforms of the Progressive Era improved the quality of life for Americans. Assess the extent in which this statement is true

Thesis A: While progressive Era reforms did succeed in improving the quality of life for most Americans, many people were often forced to fight for injustice and opportunity on their own

Rank____ Reason______

Thesis B: While Progressive Era reforms did succeed in improving conditions for most Americans, African-Americans and Native Americans were often victims of discrimination and forced to fight for justice and opportunity on their own

Rank____ Reason______

Thesis C: Progressive reformers achieved a great deal during the Progressive Era

Rank____ Reason______

Practice 5: Practice Writing Thesis Statements

Topic: Similarities and differences between Judaism and Christianity

Supports: 1. Both are monotheistic

2. Christians belief in Christ, Jews do not

3. Christianity emphasizes church and missionary activity

Thesis statement: Even though Christianity and Judaism have their beliefs rooted in the monotheistic tradition, Christian emphasis on a messiah as a means of reaching the afterlife and the creation of the church and missionary activity as a source of their growth set it apart from Judaism.

______

Topic 1: Similarities and differences between Ancient Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt

Support: 1. ______

2. ______

3. ______

Thesis Statement:

______Topic 2: Most important changes produced by the Neolithic Revolution (10,000-4000 BCE)

Support: 1.______

2. ______

3. ______

Thesis Statement:

Practice 6: Practicing Writing Thesis Statements

List the Topic:

Causes of the Cold War

List five possible supports for the topic.

1. USSR takes over Eastern Europe
2. Korean War

3. US Democracy, USSR Communist
4. Chinese Civil War

5. Containment Policy

Circle your three favorite supports.

Compose a thesis based on the three subtopics.

The political differences between the US and USSR and America’s containment policy in response to a Soviet takeover of Eastern Europe caused a Cold War to begin.

______

List the Topic:

Compare the fall and rebound of civilization in Ancient Rome and Han China

List five possible supports for the topic.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Circle your three favorite supports.

Compose a thesis based on the three subtopics.