1. Lesson 2Lesson 2
The ThesisThe Thesis
SentenceSentenceThanks to Keith Wood, Honors English and AP U.S.Thanks to Keith Wood, Honors English and AP U.S.
History teacher at Murray High School, MurrayHistory teacher at Murray High School, Murray
Utah. Edited slightly for VCHS use.Utah. Edited slightly for VCHS use.

2. •The thesis sentence is the most
important sentence in any essay.
• It must be clear, properly
structured, and in the correct
place.

3. A thesis sentence isA thesis sentence is
a singlea single
declaratory sentencedeclaratory sentence
thatthat ““answersanswers”” the promptthe prompt
with a clearly and simply statedwith a clearly and simply stated
opinionopinion
that does not restate the prompt.that does not restate the prompt.

4. Tip #1Tip #1
After reading the whole prompt, markingAfter reading the whole prompt, marking
the verbs and conjunctions, and sketchingthe verbs and conjunctions, and sketching
out how you intend to proceed. . .out how you intend to proceed. . .
Answer the prompt in a simple sentence.Answer the prompt in a simple sentence.
For instance, consider this DBQ prompt:For instance, consider this DBQ prompt:
How successful was organized labor inHow successful was organized labor in
improving the position of workers in the periodimproving the position of workers in the period
from 1875 to 1900? Analyze the factors thatfrom 1875 to 1900? Analyze the factors that
contributed to the level of success achieved.contributed to the level of success achieved.

5. Tip #1 (continued)Tip #1 (continued)
 What do you think about this prompt?What do you think about this prompt?
 Were labor unions successful in improving workingWere labor unions successful in improving working
conditions and the power of working people during thisconditions and the power of working people during this
time?time?
 At the end of the period had the lives of working peopleAt the end of the period had the lives of working people
substantially improved due to organized labor?substantially improved due to organized labor?
 What factors caused or stopped improvement fromWhat factors caused or stopped improvement from
happening?happening?
 YOUR OPINION IS ESSENTIAL!YOUR OPINION IS ESSENTIAL!
 And your opinion must be clear.And your opinion must be clear.
 So. . .So. . .

6. Tip #1 (continued)Tip #1 (continued)
LetLet’’s say that you think this time period wass say that you think this time period was
not a period of labor success.not a period of labor success.
Write a simple statement that answers theWrite a simple statement that answers the
prompt with your opinion. Like this. . .prompt with your opinion. Like this. . .
Labor unions failed to improve the condition ofLabor unions failed to improve the condition of
working people at the end of the 19working people at the end of the 19thth
century.century.
Or. . .Or. . .
Government antagonism to labor unions keptGovernment antagonism to labor unions kept
them from effectively helping working peoplethem from effectively helping working people
during this period.during this period.

7. Tip #1 (continued)Tip #1 (continued)
ItIt’’s extremely important to get your thinkings extremely important to get your thinking
clearly into a simpleclearly into a simple ““answeranswer”” to the prompt.to the prompt.
Do NOT restate the wording of the prompt.Do NOT restate the wording of the prompt.
Rather thanRather than ““the time period 1875 tothe time period 1875 to
1900,1900,”” writewrite ““the last decades of the 19the last decades of the 19thth
centurycentury”” oror ““the three decades followingthe three decades following
the Civil War.the Civil War.””
Rather thanRather than ““organized labor,organized labor,”” refer torefer to
labor unions.labor unions.

8. Tip #2Tip #2
Choosing a thesis structureChoosing a thesis structure
The key to writing a clear, strong thesis isThe key to writing a clear, strong thesis is
toto ““answeranswer”” or address the prompt withor address the prompt with
your opinion clearly in front of you.your opinion clearly in front of you.
They you need to decide what shape yourThey you need to decide what shape your
thesis sentence should take.thesis sentence should take.
Your thesis will provide the readerYour thesis will provide the reader’’s firsts first
and guiding impression. Give great careand guiding impression. Give great care
with this sentence!with this sentence!

9. Tip #2 Choosing a thesis structureTip #2 Choosing a thesis structure
(continued)(continued)
Two excellent ways of writing thesisTwo excellent ways of writing thesis
sentences aresentences are
1.1. A concept thesis.A concept thesis.
2.2. An organizational thesis.An organizational thesis.
Sometimes this last is known asSometimes this last is known as
an organizational statement.an organizational statement.

10. Concept ThesisConcept Thesis
Now that you have your opinion, you canNow that you have your opinion, you can
write a sentence that is both complex andwrite a sentence that is both complex and
specific.specific.
One wayOne way of doing this is to write aof doing this is to write a
sentence that begins with the wordsentence that begins with the word
““although.although.””
This may seem odd, but recent APThis may seem odd, but recent AP
grading rubrics award high scores only tograding rubrics award high scores only to
essays thatessays that ““address the complexity of theaddress the complexity of the
question.question.””

11. Concept Thesis (continued)Concept Thesis (continued)
A thesis written like this may look like this:A thesis written like this may look like this:
Although this was a period of intense laborAlthough this was a period of intense labor
pressure, unions failed to make the livespressure, unions failed to make the lives
and status of workers better.and status of workers better.
Or. . .Or. . .
Although this period saw increased laborAlthough this period saw increased labor
involvement, state and federal governmentinvolvement, state and federal government
antagonism kept unions from beingantagonism kept unions from being
effective.effective.

12. Concept Thesis (continued)Concept Thesis (continued)
This kind of thesis sentence sets you upThis kind of thesis sentence sets you up
from the very beginning to acknowledgefrom the very beginning to acknowledge
““complexitycomplexity”” in the essay prompt.in the essay prompt.
Your opinion, yourYour opinion, your ““answeranswer”” to the prompt,to the prompt,
goes in the second half of this thesis, aftergoes in the second half of this thesis, after
the comma. This is the point you arethe comma. This is the point you are
going to make, the destination at whichgoing to make, the destination at which
you want the reader to arrive.you want the reader to arrive.

13. Organizational ThesisOrganizational Thesis
Another way of writing a clear thesis is toAnother way of writing a clear thesis is to
use anuse an ““organizational statement.organizational statement.””
This is a sentence that specifically mentionsThis is a sentence that specifically mentions
what will be the topics of the following bodywhat will be the topics of the following body
paragraphs.paragraphs.
Look at the prompt one more time:Look at the prompt one more time:
How successful was organized labor inHow successful was organized labor in
improving the position of workers in the periodimproving the position of workers in the period
from 1875 to 1900? Analyze the factors thatfrom 1875 to 1900? Analyze the factors that
contributed to the level of success achieved.contributed to the level of success achieved.

14. Organizational Thesis (continued)Organizational Thesis (continued)
Some essay prompts lend themselves
to organizational thesis sentences. For
instance, consider the following prompt:
 Analyze the factors that contributed to the successAnalyze the factors that contributed to the success
or failure of organized laboror failure of organized labor’’s efforts to improve thes efforts to improve the
position of workers during the period 1875 to 1900.position of workers during the period 1875 to 1900.
An organizational thesis for this promptAn organizational thesis for this prompt
could specify which three things werecould specify which three things were
going to be discussed without re-statinggoing to be discussed without re-stating
the prompt.the prompt.

15. Organizational Thesis (continued)Organizational Thesis (continued)
The following sentences specifically
mention what will be the topic sentences
of the next paragraphs.
Labor unions failed because they were
confused in their goals and were
aggressively opposed by both state and
federal governments.
Organized labor unions were unsuccessful
because they were not unified in their
demands and were associated with radical
European political groups.

16. Whether you choose a concept
thesis or an organizational
thesis, this sentence will shape
the first impression you make
on the reader.
Think carefully about your task
and make sure your thesis
addresses the prompt.

17. Tip #3Tip #3
Having written your thesis sentence, you areHaving written your thesis sentence, you are
ready to put it into your essay introduction.ready to put it into your essay introduction.
For most AP U. S. History essays, anFor most AP U. S. History essays, an
introductionintroduction ““paragraphparagraph”” may only be two ormay only be two or
three sentences in length.three sentences in length.
The thesis sentence should be the lastThe thesis sentence should be the last
sentence in your introduction paragraph.sentence in your introduction paragraph.
Take a step back from your thesis and writeTake a step back from your thesis and write
a general sentence that introduces the topic.a general sentence that introduces the topic.

18. Tip #3 (continued)Tip #3 (continued)
The general topic of this prompt is theThe general topic of this prompt is the
effectiveness of organized labor.effectiveness of organized labor.
Using aUsing a concept thesisconcept thesis sentence, thesentence, the
introduction might look like this:introduction might look like this:
American workers have organized to improveAmerican workers have organized to improve
pay and working conditions since the earliestpay and working conditions since the earliest
period of industrialization. By the end of the 19period of industrialization. By the end of the 19thth
century these unions made a major effort tocentury these unions made a major effort to
make the lives of working people better.make the lives of working people better.
Although this was a period of intense laborAlthough this was a period of intense labor
pressure, unions failed to make the lives andpressure, unions failed to make the lives and
status of workers better.status of workers better.

19. Tip #3 (continued)Tip #3 (continued)
Using anUsing an organizational thesisorganizational thesis
sentences, the introduction might look likesentences, the introduction might look like
this:this:
American workers have organized to improveAmerican workers have organized to improve
pay and working conditions since the earliestpay and working conditions since the earliest
period of industrialization. By the end of the 19period of industrialization. By the end of the 19thth
century these unions made a major effort tocentury these unions made a major effort to
make the lives of working people better. Theymake the lives of working people better. They
failed, however, since they were unclear in theirfailed, however, since they were unclear in their
demands and both state and federaldemands and both state and federal
governments used force to stop them.governments used force to stop them.

20. Tip #3 (continued)Tip #3 (continued)
AP essay rubrics award high scores toAP essay rubrics award high scores to
essays that haveessays that have ““a clear, well-developeda clear, well-developed
thesisthesis”” that isthat is ““focused on the promptfocused on the prompt”” andand
““guides the essay throughout.guides the essay throughout.””
By clearlyBy clearly ““answeringanswering”” the prompt with yourthe prompt with your
opinion, writing a strong thesis sentence,opinion, writing a strong thesis sentence,
and putting it at the beginning of your essay,and putting it at the beginning of your essay,
you do as much in two or three sentencesyou do as much in two or three sentences
as you can do to get yourself off to a greatas you can do to get yourself off to a great
start.start.

21. Lesson 2 SummaryLesson 2 Summary
A thesis is a single declarative sentenceA thesis is a single declarative sentence
thatthat ““answersanswers”” the prompt with yourthe prompt with your
opinion.opinion.
The thesis should address the complexityThe thesis should address the complexity
in the prompt.in the prompt.
The thesis should be carefully crafted to fitThe thesis should be carefully crafted to fit
the demands of the specific essay prompt.the demands of the specific essay prompt.
The thesis should be the last sentence inThe thesis should be the last sentence in
the introduction paragraph.the introduction paragraph.