How to Write a History of Education Thesis

Write down your thesis statement on a scrap piece of paper; this is the main argument of your overall thesis paper. Write down the historical period that it confronts.

Open your thesis by talking about a quote or statistic from the historical period you've chosen. For example, if your thesis paper was on education in Colonial New England, you could say, "the first public school in America opened in 1653 in Virginia. It was known as a 'free school.'"

Write and discuss factors that colored this historical period in the rest of the paragraph. All the factors you mention should be relevant to your thesis statement. At the end of this page or paragraph (depending on how long your thesis paper has to be) state your thesis, clearly and succinctly.

Write on a scrap piece of paper how you plan on defending this thesis statement in simple bullet points. In the following paragraph of your paper, explain these plans to defend and showcase your thesis.

Start your next paragraph with the strongest point that defends your thesis. For example, if your thesis states that religion was the strongest influence upon education in Colonial New England, then you need a strong example, or piece of evidence that displays this. Talk about the relationship between the piece of evidence you've provided and your thesis.

State how someone might disagree with the point you just made in your following paragraph and why in one sentence. Clearly and convincingly explain why that viewpoint is wrong.

Continue to start each subsequent paragraph with a strong piece of evidence that defends your thesis. Spend the remainder of each paragraph explaining the link between the evidence provided and your thesis. After each paragraph, address the viewpoint of one who might disagree.

Select a quote spoken by an educator of this educational period. If possible start your final paragraph with it. Explain how the quote highlights the mindset of the day. Summarize your thesis in this final paragraph in a new way, touching briefly upon the most convincing pieces of evidence you've provided.