The "So What?" Factor: Creating your historical argument

After spending so many weeks becoming an "expert" on your topic, it's time to start analyzing your research.  Time to figure out what it all means. Time to be a historian. 


Historians do more than just tell what happened in the past. They analyze and interpret information from their sources to draw conclusions about their topic's impact on history. To do this, you will need to take a step back and think..."So What?" In other words, you need to think about why your topic is important. Why should people care? What impact or legacy did your topic leave behind? How would the world be different without their leadership? 


The answers to these questions is your historical argument or thesis statement!!!  You will "prove" your argument by supporting it through the evidence you have found in your sources. By Monday, your assignment is to have a rough draft of your thesis statement entered into Noodle Tools. 





Next week, it is important to look at your sources.  What evidence do you already have to support your thesis? What evidence is missing or weak?  Finding evidence to support your thesis will be your road map for the rest of your research.

Other things you need to consider as you analyze your research...

1.  Historical Context (time and place)

• How did the setting affect your topic? 
• What was going on that created the need for a leader? 
• How did the setting set the leader apart from those who came before or after?
• What challenges did the context present for the leader?
• What evidence do I have to show this? What do I still need to find?

2.    2.  Alternative Perspectives

•       Is there a counter-claim to your argument?
•       What's the other side of the story?
•       Did everyone think he/she was a good leader? Who Why?
•       What evidence do I have to show this? 
•        What do I still need to find?

Assignment: For your blog post today, write a self-reflection of where you are with your research.  Do most of your sources provide evidence for leadership, legacy, or context?  What area of your thesis do you need more evidence to support? Do you have sources that show an alternative perspective? What's your plan for finding this evidence?  Where are you going to look? What are you looking for? 

YouTube Clips

Thesis Statements for Beginners

Thesis Statement Webinar from Ohio History Day

What's your point?