Elements of a Strong Thesis:
Thesis statement can be…
-Apart of a longer introduction paragraph or it can stand alone
-One sentence or multiple sentences
Thesis statement must…
1. Take a position with regard to the question asked
2. Provide organization categories (broad or narrow) that will be
used in the essay
3. Fully address the question
Common Faults
Question: To what extent did the American Civil War constitute a revolution
in American society?
Thesis Types:
1. Simple Thesis: “The Civil War was a revolution in American society”.
Rating: Poor. Thesis is too simple. Contains no categories
2. Complex-Simple Thesis: In some respects, Americans experienced
profound changes during the war. After the war it was clear that society
had also been changed dramatically in a number of important areas. Rating:
Fair. Some of it is promising. However, no categories are established.
Doesn’t indicate HOW American society was changed
3. Simple-split thesis: The Civil War was a revolution in America politically,
socially and constitutionally. Rating: Fair. Thesis provides categories. Thesis
lacks an explanation or analysis of each category
What factors were most responsible in producing the
Great Depression of the 1930s?
The most important causes of the Great Depression were
speculation in the stock market, leading to an
overextension of credit, overproduction of goods causing
a severe drop in business revenue and an inflexible
federal government with shortsighted solutions.
Practice 1: Identify the 3 elements
Below are three thesis statements.
Identify the 3 elements based on the directions below:
Highlight a first color---Taking a position
Highlight a second color---Organization categories
Underline further analysis of the categories
If all are present then…
Circle “thesis” to indicate question was fully addressed
Question: Was the US justified in dropping the atomic bomb on
Hiroshima?
Thesis: The US was justified in dropping the atomic bomb on
Hiroshima for both military and moral reasons.
Thesis: The US was not justified in dropping the atomic bomb on
Hiroshima for both military and moral reasons.
Thesis: The US was justified militarily because it ended the war
but not morally due to the severe loss in life when it dropped the
atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
Practice 2: Identifying what elements are missing
Below are three thesis statements: All three are missing
one or more of the essential elements:
Read the essay question and identify which part(s) of an
effective thesis statement is missing
Question: Was the US justified in dropping the atomic bomb on
Hiroshima?
Thesis: The building of the atomic bomb was too expensive of a
weapon in terms of money and politics
__________________________
Thesis: The US was perfectly within its rights when it dropped
the atomic bomb on Hiroshima
_________________________________
Thesis; The United States best example of advance technology
was when it dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima
___________________________
Thesis statement must…
1. Take a position with regard to the
question asked
2. Provide organization categories with
analysis
3. Fully address the question
Practice 3: Ranking Thesis statements
Read the essay question and the 3 possible thesis statements.
Rank them in order of effectiveness. 1 is most effective…3 is
least effective. Based on the 3 parts of a thesis statement,
identify what is missing from rankings 2 and 3. Write down for 1
that it contains all 3 elements
Question: The reforms of the Progressive Era improved the quality of life
for Americans. Assess the extent in which this statement is true
Thesis A: While progressive Era reforms did succeed in improving the quality
of life for most Americans, many people were often forced to fight for
injustice and opportunity on their own
Rank____
Reason____________________________________
Thesis B: While Progressive Era reforms did succeed in improving conditions
for most Americans, African-Americans and Native Americans were often
victims of discrimination and forced to fight for justice and opportunity on
their own
Rank____
Reason____________________________________
Thesis C: Progressive reformers achieved a great deal during the
Progressive Era
Rank____
Reason____________________________________
Thesis statement must…
1. Take a position with regard to the
question asked
2. Provide organization categories with
analysis
3. Fully address the question
Practice 5: Practice Writing Thesis Statements
Topic: Similarities and differences between Judaism and Christianity
Supports: 1. Both are monotheistic
2. Christians belief in Christ, Jews do not
3. Christianity emphasizes church and missionary activity
Thesis statement: Even though Christianity and Judaism have their beliefs
rooted in the monotheistic tradition, Christian emphasis on a messiah as a
means of reaching the afterlife and the creation of the church and
missionary activity as a source of their growth set it apart from Judaism.
_________________________________________________________
Topic 1: Similarities and differences between Ancient Mesopotamia and
Ancient Egypt
Support: 1. _____________________________________
2. _____________________________________
Circle or
highlight key
words to use
3. _____________________________________
Thesis Statement:
_________________________________________________________
Topic 2: Most important changes produced by the Neolithic Revolution (10,0004000 BCE)
Support: 1._____________________________________
2. ____________________________________
3. ____________________________________
Circle or
highlight key
words to use
Thesis Statement:
Practice 6: Practicing Writing Thesis Statements
List the Topic:
Causes of the Cold War
List five possible supports for the topic.
1. USSR takes over Eastern Europe
2. Korean War
3. US Democracy, USSR Communist
4. Chinese Civil War
5. Containment Policy
Circle your three favorite supports.
Compose a thesis based on the three subtopics.
The political differences between the US and USSR and America’s
containment policy in response to a Soviet takeover of Eastern Europe
caused a Cold War to begin.
________________________________________________________
List the Topic:
Compare the fall and rebound of civilization in Ancient Rome and Han China
List five possible supports for the topic.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Circle your three favorite supports.
Compose a thesis based on the three subtopics.