How to write an apush thesis 1

thesis

1. How To Write an A.P. How To Write an A.P.
U.S. History Thesis U.S. History Thesis
StatementStatement

2. What is a thesis?What is a thesis?
A thesis statement is the A thesis statement is the positionposition a a
student is going to take, the argument that student is going to take, the argument that
is going to be made.is going to be made.
It is therefore the answer to the question It is therefore the answer to the question
being asked. being asked.

3. What is not a thesis?What is not a thesis?
The thesis statement is not a fact; it is an The thesis statement is not a fact; it is an
informed interpretation of the facts.informed interpretation of the facts.
Neither is the thesis/argument just an Neither is the thesis/argument just an
opinion.opinion.
Instead, the thesis is the reasoned Instead, the thesis is the reasoned
judgment of the student. judgment of the student.

4. Don’t understand the prompt?Don’t understand the prompt?
Thesis will not be good = essay flopsThesis will not be good = essay flops
Don’t feel like answering the prompt?Don’t feel like answering the prompt?
JUST DO IT!JUST DO IT!
Answering the prompt will ensure a fair scoreAnswering the prompt will ensure a fair score
Answering the prompt with good/great Answering the prompt with good/great
theses/arguments ensures a much higher theses/arguments ensures a much higher
scorescore

5. The Importance of The Importance of
Understanding the PromptUnderstanding the Prompt
Many students want to read the question quickly Many students want to read the question quickly
and move on to writing. However, APUSH essay and move on to writing. However, APUSH essay
prompts are challenging. They ask students to prompts are challenging. They ask students to
perform specific writing tasks. The questions perform specific writing tasks. The questions
also contain qualifiers that guide and restrict also contain qualifiers that guide and restrict
your answer. your answer. Rather than taking 10 seconds to Rather than taking 10 seconds to
read the question, you would be better off read the question, you would be better off
spending 45 seconds reading, re-reading, spending 45 seconds reading, re-reading,
marking, and analyzing. Remember, a mistake marking, and analyzing. Remember, a mistake
in understanding a question could make the rest in understanding a question could make the rest
of a student’s effort almost worthless.of a student’s effort almost worthless.

6. Break it down like so:Break it down like so:
Next, brainstorm (in whatever organic way makes sense to Next, brainstorm (in whatever organic way makes sense to
you) the information needed to answer the prompt in full.you) the information needed to answer the prompt in full.
Write a thesis statement that demonstrates an argument Write a thesis statement that demonstrates an argument
and the topics to come.and the topics to come.
Double check that your thesis answers all parts of the Double check that your thesis answers all parts of the
prompt as you diagrammed it before you begin writing. prompt as you diagrammed it before you begin writing.

7. Try it!Try it!
““The South never The South never
had a chance to had a chance to
win the Civil War.” win the Civil War.”
To what extent and To what extent and
why do you agree why do you agree
or disagree with or disagree with
this statement?this statement?
  
Discuss the political, Discuss the political,
economic and social economic and social
reforms introduced in reforms introduced in
the South between the South between
1864 and 1877. To 1864 and 1877. To
what extent did these what extent did these
reforms survive the reforms survive the
Compromise of Compromise of
1877?1877?

8. Thesis ContinuumThesis Continuum
Most good questions allow for a range of Most good questions allow for a range of
possible answers. possible answers.
A A continuumcontinuum exists and students can generally exists and students can generally
feel free to choose a response along that feel free to choose a response along that
continuum. continuum.
Students should avoid crafting an extreme Students should avoid crafting an extreme
response at either end of the continuum. response at either end of the continuum.
Most questions require a response that is not Most questions require a response that is not
black or white but instead some black or white but instead some shade of grayshade of gray. .
That does not mean, however, that students That does not mean, however, that students
should attempt to respond in the exact middle of should attempt to respond in the exact middle of
the continuum. Such an attempt usually results the continuum. Such an attempt usually results
in a failure to articulate a clear position. in a failure to articulate a clear position.

9. I’m
extremely
pro!
I’m
extremely
con!
I don’t
know
what’s
going on…

10. A good thesis is narrow A good thesis is narrow
but not too narrowbut not too narrow
A well-written thesis statement must be narrow A well-written thesis statement must be narrow
enough to limit the writer to something that can be enough to limit the writer to something that can be
addressed in about thirty minutesaddressed in about thirty minutes
but but
not so narrow as to prevent them from writing relevant not so narrow as to prevent them from writing relevant
things that help answer the question or that ignore big things that help answer the question or that ignore big
evidence.evidence.
A thesis that is too broad will cause the student to A thesis that is too broad will cause the student to
briefly mention a wide variety of information that may briefly mention a wide variety of information that may
seem unrelated to the reader. seem unrelated to the reader.

11. To what extent did Andrew Jackson’s To what extent did Andrew Jackson’s
presidential policies reveal him to be a presidential policies reveal him to be a
man of the people?man of the people?
Andrew Jackson was a great president. Andrew Jackson was a great president.
Andrew Jackson's handling of the bank Andrew Jackson's handling of the bank
question proved him to be a man of the question proved him to be a man of the
people. people.
Some of Jackson’s policies made him a Some of Jackson’s policies made him a
man of the people, but some did not. man of the people, but some did not.
Andrew Jackson's policies concerning the Andrew Jackson's policies concerning the
bank, Indian removal and rotation in office bank, Indian removal and rotation in office
proved him to be a man of the people.proved him to be a man of the people.

12. Positive Response BiasPositive Response Bias
Students should also beware of the Students should also beware of the
fallacy of “fallacy of “positive response bias.positive response bias.” ”
Many students are inclined to answer Many students are inclined to answer
a question in the affirmative. a question in the affirmative.
Students always need to carefully Students always need to carefully
weigh all of the historical evidence weigh all of the historical evidence
and then craft a response that best and then craft a response that best
articulates their understanding of the articulates their understanding of the
historical record. historical record.

13. A good thesis shows analysisA good thesis shows analysis
A strong thesis will go beyond a “Miss America” A strong thesis will go beyond a “Miss America”
answering of the question. answering of the question.
Contestants in that pageant will often merely Contestants in that pageant will often merely
restate the question in the form of a statement restate the question in the form of a statement
and add a couple of words. This rewording of the and add a couple of words. This rewording of the
question is overly simplistic and does not allow question is overly simplistic and does not allow
the writer to show analysis. the writer to show analysis.
Readers of the APUSH exam want to see a well-Readers of the APUSH exam want to see a well-
developed thesis that goes beyond simply stating developed thesis that goes beyond simply stating
facts or basic opinions about the question. The facts or basic opinions about the question. The
thesis should help the reader understand why thesis should help the reader understand why
the position is held. the position is held. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WALIARHHLII&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WALIARHHLII&feature=related

14. BADBAD
George Washington set precedents as George Washington set precedents as
presidentpresident. .
This is a fact, not an argument. This is a fact, not an argument.

15. GOODGOOD
The precedents that Washington set as The precedents that Washington set as
America’s first president greatly benefited America’s first president greatly benefited
the American political system.the American political system.
This is a clear position that This is a clear position that
can be supported or opposed. can be supported or opposed.

16. ““Although America perceived Although America perceived
Manifest Destiny as a benevolent Manifest Destiny as a benevolent
movement, it was in fact an movement, it was in fact an
aggressive imperialism pursued at aggressive imperialism pursued at
the expense of others.”the expense of others.”
Assess the validity of this statement Assess the validity of this statement
with specific reference to American with specific reference to American
expansionism in the 1840s.expansionism in the 1840s.

17. WEAKWEAK
Manifest Destiny was a expansion of Manifest Destiny was a expansion of
American superiority over the continent American superiority over the continent
and affected many.and affected many.

18. BETTER!BETTER!
During the mid 1800s, Manifest Destiny was During the mid 1800s, Manifest Destiny was
presented as a positive “benevolent movement,” presented as a positive “benevolent movement,”
though in reality, it promoted cultural superiority, though in reality, it promoted cultural superiority,
aggressive foreign policy, and extended the aggressive foreign policy, and extended the
already existing sectional crisis.already existing sectional crisis.
A belief in the racial and cultural superiority of white Americans A belief in the racial and cultural superiority of white Americans
was a tenet of the Manifest Destiny movement.was a tenet of the Manifest Destiny movement.
Because it was widely accepted that it was America’s destiny, Because it was widely accepted that it was America’s destiny,
even duty to go west, many accepted aggressive foreign policy even duty to go west, many accepted aggressive foreign policy
as a means of fulfilling that duty.as a means of fulfilling that duty.
Westward expansion during this era only deepened the debate Westward expansion during this era only deepened the debate
between North and South: Would there be slavery in the new between North and South: Would there be slavery in the new
territories? territories?

19. SIMPLE yet STRONGSIMPLE yet STRONG
Manifest Destiny was indeed aggressive in Manifest Destiny was indeed aggressive in
nature, but this position for expansion was nature, but this position for expansion was
a necessary sentiment for congressmen a necessary sentiment for congressmen
and citizens alike, seeking territorial, and citizens alike, seeking territorial,
financial, and social gain.financial, and social gain.
Because it resulted in a brutal Mexican Because it resulted in a brutal Mexican
War in which many people lost their lives, War in which many people lost their lives,
the philosophy of Manifest Destiny was the philosophy of Manifest Destiny was
indeed an aggressive and selfish indeed an aggressive and selfish
phenomenon of the 1840s.phenomenon of the 1840s.

20. A good thesis may acknowledge A good thesis may acknowledge
the opposing argumentthe opposing argument
A good thesis allows the writer to show A good thesis allows the writer to show
understanding of the complexity of the understanding of the complexity of the
issue and knowledge of information on issue and knowledge of information on
both sides of the issue. Most of the essay both sides of the issue. Most of the essay
questions allow for an opinion on either questions allow for an opinion on either
side of the question. By acknowledging side of the question. By acknowledging
another view in the thesis, it becomes another view in the thesis, it becomes
possible to add relevant information on possible to add relevant information on
that side of the issue.that side of the issue.

21. ““Thomas Jefferson is often thought of as an Thomas Jefferson is often thought of as an
idealist, but as president, he demonstrated his idealist, but as president, he demonstrated his
conviction as a pragmatist.” Assess the conviction as a pragmatist.” Assess the
accuracy of this statement.accuracy of this statement.
AlthoughAlthough Jefferson was idealistic in his insistence Jefferson was idealistic in his insistence
on an embargo that cut off trade to Europe, he on an embargo that cut off trade to Europe, he
showed himself to be predominantly a pragmatist in showed himself to be predominantly a pragmatist in
the way he handled the Louisiana Purchase, the the way he handled the Louisiana Purchase, the
issue of the constitutionality of the National Bank, issue of the constitutionality of the National Bank,
and Federalist appointees. and Federalist appointees.
Despite Despite his pragmatic decision to purchase his pragmatic decision to purchase
Louisiana, Jefferson proved himself to be primarily Louisiana, Jefferson proved himself to be primarily
an idealist through his handling of the Embargo Act an idealist through his handling of the Embargo Act
and the national debt. and the national debt.

22. A good thesis is placed at the end A good thesis is placed at the end
of the introductory paragraphof the introductory paragraph
A well-written thesis is well placed. Some students A well-written thesis is well placed. Some students
want to save their thesis for the last paragraph. want to save their thesis for the last paragraph.
Perhaps they think that the reader’s interest will be Perhaps they think that the reader’s interest will be
held if they create suspense. In reality the reader is held if they create suspense. In reality the reader is
more likely to be frustrated as he wonders what you more likely to be frustrated as he wonders what you
are trying to prove. Another mistake is to put the thesis are trying to prove. Another mistake is to put the thesis
as the very first sentence of the essay. This placement as the very first sentence of the essay. This placement
will not give the reader a chance to get his bearings. will not give the reader a chance to get his bearings.
Since one of the purposes of a thesis is to clearly lead Since one of the purposes of a thesis is to clearly lead
the reader through your paper, it makes sense to the reader through your paper, it makes sense to
place the thesis where the reader expects to find it. place the thesis where the reader expects to find it.
For this reason the best placement is the last For this reason the best placement is the last
sentence of the first paragraph.sentence of the first paragraph.

23. Want a formula?Want a formula?
Although………, Although………,
however……………however……………
because…………………….because…………………….