NATIONAL HISTORY DAY
THESIS STATEMENT
Thesis – A sentence that states the point of your project. (Why do you think your topic is important?)
**** Your thesis MUST be in the first paragraph of your process paper AND in your project.****
The Process
For this project, your thesis statement needs to include 4 things:
1. Your topic name (event, person….) and what happened - Just the most important basic fact
2. How the topic relates to rights AND responsibilities.
3. Why it was important to history at the time (initial impact)
4. Why it is still important to history today (short and long term impact)
1. Write a short phrase that describes your topic. This needs to be facts.
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2. How your topic includes rights? How your topic includes responsibilities? This can be fact or an opinion.
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3. How did your topic impact people at the time it happened? (How did people think or do things
differently? or What changes did it create?) This is your opinion – based on facts that you know.
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4. What are the long term consequences created by your topic? What is the importance to history? (How
do you think we are still seeing the impact of your topic today?) This is your opinion – based on the facts you know.
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Final Draft
Now turn those ideas into 1 sentence that contains all 4 parts (description, turning point, importance then,
long term impact). You can use one of the samples on the back to help you get started. You can even use
the same sentence formats if you like. Write your final draft on the lines below.
Some hints on combining sentences:
 Circle key words in each section that you really want to use.
 Cross out parts that are extra facts or show up in more than one place.
 Use clauses or semicolons to avoid run-on sentences.
 Write a few drafts. Choose the pieces of each draft that will make the best final draft.
Your Thesis Final Draft
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SAMPLE THESIS STATEMENTS
The Process
1. National Park Service created system - sets aside land for public use (general info. – no specifics)
2. Right to own and develop the land for profit. Preserve the right for all Americans to visit the land.
Responsibility to care for the land. (choose the most important parts – you don’t need to include everything)
3. Thousands of acres - really unique landscapes saved from development.
4. Millions visit the parks every year. Other nations have developed national parks.
Final Draft Examples
Example A
When Americans established the National Park Service, they took on the responsibility of protecting our
country’s unique landscapes, defended the right of generations to visit them, and set a long-lasting
example of preservation for nations worldwide.
Format A
• Subordinate clause, independent clause with a 3 part list
When ______________________, they _____________, _______________, and ____________________.
(fact)
(rights)
(responsibilities)
(impact/imp. to history)
Example B
Americans established the National Park Service and took on the responsibility of environmental
protection in order to gain the right for generations to visit the unique landscapes; this organization has
set a long-lasting example of preservation for nations worldwide.
Format B
• 2 Independent clauses joined by ,conjunction or ;
________________________________________, and _________________________________________.
(fact, rights, responsibilities)
(impact/importance to history)
Example C
With the establishment of the National Park Service, Americans took on the responsibility of protecting
our country’s unique landscapes and defended the visiting rights of generations while setting an example
of preservation for nations worldwide.
Format C
• Introductory clause, complex sentence
____________________________, ______________________________________________________.
(fact)
(rights, responsibilities, impact/importance to history)