Mr. Hill style

Writing a sophisticated thesis

Steps to Writing a Thesis Statement

An opinion to a question based on supporting evidence

4 steps to formulating a thesis: 1. QUESTION 2. Brainstorm, documents, 3 baby theses 3. Chart it up 4. THESIS

Question

Read the question slowly, carefully, and clearly.

Read it 3 timesUnderline essential key termsFigure out what it is asking

Example Question

US History I – pg. 3 of Mini-Qs bookUS History II – pg. 189 of Document Based

Questions

Read the question slowly, carefully, and clearly.

Read it 3 timesUnderline essential key termsFigure out what it is asking

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

Brainstorm

Once you figure out the question, quickly brainstorm some ideas. Use outside knowledge (concepts you know about the

topic, ideas from background essay) Use commonsense

US Hist. I – Death of Jamestown Colonists

Brainstorm as a group

US History II – Carnegie, a Hero?

Hero Not a Hero

Early Baby theses

Pick an early stance from brainstorming Might need to modify it after looking at the documents

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

Create a Chart

Helps maintain focus of the questionDetermines amount of support for 1 side of

thesisOrganizes thoughtsCompilation of factual information (specific

information)Develops order for supporting paragraphs

Example of a 1X3 Chart

Question: “What are the 3 best aspects of JFK High School? - when in doubt use PERSIAN

Political

Economic

Religious

Social

Intellectual

Artistic

Nature

Academics(Baby Thesis)

Athletics(Baby Thesis)

Arts(Baby Thesis)

Best aspects of JFK HS

Example of 2X3 Chart

Cell Phones Economic(Baby Thesis)

Intellectual (Baby Thesis)

Social (Baby Thesis)

Positive impact on American culture

Negative Impact on American culture

Example of a 2X3 Chart

Question: “The US is the greatest nation in the world.” Assess the validity of this statement. - when in doubt use PERSIAN

Political

Economic

Religious

Social

Intellectual

Artistic

Nature

What are two stances you can use here?

US History I

Jamestown colonists died because

What goes in these boxes?

1. Facts2. Documents3. Quotes4. Analysis

Analysis is the most important part. Use the facts and documents to help break down the information to help support your thesis.

US History II

Carnegie was a hero

What goes in these boxes?

1. Facts2. Documents3. Quotes4. Analysis

Analysis is the most important part. Use the facts and documents to help break down the information to help support your thesis.

Carnegie was not a hero

Use a 2X3 chart to choose the best stance.

After looking at the facts, docs, and analysis, which side can you defend with stronger arguments.

What are facts?

Specific details that help support your arguments BE SPECIFIC!!!!

Acronym – PEDLIGSPeople – George Washington, Eleanor RooseveltEvents – Battle of Gettysburg, Cold WarDocuments – Dec. of Ind, Uncle Tom’s CabinLegislation/Laws – 1st amendment, Patriot ActIdeas – laissez-faire, socialismGroups – NAACP, flappersSupreme Ct/Famous cases – Dred Scott, Roe v.

Wade

Facts about JFK HS

- Brainstorm – Be specific – think PEDLIGS

AnalysisAnalysis FactsFacts

Most 5’s on AP exams in district

85% of graduates went to college

Top 50 school in NJ

Analysis in combination with Facts (JFK – Academics)

Documents

Consider the source – primary or secondary? Bias?

Decide where it should go in your chartimportant factsAnalysisAnything that you can quote/cite

US History I – Read Doc. A (pg. 6) and fill out document analysis sheet together

US History II – Read Doc. 2 (pg.194) and fill out document analysis sheet together

In-text Citation

A quote or statistic that is extracted from a source (website, book, document)

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

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).

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).

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???

Documents continued

US History I – Doc B (pg. 7) – do it as a large groupDoc C (pg. 8) – groups of 2Doc D (pg. 9) – individually

US History IIDoc 4 (pg. 195) – do it as a large groupDoc 9 (pg. 200) – groups of 2Doc 6 (pg. 197) - individually

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)

Rank your supporting paragraphs

Academics Athletics Arts

best aspects of JFK

Facts and analysis

Facts and analysis

Facts and analysis

3rd supporting Paragraph – not confident in the info, background knowledge, or discussing it

1st supporting paragraph – can use tons of background info, and a good grip on the content

2nd supporting paragraph – 2nd most support

Thesis Statement

Must be found in your intro Usually last sentence Sentences before that provide general information on

the topicCan 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!!!

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.

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

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 correctlyProofread!!!