History Essays Part 1 - The Introduction

A Good Thesis Statement It’s easier than you think

Remember... You must address the prompt - the number one reason students don’t earn points is that they don’t “answer” the prompt It should be as clear and concise as possible

The Prompt Read it twice! Note the verbs and conjunctions - many prompts are complex and you need to address all parts Note the time period - you must stay within the time period for maximum points

Practice Analyze the effect of the French & Indian War and its aftermath on the relationship between Great Britain and the British colonies. Confine your response to the period from 1754 to 1776.

Pay Attention to the Verb! Do NOT simply restate the prompt Include your analysis/opinion What would restating the prompt look like? Between 1754 and 1776, the French and Indian War and its aftermath affected the relationship between Great Britain and the British colonies. No analysis there...

Reword it! Although many factors affected the relationship between Great Britain and the American colonies, the French and Indian War and its aftermath, caused irreparable damage and eventually led to the American Revolution. Analysis = “caused irreparable damage and eventually led to the American Revolution.” Recent rubrics give the highest number of points to essays that address the complexity of the prompt. Using “although” in your thesis statement helps show you understand that complexity.

Organize & Analyze The experience of American colonists during the French and Indian War, combined with the end of salutary neglect, and restrictions on colonial expansion after the war, caused irreparable damage to the relationship between the colonies and Great Britain. ADVANTAGE: Organizational categories in the thesis make writing the body paragraphs easier by providing topics.

Let’s Try Another Compare and contrast the British, French, and Spanish imperial goals in North America between 1580 and 1763.

Where to start? Compare = how are the motivations alike? Contrast = how are the motivations different? Money - did they make it the same way? Religion - to convert heathens or to gain freedom of worship Colonization/Expansion Spain France Britain

Compare & Contrast Write down common motivations Write down differences in motivations Analyze - more alike or more diverse? Formulate a thesis statement

Samples Although the British, French, and Spanish had economic, political, and religious goals in North America, they adapted their goals over time based on the realities of the geographic regions they settled. While acquiring wealth was the primary imperial goal for the British, French, and Spanish, the way they made money varied and each country had secondary goals that differed from one another.

When all else fails...restate & fix Between 1580 and 1767, the British, French, and Spanish had some similar goals and some different goals in North America. What was similar? They all wanted money & power What was different? How they made money, the geography, the immigrants, the religious goals, interaction with Native Americans

Intro Paragraph Does not need to be very long. Set the background with a sentence or two. Include your thesis - usually at the end but can vary based on your skill level. If you can’t fit organization into your thesis, write it as a separate sentence.

Example of Separate Organizational Sentence Although many factors affected the relationship between Great Britain and the American colonies, the French and Indian War and its aftermath, caused irreparable damage and eventually led to the American Revolution. The issues included cultural differences, the colonists’ desire to expand beyond the Appalachian Mountains, and colonial taxation and representation.