Go with Life

Name ________________________________________ APUSH

Thesis statements

The “Claim”, or Thesis, Statement

In many ways, the most important part of any essay is the claim. The claim statement, otherwise known as the thesis, sets the tone for the essay. It outlines the major arguments of the paper; it demonstrates the methods the paper will be organized; and, it draws the reader into the essay. A quality claim statement is vital to the writing technique.

When writing a thesis statement, try the following method.

1. Sentences 1 & 2 -- Attention getters. These statements draw the reader into the paper, pulling the reader in so that he/she will want to read more

2. Sentence 3 – The claim. This statement directly states what you are planning to argue

3. Sentence 4 – Organization. This statement outlines the organization of your essay.

Opening paragraph:

Question: To what extent did the American Revolution fundamentally change American

society? In your answer, be sure to address the political, social, and economic effects of the Revolution in the period from 1775-1800.

It can be easy to consider the American Revolution a fairly conservative revolution. On the surface, little seemed to change: the colonial leadership remained the same, social distinctions were the norm, and class differences had developed. This superficial reading of the Revolution is false as profound shifts took place in American life. With the Revolution, a Pandora’s box of liberty and freedom was opened, forever changing the politics, economy, and society of the United States.

Practice

Prepare an introductory paragraph which might be used to answer the following essay question. Remember to follow the format as described above.

In the post–Civil War United States, corporations grew significantly in number, size, and influence. Analyze the impact of big business on the economy and politics and the responses of Americans to these changes. Confine...