Tips for a Good Thesis Paper

What is an historical thesis? An historical thesis paper takes a stand (gives an opinion) on a significant topic in history, and then backs up that opinion with support from scholarly sources. It is critical that the thesis is clearly stated somewhere within the introduction (see page 7 of the writing and research manual).

Examples of Thesis Statements Attempts:

This paper will talk about Alexander the Great. (not a thesis!!).

This paper will prove that Alexander the Great really was great. (Better, but too “safe,” still not acceptable. Few would argue against it. If you argue he wasn’t so great, that would be a good thesis).

This paper will show that Aristotle’s teaching of Alexander had more to do with his success than any other factor. (Bingo!)

• Support your argument/thesis statement: The paper should attempt to support your argument with relevant facts and analysis.

• Use scholarly sources: Support for your thesis argument should come from scholarly sources. See Mrs. Brockman’s presentation on finding academic research sources.

• Use In-text citations: When exact quotes are used (because you just can’t say it better!) or noteworthy points are made, simply cite the author, copyright year, and page number(s) in parenthesis at the end of the sentence. For example:

“If Attila the Hun were alive today, he’d undoubtedly be committed to a psych ward” (Koch 68).

or…

Attila the Hun’s sanity would be questioned by many scholars today (Koch 70).

• Create an Accurate "Works Cited" Page: Anytime a source is cited in the paper, you must put required information about that source on your Works Cited page, using MLA style. If a source is never cited in the paper, it shouldn't magically appear on the Works Cited Page!! Simply put: A Works Cited page gives information about the Works (sources) that are cited in the paper. Here's an example:

Koch, Daniel. Crazy is as Crazy Does: An Analysis of the Sociopathic Tendencies of Attila the Hun. Wausau: Viking Press, 1934. Print.