Understanding Topic v. Thesis

What is a thesis?

                 A thesis is a historical argument on a person, event, or concept. It briefly introduces a topic to the reader and presents a claim regarding the topic.  Historians are in many ways “Monday Morning Quarterbacks” or the “Critics” of the past.  By collecting data, historians strive to make objective arguments of the past.  The key to this process is objectivity.  Without objectivity, historians can butcher the past and leave generations of people misinformed, misled, and ignorant of the past.

                 Once you have narrowed down your topic and done some reading, the next step is to form your thesis, which is the main idea of your research.  The thesis will appear in the introduction of your report.  It often appears at the end or near the end of the first paragraph or two.  It signals to the reader what the paper will be about.

As you write your paper, you should focus on finding research that supports your statement.  In the writing process, you will find new information about your topic which may lead you to rewrite your statement.  That is fine. However, you will need to see your teacher for approval.