https://media.ccconline.org/ccco/2019Master/HIS122/eText/Sections/Section3/Page47.html
This link is about my textbook.
Module 1: Discussion Resources
Suggested Readings to help you Write your Discussions:
Most of the following are primary sources. They will help you to answer the discussion questions. You do not have to read all the suggested readings, and you may search for other primary sources to help with your discussions, but always be sure to use a mix of sources to support your points.
Reconstruction
Anderson, Jordan. “Jordan Anderson Writes his Former Master.” 1865. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/reconstruction/jourdon-anderson-writes-his-former-master-1865/ .
Douglass, Frederick. “Remembering the Civil War.” 1877. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/reconstruction/frederick-douglass-on-remembering-the-civil-war-1877/ .
Forten, Charlotte. “Charlotte Forten Teaches Freed Children in South Carolina.” 1864. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/reconstruction/charlotte-forten-teaches-freed-children-in-south-carolina-1864/ .
Kelly, Thomas. “Fifteenth Amendment Print.” 1870. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/fifteenth-amendment/ .
Knights of the Golden Circle. “Intimidating Former Slaves.” June 4, 1868. At Digital History. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=3682 .
Lincoln, Abraham. “Second Inaugural Address.” March 4, 1865. At The Library of Congress. https://cdn.loc.gov/service/mss/mal/436/4361300/4361300.pdf .
Linder, Douglas. “The Impeachment Trial of Andrew Johnson: An Account.” Famous Trials. University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School. http://famous-trials.com/johnson/488-home .
“Louisiana & Mississippi Black Codes.” 1865. At SageAmericanHistory.net. http://sageamericanhistory.net/reconstruction/documents/southernblackcodes.html .
Long, Thomas. “A Black Union Soldier Comments on Treatment by Southerners.” 1870. At Digital History. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=4559 .
Mississippi Black Code. 1865. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/reconstruction/mississippi-black-code-1865/ .
Nast, Thomas. “Johnson and Reconstruction Cartoon.” 1866. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/johnson-and-reconstruction/ .
National Archives. “The Freedmen’s Bureau.” National Archives Educator Resources. Accessed November 11, 2018. http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/freedmen.html .
“President Johnson’s Amnesty Proclamation.; Restoration to Rights of Property Except in Slaves. An Oath of Loyalty as a Condition of Precedent. Legality of Confiscation Proceedings Recognized. Exception of Certain Offenders from this Amnesty. By These Special Applications for Pardon May be Made. Reorganization in North Carolina. Appointment of a Provisional Governor. A State Convention to be Chosen by Loyal Citizens. The Machinery of the Federal Government to be Putin Operation. AMNESTY PROCLAMATION.” New York Times, May 30, 1865. https://www.nytimes.com/1865/05/30/archives/president-johnsons-amnesty- proclamation-restoration-to-rights-of.html .
Reagan, John H.. “Reconstruction in Texas.” August 1865. At Digital History. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=3680 .
Reynolds, J. J.. “General Reynolds Describes the Lawlessness in Texas.” 1868. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/reconstruction/general-reynolds-describes-lawlessness-in-texas-1868/ .
US Congress. “Proceedings of the Senate Sitting for the Trial of Andrew Johnson.” February 24 – March 4, 1868. At Famous Trials. University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School. https://famous-trials.com/johnson/471-articles .
US Congress. “The Wade-Davis Bill (1864).” July 8, 1864. At The National Archives. https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=false&doc=37&page=transcript .
Gilded Age
Carnegie, Andrew. “The Gospel of Wealth, 1889.” At Modern History Sourcebook. Fordham University. https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/mod/1889carnegie.asp .
Carnegie, Andrew. “Andrew Carnegie on “The Triumph of America” (1895).” At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/18-industrial-america/andrew-carnegie-on-the-triumph-of-america-1885/ .
Cleveland, Grover. “Grover Cleveland’s Veto of the Texas Seed Bill (February 16, 1887).” At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/16-capital-and-labor/grover-clevelands-veto-of-the-texas-seed-bill-february-16-1887/ .
Debs, Eugene. “How I Became a Socialist.” April 1902. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/20-the-progressive-era/eugene-debs-how-i-became-a-socialist-april-1902/ .
George, Henry. “Henry George, Progress and Poverty, Selections (1879).” At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/16-capital-and-labor/henry-george-progress-and-poverty-selections-1879/ .
Gompers, Samuel. The Samuel Gompers Papers. At University of Maryland. http://www.gompers.umd.edu/documents.htm .*
*Note that this is an index and not a single source. You must use a specific source found at this index.
Graetz, Friedrich. “The Tournament of Today – A Set-To Between Labor and Monopoly.” August 1, 1883. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/16-capital-and-labor/the-tournament-of-today-a-set-to-between-labor-and-monopoly/ .
Keppler, Udo. “Next!” 1904. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/20-the-progressive-era/standard-oil/ .
“Lawrence Textile Strike, 1912.” At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/16-capital-and-labor/18_lawrence_lc-usz62-23725-1000x5621/ .
People’s Party. “The “Omaha Platform” of the People’s Party (1892).” At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/16-capital-and-labor/the-omaha-platform-of-the-peoples-party-1892/ .
Riis, Jacob. How the Other Half Lives: Studies Among the Tenements of New York. New York: Charles Scribner’s & Sons, 1890. Ebook. https://www.bartleby.com/208/ .
Sumner, William Graham. “William Graham Sumner on Social Darwinism (ca. 1880s).” At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/16-capital-and-labor/william-graham-sumner-on-social-darwnism-ca-1880s/ .
Module 2: Discussion Resources
Suggested Readings to help you Write your Discussions:
Most of the following are primary sources. They will help you to answer the discussion questions. You do not have to read all the suggested readings, and you may search for other primary sources to help with your discussions, but always be sure to use a mix of sources to support your points.
Progressivism
Adams, Henry. “The Education of Henry Adams (1918).” At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/18-industrial-america/henry-adams-the-education-of-henry-adams-1918/.
Addams, Jane. “The Subjective Necessity for Social Settlements.” 1892. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/20-the-progressive-era/jane-addams-the-subjective-necessity-for-social-settlements-1892/.
Addams, Jane. “Why Women Should Vote.” 1915. At Modern History Sourcebook. Fordham University. https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/mod/1915janeadams-vote.asp.
Anthony, Susan B. “On Women’s Right to Vote.” 1873. At Digital History. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=3604.
Blackwell, Alice Stone. “Answering Objections to Women’s Suffrage.” 1917. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/20-the-progressive-era/alice-stone-blackwell-answering-objections-to-womens-suffrage-1917/.
“College Day on the Picket Line.” 1917. At The American Yawp Reader. h ttp://www.americanyawp.com/reader/20-the-progressive-era/womens-suffrage/.
Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. “Why I Wrote The Yellow Wallpaper” (1913). At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/18-industrial-america/charlotte-perkins-gilman-why-i-wrote-the-yellow-wallpaper-1913/.
Grady, Henry. “Henry Grady on the New South (1886).” At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/18-industrial-america/henry-grady-on-the-new-south-1886/.
Rauschenbusch, Walter. “Christianity and the Social Crisis.” 1907. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/20-the-progressive-era/walter-rauschenbusch-christianity-and-the-social-crisis-1907/.
“Titanic Sinks Four Hours After Hitting Iceberg; 866 Rescued by Carpathia, Probably 1,250 Perish; Ismay Safe, Mrs. Astor Maybe, Noted Names Missing.” New York Times, April 15, 1912. https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/0415.html.
Washington, Booker T. and W.E.B. DuBois. “On Black Progress (1895, 1903).” At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/20-the-progressive-era/booker-t-washington-w-e-b-dubois-on-black-progress-1895-1903/.
Wells-Barnett, Ida B.. “Lynch Law in America.” 1900. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/18-industrial-america/ida-b-wells-barnett-lynch-law-in-america-1900/.
Wilson, Woodrow. “Excerpt from the New Freedom: “What is Liberty?” (1912).” At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/20-the-progressive-era/woodrow-wilson-on-the-new-freedom-1912/.
Immigration
Chew, Lee. “The Life of a Chinese Immigrant.” 1903. At Digital History. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=40.
Phelan, James D.. “Why The Chinese Should be Excluded.” 1901. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/19-american-empire/james-d-phelan-why-the-chinese-should-be-excluded-1901/.
US Congress. “Chinese Exclusion Act, 1882.” At Our Documents. National Archives. https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=false&doc=47.
Native American Policies
Arthur, Chester A.. “Chester A. Arthur on American Indian Policy (1881).” At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/17-conquering-the-west/chester-a-arthur-on-american-indian-policy-1881/.
Chief Joseph. “Chief Joseph on Indian Affairs.” 1877, 1879. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/17-conquering-the-west/chief-joseph-on-indian-affairs-1877-1879/.
Chivington, John M.. “Testimony of Colonel J. M. Chivington.” April 26, 1865. At Klonewolf.com. https://www.kclonewolf.com/History/SandCreek/sc-documents/sc-chivington-testimony.html .
Hornady, William T.. “William T. Hornady on the Extermination of the American Bison (1889).” At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/17-conquering-the-west/william-t-hornady-on-the-extermination-of-the-american-bison-1889/.
Reno, M.A.. “Report on the Battle of the Little Bighorn.” July 5, 1876. At Digital History. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=4021.
Smith, John S. “Congressional Testimony by John S. Smith, an Eyewitness to the Massacre.” March 14, 1865. At Encyclopedia.com. https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/smith-john-s .
Turner, Frederick Jackson. “Frederick Jackson Turner, “Significance of the Frontier in American History” (1893).” At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/17-conquering-the-west/frederick-jackson-turner-significance-of-the-frontier-in-american-history-1893/.
US Congress and the Sioux Nation of Indians. The Fort Laramie Treaty. 1868. At Our Documents. National Archives. https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=false&doc=42.
American Imperialism
“The Annexation of Hawaii: Excerpts from the Blount Report.” 1893. At Digital History. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=1104.
Hay, John. “The First ‘Open Door Note’.” September 6, 1899. At World War I Document Archive. https://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/The_First_%27Open_Door_Note%27'.
James, William. “William James on “The Philippines Question” (1903).” At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/19-american-empire/william-james-on-the-philippine-question-1903/.
Kipling, Rudyard. “The White Man’s Burden.” 1899. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/19-american-empire/rudyard-kipling-the-white-mans-burden-1899/.
McKinley, William. “William McKinley on American Expansionism (1903).” At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/19-american-empire/william-mckinley-on-american-expanionism-1903/.
Puck. “School Begins.” Puck, January 25, 1899. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/19-american-empire/school-begins11/.
Pughe, John S.. “Declined with Thanks.” Puck, September 5, 1900. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/19-american-empire/mckinleynationalexpansionunclesampulitzer1/ .
Twain, Mark. “The War Prayer.” ca. 1904 – 05. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/19-american-empire/mark-twain-the-war-prayer-ca-1904-5/.
US Congress. “The Platt Amendment.” 1901. At Modern History Sourcebook. Fordham University. https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/mod/1901platt.asp.
The Spanish American War/ Yellow Journalism
Barritt, Leon. “Yellow journalism cartoon.” June 29, 1898. At Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PulitzerHearstWarYellowKids.jpg.
“The Disaster to the Battle-ship “Maine.” Harper’s Weekly, February 26, 1898. At Gilder Lehrman Institute. https://www.gilderlehrman.org/sites/default/files/inline-pdfs/08833.pdf.
Historical Thinking Matters. “Spanish American War: Sources: The New York Journal, The New York Times.” http://historicalthinkingmatters.org/spanishamericanwar/0/inquiry/intro/resources/9/.
The Library of Congress. “Topics in Chronicling America – Major Events of the Spanish-American War.” The Library of Congress. http://www.loc.gov/rr/news/topics/spanishAmWar.html.*
*Note: this is an index of sources. You need to select specific sources from the index.
The Library of Congress. “Topics in Chronicling America – The Sinking of the Maine.”The Library of Congress. https://guides.loc.gov/chronicling-america-sinking-maine
“The Maine Blown Up.” New York Times, February 15, 1898. https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/0215.html.
McKinley, William. “War Message.” 1898. At Digital History. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=1373.
New York Journal. Front Page, February 17, 1898. At Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Journal98.gif.
New York World. Front Page, February 17, 1898. At Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:World98.jpg.
Zimmerman, Thomas. “Causes of the War.” Thespanishamericanwar.info. 2008. Accessed November 30, 2018. http://www.spanishamericanwar.info/causes.htm.*
*Note: There are a lot of primary sources linked on this page. You need to reference one or more of these specifically and not the secondary source website.
Module 3: Discussion Resources
Suggested Readings to help you Write your Discussions:
Most of the following are primary sources. They will help you to answer the discussion questions. You do not have to read all the suggested readings, and you may search for other primary sources to help with your discussions, but always be sure to use a mix of sources to support your points.
World War I
“Boy Scout Charge.” 1917. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/21-world-war-i/boy_scouts_ngm-v31-p3591/ .
Flagg, James Montgomery. “I Want You.” ca. 1917. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/21-world-war-i/uncle-sam/ .
Goldman, Emma. “Emma Goldman on Patriotism.” July 9, 1917. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/21-world-war-i/emma-goldman-on-patriotism-july-9-1917/ .
Seeger, Alan. “Alan Seeger on World War I.” 1914. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/21-world-war-i/alan-seeger-on-world-war-i-1914-1916/ .
“The Senate Debates the League of Nations.” 1919. At Digital History. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=3909 .
US Congress. “The Sedition Act of 1918.” At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/21-world-war-i/the-sedition-act-of-1918-1918/ .
Wilson, Woodrow. “Woodrow Wilson’s War Message.” February 3, 1917. At Digital History. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=3899 .
Wilson, Woodrow. “Woodrow Wilson Requests War.” April 2, 1917. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/21-world-war-i/woodrow-wilson-requests-war-april-2-1917/ .
“The Zimmerman Note.” January 19, 1917. At Digital History. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=3900 .
The “Roaring” Twenties
“Advertising Section.” Photoplay, October 1924. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/22-the-new-era/advertising/ .
DuBois, W.E.B.. “Returning Soldiers.” May 1919. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/21-world-war-i/w-e-b-dubois-returning-soldiers-may-1919/ .
Eastman, Crystal. “Now We Can Begin.” 1920. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/22-the-new-era/crystal-eastman-now-we-can-begin-1920/ .
Evans, Hiram. “The Klan’s Fight for Americanism.” 1926. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/22-the-new-era/hiram-evans-on-the-the-klans-fight-for-americanism-1926/ .
Garvey, Marcus. “Explanation of the Objects of the Universal Negro Improvement Association.” 1921. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/22-the-new-era/marcus-garvey-explanation-of-the-objects-of-the-universal-negro-improvement-association-1921/ .
Harding, Warren G.. “Return to Normalcy.” 1920. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/22-the-new-era/warren-g-harding-and-the-return-to-normalcy-1920/ .
Hoover, Herbert. “Principles and Ideals of the United States Government.” 1928. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/22-the-new-era/herbert-hoover-principles-and-ideals-of-the-united-states-government-1928/ .
Hughes, Langston. “Drafts of Langston Hughes’s poem “Ballad of Booker T.”” May 30 – June 1, 1941. At The Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/resource/mcc.024/?st=gallery
Locke, Alain. “The New Negro.” 1925. At Digital History. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=3617 .
Palmer, A. Mitchell. “The Case Against the Reds.” 1920. At Digital History. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=3992 .
“The Scopes Trial Excerpts from the Textbook John Scopes Used in Class.” 1914. At Digital History. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=1134 .
Smith, Ellison Durant. “Shut the Door” Speech. April 9, 1924. At CommonLit.org. https://www.commonlit.org/texts/shut-the-door-speech.
Underwood and Underwood. “Klan Assembles a Short Distance from US Capitol.” ca. 1920s. At The American Yawp Reader. http://www.americanyawp.com/reader/22-the-new-era/klan-gathering/ .
John Smith
HIS122
Professor Cynthia Krutsinger
January 1, 2017
Thesis: The trial of Tituba and her claims to witchcraft set the precedent for future arrests and
trials under the allegation of witchcraft. The hysteria surrounding her case was a major catalyst
for the period of time known as the Salem Witch Trials.
Outline:
I) Introduction
II) Background information to the life and crimes of Tituba.
A) A section on Tituba’s life as a slave taken from Barbados.
B) Betty and her cousin, Abigail, experienced strange pains and fits that they claimed to be
caused by Tituba.
C) Evidence of Betty and Abigail’s claims incorporated from the testimony at Tituba’s trial. III) The circumstances surrounding the trial.
A) People began coming forward claiming Tituba practiced voodoo and fortune telling.
1) Evidence of these claims from testimony at her trial.
B) Next will be a description of the racial xenophobia of America at that time.
1) Background evidence of the racial laws and xenophobia from secondary sources.
C) A description of Puritan culture and their belief in living a pure simple life with no time
or mercy for their sins or the sins of others and the belief that no sin should go
unpunished.
1) Evidence from Puritan laws and sermons from 17th century New England.
D) There was a distinct lack of rights due to the fact Tituba is a black slave.
E) Tituba’s testimony claimed the Devil made her do it and that other of her friends had
bewitching powers.
1) Evidence from Tituba’s testimony and the accusations against her. IV) The historical effects of the trial that show the precedent set.
A) Tituba’s confessions to being a witch and ability to do other worldly things legitimized
the already existing suspicions of early Salem colonists about witchcraft especially due to
racial and classist prejudices of the people at that time. Her being a black slave possessed
by the Devil played to their pre-existing suspicions of all black people and all slaves as
being the Devil’s minions.
B) Tituba’s very public trial sparked the idea that the Devil was now living in Salem and
could possibly be possessing anyone.
C) Thus began the Salem Witch Trials of many other people who were claimed by those
surrounding them to have demonic power.
V) Conclusion including a reiteration of the thesis and proof.
Module 3: Thesis Statement and Outline
Overview
For this assignment, you will be drafting your thesis statement and creating a plan for writing your paper through the creation of a full sentence outline.
Instructions
· Review the How to Write a Thesis Statement for History in the eText .
· Based on the topic you chose and your instructor approved earlier, draft a one to two sentence argumentative thesis statement.
· Write a full sentence outline in outline format with at least three main arguments or support (see the arguments you included in your thesis statement).
· Each argument should have at least one to two subtopics.
· Make sure you review the example Thesis Statement and Outline to review the layout.
· Once you are satisfied that you have included all the required elements, submit your completed Thesis Statement and Outline to the Assignment folder by the due date on the Course Schedule in .docx or .rtf format (no PDFs).
How to Write A Thesis Statement for History
A thesis statement is one to two sentences that clearly and decisively state your research papers main argument or main idea and explains why. If you believe that your thesis statement needs to three sentences or more, then you probably have not clearly defined the main point of your paper.
A thesis statement is a declarative sentence, not a question. Often it helps to begin with a research question. What do you want to answer with your research? The answer to your research question is your thesis.
The thesis statement should be the last sentence of your introductory paragraph. Your introductory paragraph is designed to bring the reader into your essay and grab his or her interest. The thesis statement will then act as a key to a map. It will tell your reader what you will be arguing and how you are going to get there. This tells your audience from the very beginning how you have interpreted the history you are discussing.
Don’t be afraid to change your thesis statement. The thesis statement you create for this assignment, like your bibliography, is a working one. Your ideas, interpretation or focus may change as you write your essay. Your thesis statement doesn’t need to be static. It’s fine to go back and change your thesis statement to match your final draft.
Mary Lynn Rampolla, in her A Pocket Guide to Writing in History, tells us “A history paper, like many other kinds of academic writing, usually takes the form of an argument in support of a thesis – a statement that reflects the conclusion you have reached about your topic after a careful analysis of the sources.” 1 As you develop your thesis, keep these points in mind:
· A thesis is not a description of your topic.
· A thesis is not a question.
· A thesis is not a statement of fact.
· A thesis is not a statement of opinion. It is your interpretation based on evidence from your sources.
So what is a thesis statement? “a thesis is a statement that reflects what you have concluded about the topic of your paper, based on a critical analysis and interpretation of the source materials you have examined.” 2
· The thesis is not a question, but it does answer your research question. .
· A thesis is specific. It tries to tell the reader what happened in a particular event in history, and why. It is focused and specific enough to be “proven” within the boundaries of your paper. If you need 12 pages to prove your thesis, then your thesis is not focused enough. .
· The thesis is argumentative or debatable. It takes a stand – THIS happened in THIS way for THIS reason. Someone must be able to disagree with your statement. If you do not take a stand, if you are stating a truth that is so obvious you don’t have a stand, then you probably have a statement of fact, and not a thesis. For example, no one can argue that Columbus sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in 1492, so this is not a thesis statement. .
· A thesis statement for history answers a historical question. WHY did this happen this way? What were the causes, effects, influences on – the answer to each question is the beginning of your thesis. .
· A thesis statement for history should be closed. The thesis should act as the key to the map. The reader knows where the paper is going and how the writer is going to get there.
|
If... |
Then... |
|
Your proposed thesis does no more than repeat the topic you are writing about… |
It is not a thesis. |
|
Your proposed thesis poses a question without suggesting an answer… |
It is not a thesis. |
|
Your proposed thesis articulates a fact or a series of facts… |
It is not a thesis. |
|
Your proposed thesis reflects a personal belief or preference… |
It is not a thesis. |
BUT
|
If... |
Then... |
|
Your proposed thesis: · Suggests an answer to a question you proposed while reading, and · is specific rather than general, and · is debatable or argumentative, and · Can be supported by evidence from sources, and · Is closed, laying out the major arguments of your paper |
It is a thesis. |
A thesis involving a single person, or region for a single event or decade is likely a better thesis than one that tries to describe all people for centuries on end. For example, a thesis about Nat Turner’s Rebellion would be much more focused than one on slavery in the British colonies. Avoid sweeping generalities. Avoid words like “all,” “always,” “every;” these will make your thesis too general. Don’t exaggerate or use hyperbole. Get rid of terms like “Throughout history” and “everyone knows”. Time periods discussed in a thesis should be very limited as should the number of people discussion, for the same reasons.
There is no one way to write a thesis statement for history, but sometimes it is helpful to begin with a formula. In general, a thesis statement makes a claim and includes the major support or topics to prove your claim. Thus a general formula for a closed argumentative thesis statement is:
Claim, as [seen, illustrated, proven, etc.] by X, Y, and Z.
The verb used in a thesis statement is up to you, but in general you need to connect your support (X, Y, and Z) to your Claim.
Watch the following video for more information on how to create a thesis statement for history:
OWL Purdue also has some helpful tips on how to create various types of thesis statements as well. Make sure you focus on argumentative thesis statements!
Creating an Outline
An outline is basically a table of contents for your paper in full sentence format. The purpose of the outline is to help you plan your project by organizing your big paper into smaller parts that are ordered logically. The second purpose is to list not only the various topics of your project, but also to make sure you have evidence for every topic. When you’ve done your outline, if there are topics without evidence, you know you need to go back to your research for quotations and other evidence for that topic. Remember, you should have at least one quotation or other piece of evidence for every paragraph.
In this class, the purpose of the outline also serves as a way for you to share your plan and major evidence/support with your instructor. Your instructor can then give you feedback and suggestions on any places you might need to change or add to make a stronger argumentative research paper.
Please see the example in this module to visualize what your Thesis and Outline assignment should look like. You may also reference the Alphanumeric Outline at Purdue OWL (see Full Sentence Outlines).
This video will help you use MS Word to automatically make an alphanumeric outline.
Here is the professor's feedback on M1 and M2.
M1
This is extremely general and does not propose a narrowly focused argument research essay. You have no specific time period or specific area or specific act of racial violence. Review some of your sources and see what examples they use in regards to racial violence and then focus on a specific event that is of most interest to you
M2
All of your sources are from the past 18 months and they are all academic journal articles. Why did you not try to find other source types? Moreover it is unclear if they are primary or secondary because of their publication date. It does not indicate if it was a long-term study and just happened to be published now. The Man and Spinner source appear to be primary sources.
Your annotations describe the source, but do not address the authors or how this will support your narrowly focused argument. These sources do look at racial violence, but there is not a narrow focus.
You failed to cite your sources correctly and completely in your preferred citation style - MLA, APA or Chicago. See attachments.
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