Research Project

TOPIC/INTEREST

RESEARCH

THESIS

THESIS

WHAT Is A Thesis?

• It tells the reader how you will interpret the subject

• It tells the reader what to expect.• It directly answers the question asked of you.

• It makes a claim that others might dispute.

• It is a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph.

WHY IS A THESIS IMPORTANT?

•It presents your argument to the reader. •The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation.

HOW DO I GET A THESIS?• It’s the result of a thinking process. • It’s NOT the first thing you do after reading an writing prompt.

1. You have to collect and organize evidence.

2. Look for possible relationships between known facts (such as surprising contrasts or similarities)

3. Think about the significance of these relationships.

4. Develop a “working thesis,” a main idea that can be supported with evidence.

5. Reword your working thesis into one, clear, concise thesis.

6. The thesis can be fluid! You might have to change it based on your research

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY THESIS IS GOOD?

Ask yourself:• Do I answer the question? 

• Re-read the question prompt to help you fix an argument that misses the focus of the question.• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose?• Do you provide a preview and direction??? ROAD MAP• Is my thesis statement specific enough?

• If your thesis contains words like “good” or “successful,” see if you could be more specific: why is something “good”; what specifically makes something “successful”?

• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? • If a reader’s first response is, “So what?” then you need to clarify your thesis.

• Does my essay support my thesis specifically, without wandering? • If your thesis and the body of your essay do not seem to go together, one of them has to change. It’s

okay to change your working thesis .• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? 

• If a reader’s first response is “how?” or “why?” your thesis may be too open-ended and lack guidance for the reader.

IS THIS THESIS GOOD?

The prompt:• Compare and contrast the reasons why the North and South fought the Civil

War.

The thesis:• “The North and South fought the Civil War for many reasons, some of which

were the same and some different.”

WHY WASN’T THAT THESIS GOOD?

•Did you ask yourself “What reasons?”•It was too broad, and not specific.•Reader doesn’t know where you’re headed.

IMPROVING THE THESIS

Thesis #2:•“While both sides fought the Civil War over the issue of slavery, the North fought for moral reasons while the South fought to preserve its own institutions.”

IMPROVING THE THESIS AGAIN

Thesis #3:• “While both Northerners and Southerners believed they fought against tyranny and oppression, Northerners focused on the oppression of slaves while Southerners defended their own right to self-government.”

LETS PRACTICE • Open up a new Google Doc and put it in your US History Folder • Title it – “Practice Thesis” • It would like you to form a thesis on one of your interests. It can be anything

(Sports, Food, Movies, etc.) • Ex. The New York Giants are going to win the NFC East….• Ex. Vanilla Ice Cream is the best flavor…• Ex. Batman is a better superhero than Superman

• Remember to use the skill you just learned to form a thesis that is strong and organized.

• You will have 10 minutes to do this

SUPPORTING A THESIS

Supporting a Thesis

• Provide • Details and Examples • Facts• Definitions, Statistics, Summaries • Logic and Specific Examples

• Include • Stories and Descriptions (Personal Touch)• Quotes – CITE YOUR SOURCES

• How to use sources • What the source is – Introduce it • What the source contains • How that supports your thesis • CITE IT

• Now practice supporting your thesis…

• Research evidence to support your thesis

• Type a two paragraph essay that supports your thesis

• Remember your thesis could change based on research

• Find reliable sources (Cite in MLA)• Due at the end of class (if you

don’t finish it is homework)