What’s Your Point?

Developing a Thesis Statement

History is

about arguing your opinion!

What’s Your Point?

A good thesis

starts with a good question!

“An effective thesis statement

tells readers specifically what you plan to write about in your paper AND takes a stand or expresses a specific feeling or argument about your topic.”

Thesis Statements

Addresses a narrow topic Explains what the researcher

(YOU) believes to be the historical significance of the topic

Connects your topic to the theme

A Good Thesis Statement

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_LFlHp-61I

What’s Your Point?

Thesis =

Topic + Theme + Significance

Developing a Thesis

Step 1: Immigration in Chicago

This is a topic, not a thesis statement. Step 2: Lizzie Black Kander and Jewish

Immigration to Chicago from 1880-1920 This is a narrowed topic, but it is not a thesis statement.

There’s no argument here! Step 3: Lizzie Black Kander used her cooking

classes and The Settlement Cookbook to teacher Chicago’s Jewish immigrants about American culture. This is close to a thesis statement, but not quite. It

doesn’t state why the topic is important.

From Topic to Thesis

Step 4: Through her cooking classes and The

Settlement Cookbook, Lizzie Black Kander introduced Chicago’s Jewish immigrants to American culture, which helped them assimilate and learn how to avoid ethnic discrimination. We have a winner! This thesis looks at a narrow

topic AND explains the significance of the topic in history.

Step 5: Make sure you connect thesis to the theme!

From Topic to Thesis

Theme: Turning Points Interest Area: Civil War Narrowed Subject: Battle of Gettysburg Working Thesis Statement: The battle of

Gettysburg was a major turning point of the Civil War. Final Thesis Statement: The Battle of Gettysburg

was a major turning point of the Civil War. It turned the tide of the war from the South to the North, pushing back Lee’s army that would never fight again on Northern soil and bringing confidence to the Union Army.

Examples

Four statements about the Haymarket defendants:

a. Haymarket Anarchists and Labor Conflict in Chicago in the 1880s. b. Anarchism in the 1800s was a worldwide movement that often

frightened people, especially when they did not understand it.c. The eight Haymarket anarchists were found guilty of murder (and four

of them were executed). d. The Haymarket defendants often seemed to express positive views

about the political uses of violence. Given conditions in Chicago in the late 1800s, this explains why these anarchists were so feared by so many.

Match the statements with these descriptions: A brief heading on a broad theme. Not a thesis statement. A descriptive statement, but it is not a thesis statement A thesis statement, but one too vague or broad. A more specific thesis statemen.

Thesis Statement?

I want to convince you that… The reasons you should believe

me are… You share care because (historical

significance)

Let’s Practice