How To Write a Great Thesis

APUSH

Writing a Good Thesis• Explain why entirely different economic and social

systems evolved within the three colonial regions of British North America even though the preponderance of settlers was of English origin.

• Use two of the following as evidence in your essay– Massachusetts's Bay– Virginia– Pennsylvania

• SUGGESTION– Note time frame– Note task demanded

• Analyze: determine their component parts; examine their relationship.

• Compare: Examine to note similarities and differences.• Contrast: examine in order to show dissimilarities or points of

difference• Describe: to give an account of; to tell about• Explain: make clear the causes or reasons for; detail; tell the

meaning of• Assess / Evaluate: judge the value of something; evaluate the

positive points and the negative ones; give an opinion regarding the value of; discuss the advantages and disadvantages of.

• Discuss: consider or examine by argument or from various points of view; debate; present the different sides of.

Organizing the Essay• Sometimes an essay prompt will have sub topics• Sometimes no subtopics are specified• Useful tool for analysis?

B = politicalA = America in the world

G = geography/environmentP = politicsI= identityP = peopling/ movementsE = economic/technologyS= social

Slavery Short Ans• 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?– Provide 2 economic, 2 geographic and 2

social factors– Make sure to analyze. How did these

factors promote slavery?– You may bullet your answers– Work alone or with a partner

Plan Your Essay• Make your colonial selections• Brainstorm about the two colonies economic and social systems• Then, brainstorm why they might have been different (Use

BAGPIPE)– Side note: If this was a compare and contrast essay, you

would need to find a point of comparison. And saying that they both had economic and social systems doesn’t cut it!!!!

• How will you analyze? (REMEMBER you are contrasting to use what you've learned to construct an argument or evaluation).– By colony?– By topic?

• YOU ALWAYS WRITE BY TOPIC!!!!• YOUR THESIS must state an opinion and contain categories (3)

you plan to use to prove it

Explain why entirely different economic and social systems evolved within the three colonial regions of British North America even though the preponderance of settlers was of

English origin. Use 2 of the following as evidence in your essay: Massachusetts Bay, Virginia, Pennsylvania.

“Located in warm-weather, moist, fertile areas, colonists in Virginia could grow just about any crop, but settlers in Massachusetts Bay faced long, cold winters and rocky soil if they wished to support themselves with farming. Virginia and Massachusetts Bay were both settled by English colonists, but because of their different religious beliefs and the kinds of environment that enveloped the settlers, the economic and social structures of each colony were radically different.”

1. Is this a strong, adequate, or weak thesis?2. What are its strengths and/or shortcomings?

Explain why entirely different economic and social systems evolved within the three colonial regions of British North America even though the preponderance of settlers was of

English origin. Use 2 of the following as evidence in your essay: Massachusetts Bay, Virginia, Pennsylvania.

“Most people are different from each other. Virginia and Pennsylvania were also very different from each other. Different kinds of people and ways of life were found in each colony. Even though both Virginia and Pennsylvania were settled by Englishmen, they had different economic and social systems.”

1. Is this a strong, adequate, or weak thesis?2. What are its strengths and/or shortcomings?

SEE HOW THIS HIGHLIGHTS WHAT I SAID IN THE SIDE NOTE OF SLIDE #5

Explain why entirely different economic and social systems evolved within the three colonial regions of British North America even though the preponderance of settlers was of English

origin. Use 2 of the following as evidence in your essay: Massachusetts Bay, Virginia, Pennsylvania.

“Even though English settlers colonized both Massachusetts Bay and Virginia, the unique economic and social systems that evolved in each colony took on regional differences. The kinds of settlers who arrived in Virginia were significantly different in their religious orientation from those who settled Massachusetts. The environment in which each group of settlers found themselves forced differences in how each colony found economic prosperity. Finally, the personal purposes for which each group of settlers immigrated to the New world would have a profound impact upon the kinds of societies which evolved in each colony. Religion, environment, and the individual goals of each settler would create different economic and social systems within each colonial region represented by Massachusetts and Virginia.”

1. Is this a strong, adequate, or weak thesis?2. What are its strengths and/or shortcomings?