1. The A.P. U.S. Essay
The Thesis Statement

2. The thesis sentence is the most important sentence in any essay
The thesis sentence is the most important sentence in any essay. It must be clear, properly structured, and in the correct place.

3. A thesis statement. . . . “Answers” the prompt.
Makes a historically defensible claim.
Includes Categories of Analysis (COA)
Responds to all parts of the question.
Is a clearly and simply stated opinion.
Never simply restates the prompt.
Is located at the end of the introduction.

4. Be sure to read the entire prompt, making note of task being asked of you, the topic of the prompt, and the time period to be covered. After reading the whole prompt, and sketching out how you intend to proceed. . .
Answer the prompt in a simple sentence.
For instance, consider this DBQ prompt:
Explain the reasons why a new conservatism rose to prominence in the United States between and 1989.

5. What do you need to think about in this prompt?
Reasons why conservatism rose to prominence.
What occurred in the years that might have contributed?
YOUR OPINION IS ESSENTIAL!!!
And your opinion must be clear.
So. . .

6. Your reasons might include the following:
Economic uncertainties
The perception that America’s position in the world was slipping
The perception of an overly permissive liberal culture
Which is the most important reason?

7. Now that you know the reasons and your opinion of which is most important, you need to write a thesis statement.
Does the following statement meet the criteria of a good thesis statement?
There were many reasons why conservatism rose to prominence in the United States between 1960 and

8. Why not?
It barely answers the prompt.
It doesn’t make a historically defensible claim.
It doesn’t includes Categories of Analysis (COA)
There is no stated opinion.
It simply restates the prompt.

9. If the previous thesis statement was not good enough, how about this one? In the second half of the 20th century, a new conservatism slowly rose to due to a number of factors. These factors included increasing economic uncertainties, and a desire for a renewed sense of American strength and purpose in foreign policy. However, one of the most important underlying factors was a growing backlash against what was perceived as an overly permissive liberal culture.

10. Why?
It answers the prompt.
It makes a historically defensible claim.
It includes Categories of Analysis (COA)
It responds to all parts of the question.
It has a clearly and simply stated opinion.
It doesn’t simply restates the prompt.

11. Writing this kind of thesis sentence sets you up from the very beginning to make a historically defensible claim.
It also sets you up to develop a cohesive argument that accounts for historical complexity.

12. Having written your thesis statement, you are ready to put it into your essay introduction. For most A.P. U.S. History essays, an introduction paragraph starts with establishing context. (We will deal with context another day.)
The thesis statement should be at the end of your introduction paragraph.