Guidelines to Thesis Writing5 Steps to Help you Succeed

3 Levels of Thesis Writing

Level 1: Restatementor the “Simple, Stupid Thesis”

◦This type of thesis simply restates the question without any interpretation

◦This level is NEVER acceptable in a APUSH essay

Level 1 Example:Prompt:

◦Evaluate how British imperial policy intensified colonial responses in regards to politics and economics during the 18th century.

Thesis:◦During the 18th century, British

imperial policy with regards to politics and economic intensified….

3 Levels of Thesis WritingLevel 2: Passive

◦Uses passive tenses◦Helps observe cause and effect

relationships

Level 2 ExamplePrompt:

◦Evaluate how British imperial policy intensified colonial responses in regards to politics and economics during the 18th century.

Thesis:◦American resistance and

commitment to republican values came out of British Imperial policy through PPE means…

3 Levels of Thesis WritingLevel 2.5 Thesis

◦Changes PERSIA categories into more specific examples

◦Still Passive

Example: ◦American resistance and commitment to

republican values came out of Britain attempting to reassert her authority through greater taxation and the limiting of colonial rights.

3 Levels of Thesis WritingLevel 3 Thesis: Advanced

◦Active Voice◦Sophisticated and Specific Categories

Example: ◦“As the French and Indian War ended, the

British Empire believed that it needed to reassert its authority through greater taxation and the limiting of colonial rights, leading to increased American resistance and their commitment to republican values.”

So how do you write a great

thesis?

Step 1: Read the Prompt(And the directions)What are the key terms or

phrases?◦Underline, Circle, Connect

What is the prompt asking?◦If you don’t understand what the

prompt is asking, you are not going to score well on the essay

Step 2: BrainstormWhat information is necessary to

answer the prompt?What do I know about the

subject?What categories seem work best?

◦PERSIAUse a Graphic Organizer

◦Outline, Web, T-Chart, Double-Bubble, or Timeline

Step 3: Preliminary thesis◦This will be a level 1 or 2 thesis

based upon your current skill levelProvide an answer to the PromptProvide areas of categorizationProvide similarities and

differences (for a comparison essay)

Provide change and continuity (for Change over Time essay)

Step 4: Reevaluate and RecategorizeDo the categories accurately

reflect your evidence?Can you move from the PERSIA

topics and into more descriptive categories?

Turn your Thesis into a Level 2.5 or 3

Step 5: WriteStructure your Thesis Paragraph

Remember the SATS Set the Scene Address the Question Take a Position Signpost

Continue writing your essay.

How did the economic, geographic, and social factors encourage the growth of slavery as an important part of the economy of the southern colonies between 1607 and 1775?