Thesis Practice
• What is a thesis?
• What is the importance of a thesis?
• What are the elements of a strong thesis?
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Addresses the entire question
Takes a position
Provides categories (shoot for 3)
…and as your thesis statements improve -- Provides
interpretation or addresses significance [so what]
• A good thesis can be a simple statement, but it must
include your position and categories of evidence.
Evaluate the extent to which the Articles of
Confederation were effective in solving the problems
that confronted the new nation.
The Articles of Confederation did not address the problems of
the new nation, as the weak national government created by
the Articles was unable to deal with the financial crisis,
incapable of effectively uniting the new states, and not
flexible enough to deal with an ever-changing nation.
Evaluate the extent to which the Articles of
Confederation were effective in solving the problems
that confronted the new nation.
The Articles of Confederation did not address the problems of
the new nation, as the weak national government created by
the Articles was unable to deal with the financial crisis,
incapable of effectively uniting the new states, and not
flexible enough to deal with an ever-changing nation.
Evaluate the extent to which the Articles of
Confederation were effective in solving the problems
that confronted the new nation.
The Articles of Confederation did not address the problems of
the new nation, as the weak national government created by
the Articles was unable to deal with the financial crisis,
incapable of effectively uniting the new states, and not
flexible enough to deal with an ever-changing nation.
Evaluate the extent to which the Articles of
Confederation were effective in solving the problems
that confronted the new nation.
The Articles of Confederation did not address the problems of
the new nation, as the weak national government created by
the Articles was unable to deal with the financial crisis,
incapable of effectively uniting the new states, and not
flexible enough to deal with an ever-changing nation. In the
end, the Articles of Confederation created more problems for
the new nation and almost rendered America’s experiment
with democracy a failure.
“The United States Constitution of 1787 represented an
economic and ideological victory for the traditional
American political elite.” Assess the validity of that
statement for the period of 1781 to 1789.
“The United States Constitution of 1787 represented an
economic and ideological victory for the traditional
American political elite.” Assess the validity of that
statement for the period of 1781 to 1789.
The U.S. Constitution did represent victory for the traditional
political elite because it created a system that focused on the
protection of private property, allowed for a system in which
economic success was necessary for political power, and
professed the elite’s ideological values.
“The United States Constitution of 1787 represented an
economic and ideological victory for the traditional
American political elite.” Assess the validity of that
statement for the period of 1781 to 1789.
The U.S. Constitution did represent victory for the traditional
political elite because it created a system that focused on the
protection of private property, allowed for a system in which
economic success was necessary for political power, and
professed the elite’s ideological values.
“The United States Constitution of 1787 represented an
economic and ideological victory for the traditional
American political elite.” Assess the validity of that
statement for the period of 1781 to 1789.
The U.S. Constitution did represent victory for the traditional
political elite because it created a system that focused on the
protection of private property, allowed for a system in which
economic success was necessary for political power, and
professed the elite’s ideological values.
“The United States Constitution of 1787 represented an
economic and ideological victory for the traditional
American political elite.” Assess the validity of that
statement for the period of 1781 to 1789.
The U.S. Constitution did represent victory for the traditional
political elite because it created a system that focused on the
protection of private property, allowed for a system in which
economic success was necessary for political power, and
professed the elite’s ideological values, ultimately creating a
political structure that hardly lived up to the democratic
values championed in the Revolution.
“The early Industrial Revolution in America did produce greater wealth and a chance for
success for some, but mainly it reduced worker independence and caused great misery for most
American workers.” Assess the validity of this statement.
“Some workers had to take jobs in huge impersonal factories. Farm girls left
home to work in places like Lowell, hoping to find money or a more
exciting life. Instead, they often worked 13 hours a day and went home
broken in health. They weren’t much better off than the slaves.
Meanwhile, millions of immigrants faced insulting prejudice, though many
did climb the ladder of success.”
1. Is this a strong, adequate, or weak thesis?
2. What are its strengths and/or shortcomings?
“The early Industrial Revolution in America did produce greater wealth and a chance for
success for some, but mainly it reduced worker independence and caused great misery for most
American workers.” Assess the validity of this statement.
“In the early 1800s, a few Americans succeeded. But for most American
workers, it is true, the Industrial Revolution meant a miserable life on the
job earning wages for long hours in factories, or even worse, as slaves
producing the cotton to supply those factories.
1. Is this a strong, adequate, or weak thesis?
2. What are its strengths and/or shortcomings?
“The early Industrial Revolution in America did produce greater wealth and a chance for
success for some, but mainly it reduced worker independence and caused great misery for most
American workers.” Assess the validity of this statement.
“The Industrial Revolution brought new machinery powered by steam, which
vastly increased the amount of goods that could be produced. It changed
workplaces from small shops to huge factories. It led to canals, roads, and
railroads that tied the nation together, making it one huge national
economy. The Industrial Revolution changed America forever.”
1. Is this a strong, adequate, or weak thesis?
2. What are its strengths and/or shortcomings?
“The early Industrial Revolution in America did produce greater wealth and a chance for
success for some, but mainly it reduced worker independence and caused great misery for most
American workers.” Assess the validity of this statement.
“The statement is too extreme. The Industrial Revolution in America did
cause older craft workers to lose some independence. And conditions in
many factories were often terrible. However, jobs in factories and the
cities meant, if anything, more freedom and more income for millions
leaving rural family farms – as well as for millions of desperate
immigrants.”
1. Is this a strong, adequate, or weak thesis?
2. What are its strengths and/or shortcomings?
Explain why entirely different economic and social systems evolved within the three colonial
regions of British North America even though the preponderance of settlers was of English
origin. Use 2 of the following as evidence in your essay: Massachusetts Bay, Virginia,
Pennsylvania.
“Most people are different from each other. Virginia and Pennsylvania were
also very different from each other. Different kinds of people and ways of
life were found in each colony. Even though both Virginia and
Pennsylvania were settled by Englishmen, they had different economic
and social systems.”
1. Is this a strong, adequate, or weak thesis?
2. What are its strengths and/or shortcomings?
Explain why entirely different economic and social systems evolved within the three colonial
regions of British North America even though the preponderance of settlers was of English
origin. Use 2 of the following as evidence in your essay: Massachusetts Bay, Virginia,
Pennsylvania.
“Located in warm-weather, moist, fertile areas, colonists in Virginia could
grow just about any crop, but settlers in Massachusetts Bay faced long,
cold winters and rocky soil if they wished to support themselves with
farming. Virginia and Massachusetts Bay were both settled by English
colonists, but because of their different religious beliefs and the kinds of
environment that enveloped the settlers, the economic and social
structures of each colony were radically different.”
1. Is this a strong, adequate, or weak thesis?
2. What are its strengths and/or shortcomings?
Explain why entirely different economic and social systems evolved within the three colonial
regions of British North America even though the preponderance of settlers was of English
origin. Use 2 of the following as evidence in your essay: Massachusetts Bay, Virginia,
Pennsylvania.
“Massachusetts Bay and Virginia were both settled by English colonists, but
they had different economic systems and different social systems.”
1. Is this a strong, adequate, or weak thesis?
2. What are its strengths and/or shortcomings?
Explain why entirely different economic and social systems evolved within the three colonial
regions of British North America even though the preponderance of settlers was of English
origin. Use 2 of the following as evidence in your essay: Massachusetts Bay, Virginia,
Pennsylvania.
“Even though English settlers colonized both Massachusetts Bay and Virginia,
the unique economic and social systems that evolved in each colony took
on regional differences. The kinds of settlers who arrived in Virginia were
significantly different in their religious orientation from those who settled
Massachusetts. The environment in which each group of settlers found
themselves forced differences in how each colony found economic
prosperity. Finally, the personal purposes for which each group of settlers
immigrated to the New world would have a profound impact upon the
kinds of societies which evolved in each colony. Religion, environment,
and the individual goals of each settler would create different economic
and social systems within each colonial region represented by
Massachusetts and Virginia.”
1. Is this a strong, adequate, or weak thesis?
2. What are its strengths and/or shortcomings?
…To End: Thesis Practice
Craft a thesis statement for ONE of the following questions.
Remember: position, categories, so what
If you are not confident with thesis statements…
1.
2.
Assess the validity of this statement – High school students should be
required to complete at least 25 hours of community service.
Analyze the extent to which you think BSHS has prepared you for college.
If you are confident with thesis statements…
1.
2.
Analyze the extent to which early European colonists viewed the Native
Americans as inferior peoples who could be exploited for the colonists’
benefit.
Analyze the cultural and economic responses of TWO of the following groups
to the Indians of North American before 1750 – Spain, England, France.
Underline your “position”. Circle each “category of evidence”