Creating a Historical Thesis

As you continue your work on your Content Institute Presentation, I wanted to give you some information on creating a historical thesis. When you are creating your presentation, remember that you are providing a justification for the study of this material. Here's some information to guide your quest from the Writing Center at the University of Minnesota:

"While a thesis or main point is a typical feature of writing in most academic disciplines, the thesis in history writing is essential. A thesis makes history writing what it is: a meaningful interpretation of the past rather than a simple list of things that happened.

The thesis states the overall claim of a historical essay—a good claim in history tells the reader what historical evidence says and why what it says is significant in some larger context. It usually appears as the last sentence or two in the introductory section of a paper, and it should serve as a point of reference for readers to understand the writer’s main point about a historical subject and its significance. All subsequent analysis in the body of the essay should serve to forward the thesis statement."