1. WRT Zone Workshop Thesis Development, Paper Organization, Evernote, and MLA

2. Thesis Statements Developed by Stephen Austin, Erin Bell, Sidne Lyon, Kerin Ogg, Tori Reeder

3. The Basics: History  A clear thesis statement is crucial to managing writing tasks.  An effective thesis statement responds to all key components of the question posed.  It provides an answer, or hypothesis, which the entire essay will support or explain.  Finally, if the thesis is clear enough, it should suggest a structure for the entire essay, one that will deal with all key facets of the question or problem posed. › http://teachinghistory.org/teaching- materials/teaching-guides/22206 http://teachinghistory.org/teaching- materials/teaching-guides/22206

4. Example 1  Idea 1. If your paper assignment asks you to answer a specific question, turn the question into an assertion and give reasons for your opinion.  Assignment: How did domestic labor change between 1820 and 1860? Why were the changes in their work important for the growth of the United States?  Beginning thesis: Between 1820 and 1860 women's domestic labor changed as women stopped producing home-made fabric, although they continued to sew their families' clothes, as well as to produce butter and soap. With the cash women earned from the sale of their butter and soap they purchased ready-made cloth, which in turn, helped increase industrial production in the United States before the Civil War.  http://clas.uiowa.edu/history/teaching-and-writing- center/guides/argumentation http://clas.uiowa.edu/history/teaching-and-writing- center/guides/argumentation

5. Example 2  Idea 2. Write a sentence that summarizes the main idea of the essay you plan to write.  Main Idea: Women's labor in their homes during the first half of the nineteenth century contributed to the growth of the national economy.

6. Example 1  If your paper assignment asks you to answer a specific question, turn the question into an assertion and give reasons for your opinion.  Assignment: How did domestic labor change between 1820 and 1860? Why were the changes in their work important for the growth of the United States?  Beginning thesis: Between 1820 and 1860 women's domestic labor changed as women stopped producing home-made fabric, although they continued to sew their families' clothes, as well as to produce butter and soap. With the cash women earned from the sale of their butter and soap they purchased ready-made cloth, which in turn, helped increase industrial production in the United States before the Civil War.  http://clas.uiowa.edu/history/teaching-and-writing- center/guides/argumentation http://clas.uiowa.edu/history/teaching-and-writing- center/guides/argumentation

7. Example 2  Write a sentence that summarizes the main idea of the essay you plan to write.  Main Idea: Women's labor in their homes during the first half of the nineteenth century contributed to the growth of the national economy.  http://clas.uiowa.edu/history/teaching-and- writing-center/guides/argumentation http://clas.uiowa.edu/history/teaching-and- writing-center/guides/argumentation

8. The Basics “Every paper must argue an idea and every paper must clearly state that idea in a thesis statement”. http://cas.umw.edu/historyamericanstudies/history-department- resources/final-papers/thesis-statements/

9. Example 3  Use a formula to develop a working thesis statement (which you will need to revise later). Here are a few examples:  Although most readers of ______ have argued that ______, closer examination shows that ______.  ______ uses ______ and ______ to prove that ______.  Phenomenon X is a result of the combination of ______, ______, and ______.  These formulas share two characteristics all thesis statements should have: they state an argument and they reveal how you will make that argument. They are not specific enough, however, and require more work.  http://clas.uiowa.edu/history/teaching-and-writing- center/guides/argumentation http://clas.uiowa.edu/history/teaching-and-writing- center/guides/argumentation

10. References  Guide, Teaching. Student Activity 3: Putting the Thesis Statement to Work. Web..  "History." Writing a Thesis and Making an Argument. Web. 22 Sept. 2014..  Student Activity 1: What Is a Thesis Statement? Web..  "Teaching History.org, Home of the National History Education Clearinghouse." Stating Your Case: Writing Thesis Statements Effectively. Web. 22 Sept. 2014..  "Thesis Statements | History and American Studies." History and American Studies. Web. 22 Sept. 2014..