1. HTS Workshop: Argumentation
Extending and Modifying a Thesis

2. Extending and Modifying a Thesis (Write this)
This lesson will examine alternative ways a thesis can be expressed to answer an essay prompt
Reminder: a thesis statement is an answer to a historical problem suggested by an essay/statement. You may assess the validity of the prompt by supporting, modifying, or refuting it.
Since the redesign, you may now earn credit for contradiction, corroboration, and/or qualification in accounting for historical complexity.

3. Extending and Modifying a Thesis (Write this)
Key to extending/modifying a thesis: as long as you can defend your position, it is permissible to challenge the ideas expressed by the question/statement. You must be able to support your contrary positions with facts.

4. Extending and Modifying a Thesis (Write this)
PROMPT STYLE
EXAMPLE
OUTCOME
Positive- Supports the prompt
Ideas in the prompt are easy to agree with
Expansion into Texas and Oregon greatly influenced the outcome of the presidential election of 1844
This is an accurate summary of the issues of the campaign, which would be easier to affirm the validity of the prompt
Negative- Challenges the prompt
Overstatement, inaccuracy about history
The Mexican War promoted American unity in the 1840s
This would be difficult to defend, so your thesis would negate the assertions being made
Positive & Negative- Acknowledges both agreement & disagreement with the prompt
Partially correct, it expresses ideas that you can defend, and others with which you disagree
The Compromise of 1850 contributed to sectional harmony in the United States
This is partially accurate; the Compromise soothed tensions briefly, but tensions flared up within four years. You would write a thesis that addresses both the positive and negative responses.

5. Practicing the Skill (You do not have to write this)
Directions: To practice writing positive, negative, and positive/negative thesis statements, look at the following essay prompts and their respective thesis statements. Notice that each prompt was first converted into a clarifying question and that the answer to the question became the thesis statement. By transforming the prompt into a question, you will be better able to decide the degree to which you agree or disagree with the ideas being expressed.

6. Practicing the Skill (You do not have to write this)
Example Prompt 1: Evaluate the extent to which the Polk administration’s policies toward Texas were the primary cause of the Mexican War.
Clarifying Question: Did President Polk’s policies cause the Mexican War?
Positive Thesis: President Polk’s aggressive and warlike stance toward Texas annexation caused armed conflict with Mexico in 1846.

7. Practicing the Skill (You do not have to write this)
Example Prompt 2: Evaluate the extent to which popular sovereignty was an effective means to deal with the question of slavery in the territories.
Clarifying Question: How effective was popular sovereignty in dealing with slavery in the territories?
Negative Thesis: Rather than promoting sectional harmony, the implementation of popular sovereignty became a divisive means of dealing with the question of slavery in the territories.

8. Practicing the Skill (You do not have to write this)
Example Prompt 3: Evaluate the extent to which Henry Clay’s political decline impacted the nation and his place in history in the early 1850s.
Clarifying Question: Did Henry Clay lose his political effectiveness and historical significance in the 1850s?
Postive/Negative Thesis: Although Henry Clay lost much of his political influence in the 1850s; he did author one last union-saving measure that solidified his place in history as “the Great Compromiser.”

9. Applying the Skill (You do not have to write this)
Directions: Look at the following three prompts. For each prompt, write a clarifying question on your notes, and then construct a thesis statement by answering the clarifying question. Write a positive thesis for the first prompt, a negative thesis for the second prompt, and a positive/negative thesis for the third.

10. Applying the Skill (Write this)
Exercise Prompt 1: Evaluate the extent to which southern actions and demands from reinforced the idea that a “slave power” existed in the United States.
Clarifying Question:
Positive Thesis:

11. Applying the Skill (Write this)
Exercise Prompt 2: Evaluate the extent to which President Polk’s “failure of nerve” cost America its achievement of the 54 degrees 40 minutes boundary of Oregon.
Clarifying Question:
Negative Thesis:

12. Applying the Skill (Write this)
Exercise Prompt 3: Evaluate the extent to which the land acquired in damaged the United States more than it benefited the nation’s development.
Clarifying Question:
Positive/ Negative Thesis: