Developing a Thesis:
Thesis (noun) – an opinion-based statement that pinpoints the topic of your research. It is typically one sentence. A thesis statement should NOT be a TITLE, absolute FACT or ANNOUNCEMENT.
It should be a PROVABLE opinion -- and it should be specific!
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BAD EXAMPLES
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GOOD EXAMPLES
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Drug addiction is a big problem.
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Drug addiction has been the main culprit in the increase of violent crimes.
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The Statue of Liberty
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The Statue of Liberty created an ideal for immigrants coming to America.
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The thesis of this paper is the difficulty of solving America’s environmental problems
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Solving America’s environmental problems is more difficult than many environmentalists believe.
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President Lincoln was shot at Ford’s Theater
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Events surrounding Lincoln’s assassination are questionable.
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Steps for writing a thesis statement:
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1. Write a brief, opinionated statement about your topic.
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I believe that the Americans wouldn’t have won their independence without French assistance.
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2. Next, add a fact to the statement.
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I believe that the Americans wouldn’t have won their independence without French assistance because they had no navy.
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3. Last, take yourself out by eliminating “I believe” and you are left with a good thesis statement
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The Americans wouldn’t have won their independence without French assistance because they had no navy.
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Get your ideas on paper…..and then GET SPECIFIC
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Subject
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Immigration
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Topic
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People who immigrated to Pennsylvania
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Question
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Why did people immigrate to Pennsylvania?
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Thesis statement
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People immigrated to Pennsylvania because William Penn protected the rights and liberties of his citizens.
OR
People immigrated to Pennsylvania because it had a very rich heritage in German and English culture.
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What is a thesis?
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What is NOT a thesis?
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Makes a claim that others might dispute
ex - The responsibility to serve in the United States military was disregarded by the Bill of Rights and the Founders
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Tells us something we already know
ex - The Bill of Rights is a document that contains the first 10 Amendments to the United States Constitution and was written by James Madison
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Sets itself apart from others
ex - Jackie Robinson's fight for equal rights came with the responsibilities he bore for disregarding a military order to move to the back of the bus
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Is indistinguishable from others
ex - Jackie Robinson fought for equal rights
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Should be present in the first minute of an exhibit, presentation, or documentary
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Be hidden or at the end of an exhibit, presentation, or documentary
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Should be present on the first page of a paper or website
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Be hidden or at the end of a paper or website
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A monologue (a one-sided telling of the story)
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A conversation (a two-sided discussion of the story)
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Direct and provable
ex - The rights of a "Deep South" does not exist until they bore the responsibility of the Election of 1860
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Indirect and not provable
ex - All the people in the South hated Abraham Lincoln
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Does not contain blanket words like:
- All
- Always
- Most
- Many
- Never
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Contains vague, generalized words (see those to the left) that make for too loose an argument for the judges
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Contains past tense words that are provable through research
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Contains present / future tense words like:
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Focuses on past historical events (i.e. The Persian Gulf War, Thomas Jefferson, the formation of the United Nations, and the Trail of Tears)
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Focuses on future and current events (Syrian conflict, Barack Obama, animal rights debate, the current Navajo Reservation)
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Interesting, insightful, and worth discussing at the dinner table
ex - Mahatma Gandhi bore the responsibility of the Indian independence through his interpretation of human rights
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A book report
ex - Mahatma Gandhi was born in India.
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Writing a thesis is like passing water through a funnel:
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WHAT TO DO
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EXAMPLE
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Start with a large topic that interests you
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George Washington
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Focus that down to something more specific that interest you
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It's neat that he made a lasting influence on the United States
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Focus it down more to be provable
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George Washington thought America was more important than himself
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Now polish it up with stronger words
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George Washington set a precedence that no one person were to be more important than the American republic through his sacrifice
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Add support
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o Sacrifice 1 - He resigned as the Commander of the Continental Army (though others wanted him to be king)
o Sacrifice 2 - He refused to serve as President for a 3rd term
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Build evidence supporting these claims with your resources!
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Be ready to respond to counterarguments from the judges!
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