Building a History Thesis Statement
In many history courses, you will begin by creating a research question. After conducting research and evaluating your sources, you will develop a thesis statement based on the evidence you have found. Rather than looking for evidence to support an opinion you already have, your thesis should emerge from your research.
The Purpose of a Thesis Statement
A thesis statement gives your paper direction. It presents your main argument and identifies the key points that will support that argument. A clear thesis helps organize your ideas and provides readers with an understanding of what your paper will discuss.
A helpful way to think about a thesis is:
Assertion + Supporting Points = Thesis Statement
Assertion: The Boston Tea Party contributed to the American Revolution.
Supporting Points: It demonstrated colonial discontent and encouraged continued resistance against British rule.
Thesis Statement:
The events of the Boston Tea Party helped encourage the beginning of the American Revolution by creating a public expression of colonial discontent and establishing a pattern of resistance against the British Empire.
Evaluating Thesis Statements
The following examples demonstrate the characteristics of weak and strong thesis statements.
The Boston Tea Party was a political protest by the Sons of Liberty.
This statement identifies a topic but does not make an argument. It presents a fact that most readers would accept rather than a claim that requires evidence and analysis. As a result, it does not provide a clear direction for the paper.
The United States became its own nation in 1776 because of the Boston Tea Party.
This statement presents an argument and establishes a cause-and-effect relationship. However, it is too broad and does not explain how or why the Boston Tea Party contributed to American independence. The reader knows the author's position but not how the argument will be developed.
The events of the Boston Tea Party helped encourage the beginning of the American Revolution by creating a public expression of colonial discontent and establishing a pattern of resistance against the British Empire.
This thesis clearly states an argument and identifies the main points that will support it. It provides readers with a clear understanding of the paper's focus and establishes a logical direction for the discussion.
A strong thesis does more than state an opinion. It serves as a roadmap for your paper by presenting a specific argument and introducing the key points that will be supported with evidence. As you conduct research and refine your ideas, your thesis may change to better reflect the evidence you have found.
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