Almost every assignment you complete for a history course will ask you to make an argument. Your instructors will often call this your "thesis" -- your position on a subject. Show
What is an Argument?An argument takes a stand on an issue. It seeks to persuade an audience of a point of view in much the same way that a lawyer argues a case in a court of law. It is NOT a description or a summary.
What is a Thesis?A thesis statement is a sentence in which you state an argument about a topic and then describe, briefly, how you will prove your argument.
A thesis makes a specific statement to the reader about what you will be trying to argue. Your thesis can be a few sentences long, but should not be longer than a paragraph. Do not begin to state evidence or use examples in your thesis paragraph. A Thesis Helps You and Your ReaderYour blueprint for writing:
Your reader’s blueprint for reading:
Tips for Writing a Good Thesis
Strategies for Developing a Thesis StatementIdea 1. If your paper assignment asks you to answer a specific question, turn the question into an assertion and give reasons for your opinion. Assignment: How did domestic labor change between 1820 and 1860? Why were the changes in their work important for the growth of the United States? Beginning thesis: Between 1820 and 1860 women's domestic labor changed as women stopped producing home-made fabric, although they continued to sew their families' clothes, as well as to produce butter and soap. With the cash women earned from the sale of their butter and soap they purchased ready-made cloth, which in turn, helped increase industrial production in the United States before the Civil War. Idea 2. Write a sentence that summarizes the main idea of the essay you plan to write. Main Idea: Women's labor in their homes during the first half of the nineteenth century contributed to the growth of the national economy. Idea 3. Spend time "mulling over" your topic. Make a list of the ideas you want to include in the essay, then think about how to group them under several different headings. Often, you will see an organizational plan emerge from the sorting process. Idea 4.Use a formula to develop a working thesis statement (which you will need to revise later). Here are a few examples:
These formulas share two characteristics all thesis statements should have: they state an argument and they reveal how you will make that argument. They are not specific enough, however, and require more work. RefineAs you work on your essay, your ideas will change and so will your thesis. Here are examples of weak and strong thesis statements.
Making an Argument-- Every Thesis Deserves Its Day in CourtYou are the best (and only!) advocate for your thesis. Your thesis is defenseless without you to prove that its argument holds up under scrutiny. The jury (i.e., your reader) will expect you, as a good lawyer, to provide evidence to prove your thesis. To prove thesis statements on historical topics, what evidence can an able young lawyer use?
How can you use this evidence?
Remember -- if in doubt, talk to your instructor. Which of the following describes the origin of the United States court system presented in the diagram?Which of the following describes the origin of the United States court system presented in the diagram? Article II of the Constitution established the three-tiered court system and the jurisdiction of each court in each tier.
Which of the following is an example of Congress using its implied powers?Establish a federal minimum wage: Another example of Congress using its implied power is its interpretation of the same Commerce Clause to support the enactment of the first Federal Minimum Wage Act in 1938. Both Congress and state governments have the ability to use implied powers to accomplish social change.
Which of the following best explains a reason that a president might use a signing statement to express displeasure with a bill as opposed to issuing a veto?Which of the following represents a reason that a president might use a signing statement to express displeasure with a bill as opposed to issuing a veto? The president may have objections to provisions of a bill but does not want to risk Congress overriding a veto.
Which of the following best describes Madison's primary concern about representative government?Which of the following best describes Madison's primary concern about representative government? Those who seek to represent the people may be tempted to act in their own interests instead.
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