Research Project
Thesis Statements: The good, the
bad, the ugly
Thesis
Statements
give
directions
Narrows your
subject to a
single, central
idea that you
want readers
to gain from
your essay.
Claims something specific and
significant about your subject .
Conveys your purpose or
reason for writing.
What a thesis statement is NOT
• A Factual statement
• A topic sentence
• TOPIC SENTENCE:
• Bhutan is a small nation is South Asia.
A good Thesis statement
•
•
•
•
Answers a “how” or “why” question.
Explains the causes of something.
Explains the effects of something.
Explains the significance of something.
The Bad
• Too broad
• The Renaissance sparked in European minds
the transformation of artists into individual
achievers and artwork into a form of expression.
• The Black Death was an extremely influential
part of Europe’s history which negatively
impacted the economic, religious, and personal
aspects of Europe and its people.
The Bad
• Too specific
• The public’s demand for the destruction of the
Berlin Wall led to the eventual reunification of
Germany.
• The pentathlon event was one of the original
events from the Ancient Olympics and remains
as a part of the Modern Olympics representing,
as it has changed over time, the change in what
society thinks is most important in athletics.
The Bad
• Too obvious
• The French Revolution was an epoch of
progression and downfall which is
progressively reflected in governmental
aspects of France throughout history.
The Ugly
• Un-provable
• The bombing of Pearl Harbor indirectly caused the Cold
War because it drew America into WWII, creating two
superpowers that split Europe between two new factions.
• The modifications made to the Olympics throughout
history fostered its purpose by establishing peaceful
relations among European nations, which consequently
improved their economy.
• As the industrial revolution progressed, and with the
protection from governments in place recognizing the
plight of women, women in the workforce began to feel
empowered and their lives became more manageable.
The Good
• Specific and provable
• The injustice in Lenin’s life paralleled the
conditions in Russia, fueling Lenin to lead the
revolution that would change the face of Russian
politics.
• The Continental System, in combination with
events of the Napoleonic Wars, proved to be a
key factor that would eventually help Britain to
lead the way in the Industrial Revolution.
The Good
• John Locke’s enlightened ideas about natural human
rights challenged traditional views and inspired societal
changes that ultimately led to the French Revolution.
• The fall of the Berlin Wall, optimistically foreseen as the
final step of German unification, proved to be in reality
the beginning of an arduous struggle for the two nations
to economically and socially unite.
• Oliver Cromwell’s religious upbringing and role in the
English Civil War led him to become a talented military
leader and an innovative yet effective ruler for England
during an age of absolute monarchs.