Name
Partner
NHD 2012: Turning Points in History: People, Ideas, Events
Worksheet #6: THE THESIS STATEMENT *Due Fri. Jan. 31, 2013
Seventh Grade Social Studies, Ms. Krawetz
--Each group member hands in a separate thesis statement.
Topic:
DEFINITION OF A THESIS STATEMENT
A THESIS STATEMENT is an argument or a hypothesis, the main point of your work; an
unproved statement, especially one serving as a premise in a paper or project. The purpose of
your project will be to present evidence in support of your thesis. Everything about your project
will stem and evolve from your thesis statement.
THESIS = TOPIC + THEME + IMPACT
The thesis statement is for creating an argument, that expresses your topic’s significance and
demonstrates how, TURNING POINTS IN HISTORY, plays the central part of your project.
A Strong Thesis is …
Ø Takes a strong position on a topic
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
Ø
Uses dates and names of people and places to put thesis in a historical context
Arguable
Clear, focused, and specific
Evolves from research and supported by primary sources and your own words.
Relates to the theme, Turning Points in History: People, Ideas, Events
Uses theme words: Turned, turning point, turned the course of events, turned the situation
around, etc.
Ø Succinct, short and to the point -- not too wordy! Can be expressed in 2-3 sentences. Not to brief,
and not more than 3 sentences long
Ø Revised and edited a few times as your focus changes.
EXAMPLE: Thesis on Television’s role in Presidential Elections
General Thesis
Television’s role in Presidential Elections.
Narrowed Thesis
Television helped John F. Kennedy win the 1960 election.
Senator John F. Kennedy’s use of live television in the 1960
Strong Thesis
Statement
presidential campaign, particularly in the televised debates, helped
him win the presidency over Vice President Richard M. Nixon. The
positive reaction Kennedy received from media events turned the
course of the campaign and led to an election victory.
Name
Partner
Period
NHD 2012: Turning Points in History: People, Ideas, Events
Worksheet #6: THE THESIS STATEMENT *Due Fri. Jan. 31, 2013
Seventh Grade Social Studies, Ms. Krawetz
--Each group member hands in a separate thesis statement.
Title:
Write your thesis statement here or type it up, double-spaced:
TEACHER THESIS STATEMENT COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS:
Name
Period
History Day 2013, Turning Points in history
THE THESIS STATEMENT HANDOUT
A thesis statement is a central thought that holds your entire National History Day
(NHD) project together. You need to have a concrete thesis that is supported by
evidence.
Thesis = Topic + Theme + Impact. In other words, you are not just introducing your
topic, you are creating an argument that expresses your topic’s significance and demonstrates
how the theme plays a central part.
SAMPLE STATEMENTS: DO’S AND DON’TS
DON’T: Indians fought over Alcatraz Island. Why do you think they would do that?
(Rhetorical)
DO: American Indians under the banner of “Indians of All Tribes” were unhappy with
government officials over political and social discrimination. In protest, the group
reclaimed Alcatraz Island in 1969 as Indian land. Though the group’s primary goals failed
to reach fruition through active diplomacy, the movement became a turning point for
AIM in spreading awareness to the American public and consequently ignited the modern
American Indian Movement.
Don’t: The 1960’s presidential debate was the first to be shown on television and was
really important. Want to know why? Read more below. (Fact/Rhetorical/Incomplete)
Do: Senator John F. Kennedy’s ability to master television as a communication medium
during the 1960 presidential debates helped secure him the presidency over Vice
President Richard M. Nixon. Access to live, visual information shifted viewer’s attention
from the issues to more superficial attributes such as poise, appearance, and style, and
undermined the importance and long-standing tradition of open debate. Kennedy’s
victory marked a turning point for political campaigning and changed the way voters
understand and receive their candidates.
Don’t: Adolph Hitler was an evil man that killed a lot of Jews. (Opinion)
Do: Following the “Great War,” Adolph Hitler blamed Germany’s downfalls on the
country’s Jewish population causing discrimination, violent action, and a mass exodus of
European Jewry. In 1942 senior officials in the Nazi Party met in Wannsee, Germany to
outline the strategies for the Final Solution to the Jewish Question. The Conference became
a turning point for policies regarding the treatment German and other European Jews,
leading to the deportation and eventually the extermination of more than six million Jews.
THESIS DEVELOPMENT EXAMPLE
TOPIC: ROSA PARKS AND THE MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT
WHO: WHO WAS INVOLVED? WHO WAS AFFECTED?
Rosa Parks; citizens in Montgomery, Alabama; civil rights leaders, Montgomery government officials.
WHAT: WHAT HAPPENED? WHAT WAS THE MAIN EVENT?
Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a public bus, which violated a city law requiring segregation.
She was arrested and went to jail. Civil rights leaders organized a boycott of city buses to challenge the
law as unconstitutional. The economic impact of the boycott forced city leaders and the bus company
to enter into negotiation with civil rights leaders.
WHERE: WHERE WAS THE PLACE IT TOOK PLACE?
Montgomery, Alabama
WHEN: WHEN DID IT HAPPEN? HOW LONG OF A TIME PERIOD WAS IT?
Parks was arrested on Dec. 1, 1955; the boycott started on Dec. 5 and lasted for 382 days.
WHY: WHY DID IT HAPPEN? Civil rights leaders wanted to overturn segregation laws.
WHY: WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? WHAT WERE THE OUTCOMES?
The boycott forced change in Montgomery and succeeded in overturning the law requiring segregation.
This success inspired similar protests helping end segregation and secure greater equality.
CONNECTION TO THEME: WHY IS YOUR TOPIC A TURNING POINT?
Before the Montgomery Bus Boycott, public buses in Montgomery, Alabama were segregated. The
Boycott became a turning point in Montgomery after the bus company ended its segregation policy.
WHAT WAS HAPPENING? EVENTS BEFORE and AFTER?
BEFORE: Before the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the majority of the South, including Montgomery,
Alabama, was segregated by race. Buses, restaurants, movie theatres, etc.
AFTER: After the boycott, the public buses in Montgomery became integrated and other communities
used strategies from Montgomery to create change in their cities and towns.
THESIS STATEMENT
In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat at the front of the bus in Montgomery,
Alabama. The Bus Boycott that followed for the next 382 days was a turning point in
the American Civil Rights Movement because it led to the successful integration of the
bus system in Montgomery. As a result of the boycott, other cities and communities
followed suit, leading to further desegregation in the United States.
CAN YOU PROVE IT? YES! City officials and the bus company refused to come to a
compromise over segregation on buses until the boycott made a significant financial impact.
Other civil rights leaders sent letters and requests to boycott participants seeking advice to start
similar protests. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. used what he learned in Montgomery and applied it
in other cities. These are documented in meeting minutes, testimonials, newspaper articles,
letters, speeches, and a timeline of events.
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Partner
THESIS STATEMENT WARM UP
TOPIC:
WHO: Who was involved? Who was affected?
WHAT: What happened? What was the main event?
WHERE: Where was/were the place(s) it took place?
WHEN: When did it happen? How long of a time period was it?
WHY: Why did it happen? What caused it?
WHY: Why is your topic important?
Why is your topic a turning point?
What was happening before your turning point? Explain the events leading to it:
How was life different after your turning point occurred? Describe the effects of the
turning point on history:
What will be your position or argument?
What must you prove in order for this statement to be true?
What evidence will you need to support these claims?
Where did you find this evidence? (Ex. documents, letters, news articles, or other sources)
THESIS PRACTICE FUN WITH, THE THREE LITTLE PIGS!
A. THE THREE LITTLE PIGS: *Traditional Version Thesis
T
HE wolf’s plan to destroy the lives and livelihood of the Three Little Pigs resulted
from maniacal behavior, unresolved anger issues and pure selfishness, demonstrated
by his a plan to destroy the pigs’ houses rendering them homeless and lives left in
shambles. The wolf’s behavior is a result of an unfortunate and troubled childhood,
unresolved issues, and a personal life in need of great help.
How does the above thesis statement take a position, show a conclusion and provide
evidence that the wolf was at fault?
B. THE THREE LITTLE PIGS: *New Version Thesis
Based on, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, by Jon Scieszka
Directions: Write a thesis for the new version, taking a position and showing evidence that
suggests that A. Wolf was indeed, “framed” and not at fault?