Writing a sophisticated thesis

1. Writing a sophisticated thesis Mr. Hill style

2. Steps to Writing a Thesis Statement • An opinion to a question based on supporting evidence • 4 steps to formulating a thesis: • 1. QUESTION • 2. Documents, Brainstorm, 3 baby theses • 3. Chart it up • 4. THESIS

3. Question • Read the question slowly, carefully, and clearly. • Read it 3 times • Underline essential key terms • Figure out what it is asking

4. Example Question • US History I – pg. 3 of Mini-Qs book • US History II – pg. 189 of Document Based Questions • Read the question slowly, carefully, and clearly. • Read it 3 times • Underline essential key terms • Figure out what it is asking • Get background information or use personal knowledge • US History I – pg. 4 of Mini-Qs – Read Background Essay • US History II – pg. 191 of DBQ – Read Background Essay

5. Questions… • US History I: Early Jamestown: Why did so many colonists die? • Must compile 3 main overarching reasons • US History II: Was Andrew Carnegie a Hero? • Must choose a stance • Must compile 3 main reasons for your stance

6. Documents • Consider the source – primary or secondary? Bias? • important facts • Analysis • Anything that you can quote/cite • Read all documents. Formulate the top 3 reasons/ideas to support your stance (baby theses) • US History I – Read Doc. A (pg. 6) and fill out document analysis sheet together • US History II – Read Doc. 6 (pg.197) and fill out document analysis sheet together

7. Documents continued • US History I – • Doc C (pg. 8) – do it as a large group • Doc E (pg. 10) – groups of 2 • Doc D (pg. 9) – individually • US History II • Doc 4 (pg. 195) – do it as a large group • Doc 9 (pg. 200) – groups of 2 • Doc 10 (pg. 201) - individually

8. Structured Brainstorming • Charts, Bucketing, Flow Charts, Boxes • Helps maintain focus of the question • Determines amount of support for 1 side of thesis • Organizes thoughts • Compilation of factual information (specific information) • Develops order for supporting paragraphs

9. US Hist. I – Death of Jamestown Colonists • Brainstorm as a group

10. US History II – Carnegie, a Hero?

11. Early Baby theses • Choose the 3 best arguments from the brainstorming list (they become the baby theses) • Can use PERSIAN to help with baby theses…. • Political • Economic • Religious • Social • Intellectual • Artistic • Nature

12. Thesis Statement • Must be found in your intro • Usually last sentence • Sentences before that provide general information on the topic • Can be 1 or 2 sentences • “Shades of Gray” – never a 100% percent clear answer • - choose 1 argument from the opposing side and then provide your 3 baby theses defending your stance • Make it sound sophisticated • Although statements • Even though statements • Despite statements • COMPLEX SENTENCES!!!

13. Thesis Statement US History I - Although Jamestown eventually became England’s first permanent colony in North America, many of its earliest colonists died due to baby thesis 1, baby thesis 2, and baby thesis 3. US History II - Despite the fact that Andrew Carnegie contributed millions of dollars to different charities, he cannot be considered a hero because of baby thesis 1, baby thesis 2, and baby thesis 3.

14. Rank your supporting paragraphs

15. Structure of 5 paragraph essay • Intro – 1st Paragraph • Background information • Use key terms/specific information • Thesis statement – last sentence • 6-8 sentences • Supporting Paragraphs (3 of them – best to worst) • Start w\ strong topic sentence that contains 1 of your baby theses • Use facts, quotes, and analysis from your chart to support your thesis • 8-10 sentences • Closing sentence should echo your topic sentence • Conclusion • 3-4 sentences • Intro and conclusion must AGREE

16. What are facts? • Specific details that help support your arguments • BE SPECIFIC!!!! • Acronym – PEDLIGS • People – George Washington, Eleanor Roosevelt • Events – Battle of Gettysburg, Cold War • Documents – Dec. of Ind, Uncle Tom’s Cabin • Legislation/Laws – 1st amendment, Patriot Act • Ideas – laissez-faire, socialism • Groups – NAACP, flappers • Supreme Ct/Famous cases – Dred Scott, Roe v. Wade

17. In-text Citation • A quote or statistic that is extracted from a source (website, book, document). • Why use them? • 1. gain support from an expert (black holes – Stephen Hawking) • 2. allows for further analysis • 3. “Fluffs” a paper • 3 aspects to an in-text citation all in 1 sentence: • 1. setup the quote – many different ways • 2. use the quote • 3. cite the source

18. US History I – In-text citation • CORRECT - According to Dennis B. Blanton’s study of Jamestown’s historical environment, many colonists may have perished because “reliable sources of fresh water would have been scarce by the seventeenth century”(Doc. A). • INCORRECT – “Because the adjacent river and creeks became brackish as water levels rose, reliable sources of fresh water would have been scarce by the seventeenth century”(Doc. A).

19. US History II – In-text citation • CORRECT – Carnegie expressed his entire belief in the idea of Social Darwinism by stating that the “law [of competition] may be sometimes hard for the individual, it is best for the race, because it insures the survival of the fittest in every department”(Doc. 2). INCORRECT – “It is to this law (of competition) that we owe our wonderful material development,… while the law may be sometimes hard for the individual, it is best for the race, because it insures the survival of the fittest in every department ”(Doc. 2).

20. In-text citation • Make sure you analyze the in-text citation immediately afterwards • What does this actually mean and how does it support your argument???

21. Citing Statistics • US History I – A study that was illustrated in an article entitled “The Lost Colony and Jamestown Droughts” proved, using the tree rings of native cypresses, that the Jamestown area averaged a rainfall index of -4 from approximately 1605 until 1612 (Doc. B) • US History II – Through the use of the Bessemer Process, Carnegie was able to lower the price of steel from approximately $66 in 1875 to $32 by 1888 (Doc. 4)

22. Enhancements • Third person point of view • “Don’t Words” – don’t use I, me, my, we, our, us, or you • Be as objective as possible • No personal opinions • Use transitions and complex sentences • Although, even though, similarly, on the other hand, if-then statements • Use sophisticated language correctly • Proofread!!!