how to write a thesis statement for a history research paper

Your thesis statement is one of the most important parts of your paper. It expresses your main argument succinctly and explains why your argument is historically significant. Think of your thesis as a promise you make to your reader about what your paper will argue. Then, spend the rest of your paper-each body paragraph-fulfilling that promise.

For example, you might find that as industrialization increased, women made fewer textiles at home, but retained their butter and soap making tasks. Strategies for Developing a Thesis Statement Idea 1. If your paper assignment asks you to answer a specific question, turn the question into an assertion and give reasons for your opinion.

Thesis statements vary based on the rhetorical strategy of the essay, but thesis statements typically share the following characteristics: Presents the main idea. Most often is one sentence. Tells the reader what to expect. Is a summary of the essay topic. Usually worded to have an argumentative edge.

Usually papers have a thesis, an assertion about your topic. You will present evidence in your paper to convince the reader of your point of view. Some ways to help you develop your thesis are by: stating the purpose of the paper; asking a question and then using the answer to form your thesis statement; summarizing the main idea of your paper

The thesis must be precisely phrased and coherent. Generalizations and a failure to define terms results in vagueness and lack of direction in argumentation. The thesis must be a declarative statement. The object of your research was to answer a question; when you found the answer, you embodied it in your thesis statement.

Step 2: Write your initial answer. After some initial research, you can formulate a tentative answer to this question. At this stage it can be simple, and it should guide the research process and writing process. The internet has had more of a positive than a negative effect on education.

Exercise A (20-30 minutes): Brainstorm topics of interest. In the first brainstorm, your job is to write down all of the possible "topics" that you m. ght be interested in researching further with your thesis. Here is where you list all of the themes, people, places, texts, events, movements, ima.

Set a timer for five or ten minutes and write down everything you know about your paper: your argument, your sources, counterarguments, everything. Do not edit or judge what you are writing as you write; just keep writing until the timer goes off. You may be surprised to find out how much you knew about your topic.

2. Develop a Thesis Statement. To create a thesis statement, a student should establish a specific idea or theory that makes the main point about a historical event. Scribbr, an editing website, recommends starting with a working thesis, asking the question the thesis intends to answer, and, then, writing the answer.

A strong thesis statement expresses your argument succinctly, and it is the guide that you will follow as you develop your paper. A strong thesis statement shows your ability to think historically. It provides an overview of the topic and its history, outlines the major trends in research on the subject, and locates your own research within ...

These include the thesis statement, or "precis," the critical es-say, and the research paper. The following discussion is intended to explain what is meant by each of these terms and how you should approach an assignment to write a thesis statement, a critical essay, and a research paper respectively.

A thesis statement is different from a topic statement. A topic statement merely states what the paper is about. A thesis statement states the argument of that paper. Be sure that you can easily identify your thesis and that the key points of your argument relate directly back to your thesis. EXAMPLES. Topic statements: This paper will discuss ...

1. Identify the assignment's goals. Have the assignment's goals in mind as you familiarize yourself with your sources/evidence, develop a thesis, outline your main points, and write your essay. *Note: Always follow your professor's specific guidelines before the general suggestions in this handout. Example Essay Prompt: The assignment is ...

Write a one- or two-sentence statement summarizing the conclusion you have reached about the major trends and developments you see in the research that has been conducted on your subject. ... The thesis statement is typically located in the first paragraph of a short paper (fewer than 2000 words) but can be left to the second paragraph of a ...

The Research Writing Process. In an earlier historical hack, we talked about the research writing process, as shown below: Understand the assignment. Select a research topic/develop a research question. Conduct research: find and evaluate sources. Create your claim (make an argument) Synthesize evidence. Put it together.

The "second draft" is a fully re-thought and rewritten version of your paper. It is at the heart of the writing process. First, lay your first draft aside for a day or so to gain distance from it. After that break, read it over with a critical eye as you would somebody else's paper (well, almost!).

Having a specific research question in mind can help researchers formulate a strong, sound thesis statement to address this question. 2. Construct a statement that directly addresses the research question. Once the research question has been identified, preliminary research on the topic can begin.

For more on developing a thesis, see "Elements of a Thesis Statement" and "Dialectical Thesis Statements." [1] For all their classroom talk of concise thesis statements, academic historians generally spread the statement of their own theses over several paragraphs at the start of an article or several pages of the introduction of a book.Thus, if you want to find a compact thesis ...

Thesis. Your thesis is the central claim in your essay—your main insight or idea about your source or topic. Your thesis should appear early in an academic essay, followed by a logically constructed argument that supports this central claim. A strong thesis is arguable, which means a thoughtful reader could disagree with it and therefore ...

An analytical paper breaks down an issue or an idea into its component parts, evaluates the issue or idea, and presents this breakdown and evaluation to the audience.; An expository (explanatory) paper explains something to the audience.; An argumentative paper makes a claim about a topic and justifies this claim with specific evidence. The claim could be an opinion, a policy proposal, an ...

The point you make is called a thesis statement. A thesis statement is not the same as a topic. Your thesis statement explains what you believe to be the impact and significance of your topic in history. Example: Topic: Battle of Gettysburg Thesis Statement: The battle of Gettysburg was a major turning point of the Civil War.

Introductions & Conclusions. The introduction and conclusion serve important roles in a history paper. They are not simply perfunctory additions in academic writing, but are critical to your task of making a persuasive argument. A successful introduction will: draw your readers in. culminate in a thesis statement that clearly states your argument.

Sample Title Pages, Outlines, & Citations. citation presentation. HST 302 Paper Example. example of a paper for upper division History courses. HST 302 Title Page. Outline Example. Example of an outline for a first year level history paper. Library Hours: 8am - 9pm.

What is a thesis statement? A thesis statement is a sentence or two that identifies the main point you will be arguing in your paper. What makes a good thesis statement? There is more than one way to write an effective thesis statement. The links below offer some general guidelines to get you started.

For information on writing a research paper and other common writing assignments, see the Writing Assignments help guide as well as the sub-menus in this section: ... There is more than one way to write an effective thesis statement. The links below offer some general guidelines to get you started. Developing a Thesis Statement.

Remember that the thesis statement is a kind of "mapping tool" that helps you organize your ideas, and it helps your reader follow your argument. After the topic sentence, include any evidence in this body paragraph, such as a quotation, statistic, or data point, that supports this first point. Explain what the evidence means. Show the reader ...

Access past issues of the AHR, the journal of record for the historical discipline since 1895.The AHR publishes field transforming articles and contributions that reimagine historical practice and teaching. In its second century of continuous publication, the AHR strives to be the leading forum for new historical research, while meeting the challenges of an ever-evolving digital age and an ...