NHD Thesis Statement
1. Identify your topic
2. . Provide historical context (identify period of
history/era)
3. Identify area/realm of expertise or influence
4. Discuss how your topic demonstrated leadership
5. Discuss your topic's legacy, including impact, changes,
or shifts that occurred as a result of their work
MOST IMPORTANTLY: YOUR THESIS NEEDS TO EXPRESS
AN OPINION!
NHD Thesis Statement
STEP 1: Topic: Congrats! You already have this.
STEP 2: Brainstorm: Spend some time reviewing and
categorizing your general findings. Using your
knowledge of the information from your notecards,
answer your research question(s) . Try a cluster web.
STEP 3: Claim: Write an assertion about your topic
putting together the top three reasons you have to
back up your claim.
STEP 4: Revise and Edit. Make changes for cohesion
and fluency. Proofread for errors in grammar,
spelling, and punctuation.
NHD Thesis Statement
STEP 1: Topic
Example:
Berry Gordy and Motown: Creating the Sound of
America and a Legacy of Opportunity
***It’s not enough to simply name your
person/event/organization, e.g., George
Washington. What about him? Say more.
NHD Thesis Statement
STEP 2: Brainstorm/Cluster Web of
reasons/details/evidence
Example:
BERRY
GORDY
LEADERSHIP
Made
entrepreneurial
decisions that
opened up
opportunity for
many artists.
Founder
& CEO of
Motown
Records
Took Risks in
re-investing
profits
LEGACY
Modeled
recordproducing after
car assembly
line
Wrote and
produced songs
that helped to
desegregate
America.
Created a
music empire
that brought
African
American
music to the
mainstream
NHD Thesis Statement
Looking at the details you have gathered, come up with
some key words to describe HOW your topic displays
leadership and legacy.
BERRY
Example:
GORDY
LEADERSHIP
Made
entrepreneurial
decisions that
opened up
opportunity for
many artists
Founder
& CEO of
Motown
Records
Took Risks in
re-investing
profits
LEGACY
Modeled
recordproducing after
car assembly
line
Wrote and
produced songs
that helped to
desegregate
America
Created a
music empire
that brought
African
American
music to the
mainstream
NHD Thesis Statement
STEP 3: Claim (ROUGH DRAFT)
Example:
Barry Gordy showed leadership and legacy by
revolutionizing the American music industry
through his role as CEO in Motown Records. By
making smart decisions, taking risks, and writing
and producing songs that touched on social issues,
Barry Gordy greatly influenced America.
NHD Thesis Statement
STEP 4.1: Revise and Edit (REVISION 1)
Example:
Berry Gordy left a legacy by revolutionizing the
American music industry in his leadership as CEO of
Motown Records. By making innovative decisions,
taking entrepreneurial risks, and writing and
producing songs that touched on major social
issues, Berry Gordy takes his place as one of
America’s most important figures.
NHD Thesis Statement
STEP 4.2: Revise and Edit (REVISION 2)
Example:
Despite the racial turmoil of the 1960s, Berry Gordy
revolutionized the American music industry through
establishing and leading Motown Records. By
making innovative decisions, taking entrepreneurial
risks, and producing songs that bolstered the Civil
Rights Movement, Berry Gordy left a momentous
legacy of opportunity and a uniquely American
sound.
Example Thesis Statement
Despite the oppressive circumstances of the economic
struggle that Russia faced in the early 1900's, Vladimir
Lenin was a charismatic revolutionary who displayed
leadership by gathering support under the Bolshevik
party and by using strategy to overthrow the
provisional government. His actions left a legacy of
lasting reformation of Russia's government with the
success of the Russian Revolution and the
implementation of communism.