Building a Thesis
WHAT IS A THESIS?
A thesis is a short statement that
describes what you believe about
your topic and what you intend to
prove.
Makes a claim that others might
dispute (disagree with).
NHD projects should do more than
just tell a story.
 Every exhibit, performance, documentary, paper and web site
should make a point about its topic. To do this, you must develop
your own argument of the historical impact of the person, event,
pattern or idea you are studying. The point you make is called a
thesis statement. A thesis statement is not the same as a topic.
Your thesis statement explains what you believe to be the impact
and significance of your topic in history.
 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.
A good thesis
starts with a
good question!
Thesis? What is a thesis?
 Controlling idea that constructs the rest of the project
 In a history paper/project, the thesis generally explains why or
how something happened.
 Every sentence of the paper/project should support your
thesis.
 Information that is NOT directly related to the thesis will appear
irrelevant.
 With a weak or no thesis, much of the paper will appear to be
irrelevant and unguided.
A good historical thesis:
 Takes a stand by making a point which will be backed up
by evidence
 Has a narrow and specific focus
 Expresses one main idea
 Tells the viewer why the subject is historically significant,
and often suggests change over time
 Is presented as a statement, not a topic or question
 Is historical, not a statement about current events
But how?
 You must start with a CLEAR QUESTION.
 A thesis which does not answer a question, or answers
a simple or obvious question, is not a thesis.
 Ask thoughtful questions of the topic and primary
source material to develop a good thesis.
 The best theses are good precisely because the
questions they answer are significant, complex, and
original.
Developing a Thesis
Build from the topic
Thesis =
Topic + Theme + Impact
(Significance)
 Watch this!
Questions help to begin to “probe”
the topic
Gives a direction for Example: Jazz and Music
Revolution
research
Develop question(s) around
Many questions that the topic
could be asked of the Who ?
What ?
Where ?
general topic
When ?
Why ?
How ?
Developing a Thesis
Develop (create) a unique perspective on
the topic
Jazz and Music Revolution
Jazz music revolutionized music because it was
one of the first forms of African-American music
to cross into “mainstream” white America.
Finish the sentence for each of the
following for your topic:
DO NOW:
On a separate sheet of paper
Hypothesis:
 Dear Reader, I want to convince you that…
Summary of evidence and logic:
 The reasons you should believe me are…
Context and Conclusion (historical significance):
 You should care because….
Evaluate the thesis statements- Ask
these questions for each thesis:
1. Is it clear what the project will be
about?
2. Is it arguable? Is there something that
has to be proven?
3. Do I have the facts and data necessary
to prove the thesis?
4. Is there only one main idea?
5. Is it about something in the past that is
important?
 Artists of Chicago: 1890-1990
 The Juvenile Court system was established to remove
children from the adult criminal justice system and help
youth reform, but over the years it became a source of
punishment and imprisonment.
 Pesticides kill thousands of farmworkers and must be
stopped.
 Before Title IX, there were few female basketball players.
1. Is it clear what the project will be about?
2. Is it arguable? Is there something that has to be
proven?
3. Do I have the facts and data necessary to prove
the thesis?
4. Is there only one main idea?
5. Is it about something in the past that is important?
This is the hardest part of the project, do
not expect it to come easily.
After thesis is developed:
Read through it again
Search for vague (unclear) words and
phrases
Underline such phrases
Re-word them to be more specific
Resources
for
Thesis
Writing:
Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab)
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/545/
01/
 UNC Chapel Hill Writing Center
http://writingcenter.unc.edu/resources/handouts
-demos/writing-the-paper/thesis-statements
 Indiana University Writing Center
http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/thesis_
statement.shtml#assigned
 Thesis Builder
http://www.ozline.com/electraguide/thesis.php
FINALLY...