What is a Thesis Statement?

1
What is a Thesis Statement?

• http//www.indiana.edu/wts/pamphlets/thesis_state
  ment.shtml

2
What is a Thesis Statement?

• Almost all of us, even if we dont do it
  consciously, look early in a paper, project,
  exhibit, documentary, or web-site for a one-or
  two-sentence condensation (meaning to compress or
  concentrate) of the argument or analysis of the
  topic.
• We refer to that condensation as a thesis
  statement.

3
Why Should Your Project Contain a Thesis
Statement?

• to test your ideas by distilling (reducing) them
  into a sentence or two
• to better organize and develop your argument
• to provide your reader with a guide to your
  argument

Your thesis statement will accomplish these goals
if you think of the thesis as the answer to the
questions your project explores.
4
Four attributes of a good thesis statement

• takes on a subject that reasonable people could
  disagree with
• deals with a subject that can be sufficiently
  treated given the nature of the assignment
• expresses one main idea
• declares your conclusions about the subject

5
It is the GLUE!

• A thesis statement is a central thought that
  holds your entire National History day (NHD)
  project together. In the beginning, we like to
  call this a working thesis, because as you gather
  your research, this thought can evolve. By the
  time you present your NHD project, however, you
  should have a concrete thesis that is supported
  by evidence.

6
Thesis Topic Theme Impact.

• Your thesis does not just introduce your topic.
  You are creating an argument that expresses your
  topics significance and demonstrates how the
  theme plays a central part in your topics impact.

A thesis paragraph BUILDS on topic
theme impact thesis para person/
actions/ legacy/ thesis
para setting motivation/ so what
factor?/ personality traits your
conclusions
7
Develop a Thesis Statement

• Develop your own argument of the historical
  impact of the person, event, pattern or idea you
  are studying.
• A thesis statement is not the same as a topic.
• Explains what you believe to be the impact and
  significance of your topic in history.

8
Develop Thesis Statement

• Topic Battle of Gettysburg 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.

9
Asking the right question!

• All assignments can be reduce to a simple
  question. The first step is to reduce the theme
  to that simple question.
• .
• Innovation in History Impact Change
• What about the topic is new and different, and is
  also the result of human ideas or actions?

http//www.chrisledoux.com/bio3.htm
10
Getting Started

• Your first two sentences should give . . .
• the occasion
• your individual
• the time and/or place your individual lived in
• your position
• The actions your individual did that lead to
  their legacy
• Your individuals legacy

George Washington played an important part in the
Revolutionary War by organizing and gathering
military and civilian intelligence thus allowing
America to win the war.
11
The Occasion

• George Washington-Revolutionary War spymaster
• Anne Frank-immortalizes the Holocaust experience
• Chris Ledouxa modern day American heroa life
  well lived
• Theodore Geisel-20th century American artist
• Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda-global terrorism to
  go

• Who am I writing about?
• What is their time and/or
• place in history?

12
The Position

• What actions/personality traits/motivations lead
  to your individuals legacy?
• The So What Factor? So why is this person
  important? These are your conclusions about this
  persons impact.

13
Sample Thesis Statements
Dos Donts
Martin Luther disagreed with aspects of Roman Catholic religious practices, especially the sale of indulgences, religious corruption, and the emphasis on salvation through good works. He took action by posting and distributing his 95 theses and left a lasting legacy by sparking a religious movement, creating a new sect of faith, and later bringing reform to the Roman Catholic Church. Martin Luther was born in 1483. He started the Reformation.
Oskar Schindler disagreed with the persecution of the Jews and took action against the Nazi party by hiding 1,300 people in his munitions factory, risking his own life and spending his fortune in the effort, while sparing his workers from certain death. I am going to tell you about Oskar Schindler.
In protest over political and social discrimination, thousands of American Indians refused to compromise with government officials and reclaimed Alcatraz Island in 1969 as Indian land. Though many of the groups aims were not met, their actions succeeded in spreading awareness and sparking the modern American Indian Movement, a legacy that inspires pride and action still today. Indians fought over Alcatraz Island. Why do you think they would do that?
14
Sample Thesis Statements
Dos Donts
Susan B. Anthony fought for womens right to vote. Through social action and her writings, Anthony inspired thousands of women to fight for suffrage, which eventually resulted in the passage of the 19th amendment in 1917 which gave women the right to vote. I think Susan B. Anthony did good things.
Jackie Robinson played baseball at a time when teams were segregated, black from white. With the assistance of team manager Branch Rickey, Robinson took action, desegregating Major League Baseball as the first black ball player with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He left a legacy opening professional sports to African American athletes. Jackie Robinson was a really important black baseball player.
Following the Great War, Adolph Hitler blamed Germanys economic and militaristic downfalls on the Jewish people. Through the use of established anti-Semitism, Hitler orchestrated the mass extermination of Jews and other non-desirables, killing more than twelve million people and reshaping the social and cultural landscape of many European nations. Adolph Hitler killed a lot of Jews.
15
Brainstorming the TopicCreate a web, bullet
list, or outline with the following . . .

• Innovation
• Setting When/Where/Why (only those that lead to
  the innovation)
• How did it change peoples ideas, scientific
  knowledge, everyday behavior, political process,
  etc. (only those that lead to the innovation)
• What was the long term change caused by this
  innovation?
• In what ways is the innovation new?
• Legacy What difference in history came about
  because of this innovation?
• Personal conclusions- Why is this a significant
  innovation?

16
Subdivide topics by a system of numbers and
letters, followed by a period. Example I.    
A.     B.         1.         2.            
a.             b. II.     A.     B.
17
Getting Ready to Edit

• Create a new word file for your thesis paragraph
  and brainstorm/ web/ outline/ flowchart
• Put a header with your name, period, NHD thesis
  paragraph and web on this document
• Save file under your name, NHD thesis
  paragraph-web in both your folder and my in-box
• Write a one or two sentence thesis statement
• Evaluate you thesis statement against the
  following checklistis it strong or weak?

18
Weak or Strong?

• A strong thesis statement takes some sort of
  stand. What is your thesis statements stand?
• A strong thesis statement justifiesgives good
  reason fordiscussion. Will others want to
  discuss what youve said?
• A strong thesis statement expresses one main
  idea. Do you only have one main idea?
• A strong thesis statement is specificdetailed
  with examples, quotes, and details. Do you have
  evidence to support your stand that is clear and
  detailed?

Strong Weak
Because Banana Herb Tea Supplement promotes rapid weight loss that results in the loss of muscle and lean body mass, it poses a potential danger to customers There are some negative and positive aspects to the Banana Herb Tea Supplement.
While most American families would view marriage of those related by blood as a threat to the nuclear family structure, many Iranian families, like my own, believe that these marriages help reinforce kinship ties in an extended family. My family is an extended family.
Because the Internet is filled with tremendous marketing potential, companies should exploit this potential by using Web pages that offer both advertising and customer support. Companies need to exploit the marketing potential of the Internet, and Web pages can provide both advertising and customer support.
Hunger persists in Glandelinia because jobs are scarce and farming in the infertile soil is rarely World hunger has many causes and effects
19
So how do I write my thesis paragraph?

• You may want to follow this formula for writing
  your thesis paragraph . . .
• 2 sentences are your Thesis statement. Remember
  topic theme impact thesis statement
• 4 sentences that include how people react
  initially (within a few years), and over the long
  term (in later years), to the new idea,
  arrangement, organization or technology
• 1 sentence that explains how it changed peoples
  ideas, scientific knowledge, everyday behavior,
  etc.
• 1 sentence that has your conclusionwhy you think
  the event/topic is important.