Putting it All Together: Creating your Thesis Statement

How do I synthesize all this information into an argument?

My thesis statement is my answer to my essential question. It is based on the evidence, my analysis and the facts I corroborated from my sources.  My thesis statement can be one sentence, or a few sentences.  What is important is that my thesis statement clearly states my argument, and that I can support my argument with evidence and my evaluation of the sources.

My Essential Question: Why would British soldiers shoot and kill American colonists at the Boston Massacre?

My Thesis Statement:  Although Bostonians tried to depict themselves as innocent victims of British tyranny, long-simmering tensions between the townspeople of Boston and the soldiers themselves led almost unavoidably to the event that came to be known as the Boston Massacre.  Bostonians were resentful of the British soldiers stationed in their town.  The soldiers were bitter at the abuse and isolation they faced every day from the townspeople.  The tension between these two groups resulted in a series of fights and disputes between the townpeople and soldiers, of which the Boston Massacre was just one incident.    

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Take Action:
Create your thesis statement.  For ideas and a tool to help you get started on your thesis statement, go to the Persuasive Essay Thesis Builder website.

 

Terry's Tips

Make the steps of writing a research paper clear and explicit

When goals and the methods to achieve those goals are explicit, students will have a clear idea of how to achieve those goals. 

"Persuasive Essay Thesis Builder and Online Outliner" is a student-friendly tool that, with guidance, can help students think through the information they have gathered to create a thesis statement.

For an interactive outline that will help you guide students in how to create different types of thesis statements, check out Purdue University's "OWL: Creating Thesis Statements"