NHD TITLES REMEMBER THE FUNCTIONS OF A TITLE A good title does several things: First, it predicts content (subject matter.) Second, it catches the reader's interest. Third, it reflects the tone or slant of the piece of writing. Fourth, it contains keywords that will make it easy to access by a computer search. Keeping these functions in mind will help a writer choose a specific and meaningful title, not a mere label. THINK OF TITLE-WRITING AS A PROCESS, AND ALLOW YOURSELF TO STRETCH YOUR THINKING DURING THAT PROCESS. Like any piece of writing, an effective title does not appear in one magic moment; it takes brainstorming and revising.

Dynamite Titles Good Examples Poor Examples The Elizabethan Poor Law: Rights vs. Responsibilities Truth is a Defense: John Peter Zenger and Freedom of the Press Pure Democracy in Actions: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens in Classical Athens Nazi Germany and the Rights and Responsibilities of a “Superior” Race Lonely Voices: Conscientious Objectors in World War II America The Fort Bridger Treaty of 1863: Rights & Responsibilities Ignored Poor Examples Elizabethan Poor John Peter Zenger’s Truth Democracy in Athens Nazi Superior Racism The Responsibility of Conscientious Objectors Fort Hall Indians Treaty Broken

Thesis = Topic + Theme + Impact. Your thesis does not just introduce your topic. You are creating an argument that expresses your topic’s significance and demonstrates how the theme plays a central part in your topic’s impact. A thesis Paragraph BUILDS on topic + theme impact/change = thesis paragraph Rights and Responsiblities in History 5 Ws + How Topic definitions In history Historical context Historical perspective SO What??? How did your topic change history? Why is it important?

Develop a Thesis Statement NHD projects should do more than just tell a story. Every exhibit, performance, documentary, paper and web site should make a point about its topic. To do this, you must develop your own argument of the historical impact of the person, event, pattern or idea you are studying. The point you make is called a thesis statement. A thesis statement is not the same as a topic. Your thesis statement explains what you believe to be the impact and significance of your topic in history. Topic: The Fort Bridger Treaty of 1863: Rights & Responsibilities Ignored Thesis Statement: The Fort Bridger Treaty of 1863 granted the Shoshone-Bannock people the Fort Hall Indian Reservation as a “permanent home” with off-reservation rights to hunt, fish, and gather on “unoccupied lands of the United States.” The government’s attempts to turn the tribe members into farmers by denying off-reservation activity, violated the rights granted in the treaty. The government’s responsibilities as promised in the treaty were not fulfilled resulting in starvation and extreme poverty for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribe.

Let’s take a look at a “Don’t” and “Do” example: Don’t: Television helped John F. Kennedy win the 1960 election. The problem with this thesis is that it is lacking specific information and there is no concrete evidence to support the claim. Do: Television was a new communication tool widely available during the 1960 presidential campaign. Senator John F. Kennedy’s innovative use of this mass medium, particularly in the televised presidential debates, helped secure him the presidency over Vice President Richard M. Nixon. Kennedy’s victory marked a new era of political campaigning and changed the way Americans understand and receive their political candidates. Also make sure to work the theme words into your thesis statement, judges love that…

Examples of Thesis Statements Unacceptable: Teddy Roosevelt was a famous President. Acceptable: President Theodore Roosevelt’s “Square Deal” resulted in conservation efforts like the National Reclamation Act of 1902 increasing large-scaled irrigation of dry farmland. Labor unions played a major role in history. The National Labor Relations Act of 1935 (the Wagner Act), nicknamed the “Labor Bill of Rights,” greatly strengthened Labor Unions in the U.S. through the establishment of the National Labor Relations Board and the guarantee of workers the right to organize and bargain collectively.

So how do I write my thesis paragraph? You may want to follow this formula for writing your thesis paragraph . . . 2 sentences are your Thesis statement. Remember topic + theme + impact/change = thesis statement 4 sentences that include the historical context of your topic, how your topic affected others—its changes and impact. 1 sentence that explains your topic’s legacy (how it changed the world you live in) 1 sentence that has your conclusion—why you think your topic is important.