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January 21, 2014 The Thesis Statement Take notes during this presentation in your History Day notebook . National History Day 2013 Rights & Responsibilities in History Worksheet #4 – The Thesis Statement : Due: Friday, January 24, 2014 Did everyone get this last week?.
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January 21, 2014The Thesis StatementTake notes during this presentation in your History Day notebook.
National History Day 2013Rights & Responsibilities in HistoryWorksheet #4 – The Thesis Statement: Due: Friday, January 24, 2014 Did everyone get this last week?
WHAT IS A THESIS STATEMENT? • Imagine your parents decide you are not responsible and tell you, you’re grounded for a month. You disagree and say, “I am responsible!” That is your thesis: “I am a responsible person.” As a good arguer, you will provide evidence to support your thesis. “I am a responsible person. I get up and get to school on time every day, do all of my homework on time, babysit and do a good job and I do my chores without being asked…” • A THESIS IS: • JUDGMENT • CONCLUSION • CALLS FOR EVIDENCE • ARGUES A POINT OF VIEW
A THESIS STATEMENT • DEFINITION OF A THESIS STATEMENT • A THESIS STATEMENT is a central thought that holds your entire History Day project together. It is also an argument or a hypothesis, the “main” point of your work; an “unproved” statement, especially one serving as a premise in historical research such as History Day.
A THESIS STATEMENT • To support your THESIS STATEMENT, you will present carefully selected evidence to prove it. Everything about your project will stem and evolve from your thesis. You will develop a thesis supported by evidence such as primary sources and interviews with experts to support your thesis.
A THESIS STATEMENT • THESIS = TOPIC + THEME + IMPACT • Your thesis is framed by the 2014 theme of: • “Rights and Responsibilities • in History”
Thesis Statement Examples: • A WEAK THESIS STATEMENT: • Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus in 1955. • *This thesis statement is weak because it does not take a position or make an argument. It is too general and not specific. • A STRONG 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 in Civil Rights Movement because it lead to the successful integration of the Montgomery bus system. As a result, other cities followed suit, leading to further desegregation of other U.S. cities. • How does the 2nd example argue a position, tell 5Ws & use theme words?
CREATING A THESIS To create a thesis you will need to know a good deal about your topic in order to make a reasonable judgment or to form a reasonable conclusion. Your topic needs evidence to be supported, so you need to find a lot of primary sources and read them carefully.
Use theme words such as: rights and responsibilities, or synonyms. • Incorporate the FIVE Ws of your topic. • Show the two sides of your debate. • Write in clear, focused, and specific language, in the “third” person. • The primary sources you find should “support” your thesis! Hints In Developing A Strong Thesis Statement
If your research sheds new light on your topic, revise your thesis to “go” with the latest focus. • If you can’t phrase your thesis statement in the form of a “why” question, refine it. • Do not “force” your evidence to support thesis. • LENGTH: A good thesis is expressed in 2-3 sentences, not too brief, and not more than three sentences long. *Around 40-60 words total; less is more! Hints In Developing A Strong Thesis Statement
On Your Project: • Support Your Thesis WithPrimary Sources • Photographs • Political Cartoons • Book or Album Covers • Letters • Maps • Artwork • Newspaper Articles • Interviews/speeches • Descriptive prose • Poetry
A Thesis Checklist: • My thesis is a new judgment. • My thesis is a conclusion. • My thesis takes a stand. • My thesis has one main point. • My thesis is important and I can explain why. • My thesis passes the “so what?” test. • My thesis can be supported with evidence. • My thesis is specific, not vague or general. • My thesis is more than just a topic title. • My thesis is more than just a statement of fact.
ROCK STAR THESIS STATEMENTS --Ms. Krawetz, 7th Grade S.S. • DEBATE AND DIPLOMACY in History: Successes, Consequences & Failures (2011) • Commander and Chief Harry S. Truman issued executive order 9981 in 1948 to end discrimination in the armed forces. As the country started debating civil rights, this act sparked the beginning of a less discriminatory period leading the way to other laws that successfully desegregated our country. • The Dred Scott Supreme Court case of 1856 was a substantial defeat for the advocates of abolition. This led to a further debate over the issues, and ultimately fueled the abolition movement in the north, and continuation of slavery in the south. This debate eventually led to the outbreak of the American Civil War.
ROCK STAR THESIS STATEMENTS --Ms. Krawetz, 7th Grade S.S. • DEBATE AND DIPLOMACY in History: Successes, Consequences & Failures • 3. In 1944, Fred Korematsu opposed executive order 9066 in his Supreme Court debate against internment camps, which he felt, were based upon racial discrimination and the violation of civil liberties. His lengthy fight to clear his name helped enlighten the public’s view on racial profiling and protected the constitutional rights of all citizens. • 4. President Carter’s failure from 1979 to 1981 to negotiate a release of the hostages in Iran created a debate over whether to use quiet diplomacy or military means to free the hostages. Carter’s failed diplomacy created consequences that were key to worsening the diplomatic relations between the United States and Iran.
Example of Strong and Weak Thesis Statements • 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. • Strong Thesis: Televisioncommunication, a modern media tool during in the1960 presidential election, helped Senator John F. Kennedy win presidential debates against Richard M. Nixon. Working with network specialists and make-up artists, Kennedy’s victory was a turning point in a new era of live broadcasting, changing the way citizens receive information from candidates.
Thesis Practice With: • The Three Little Pigs • The Three Little Pigs “Traditional” Version Thesis • The 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 without homes 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 show evidence, • judgments, and a conclusion?
THE THREE LITTLE PIGS NEW VERSION THESIS: The True Story of the Three Little Pigs Write a thesis for the newer version, showing a conclusion, evidence and the judgment that suggests that A. Wolf was “framed” and not at fault.