Instructions:
Designing strong thesis statements allows you to “zoom out” and make meaningful connections across the course materials. They’re also a key part to success on both the Midterm and Final Essay. Before you’re expected to create one yourself, this Group Discussion gives you the opportunity to construct an outline based on a pre-made thesis statement. You will be provided with an excessive number of analytical points to finish the thesis statement, so you will decide which points best support the overall argument and collect relevant evidence.
The template of the thesis statement is as follows:
Christopher Columbus was unexceptional compared to contemporaneous maritime explorers because… .
Potential Analytical Points
- He used the same tools
- He sought access to the same trade routes
- He was after the same types of goods
- He collaborated with Indigenous intermediaries
- He relied on systems of royal patronage
- He was interested in Catholic evangelization
- Something else that you noticed
Stage 1:
By Sunday, June 2nd, complete the template for the thesis statement by choosing 3 out of the 6 potential analytical points above that you think best support the overall argument of the thesis statement. You must then create an oultine for body paragraphs that are based on those analytical points — one body paragraph per analytical point. Each of these body paragraphs should include a topic sentence that refers back to the thesis statement, and they must pull in evidence exclusively from this week’s assigned lecture and reading materials:
- A History of the World in 100 Objects, Neil MacGregor, “Dürer’s Rhinoceros”Links to an external site.
- A History of the World in 100 Objects, Neil MacGregor, “Benin Plaque”Links to an external site.
- Excerpt from Christoper Columbus’ JournalDownload Excerpt from Christoper Columbus’ Journal
There is no specific word count, but you are expected to create an outline that includes detailed and relevant information from our course materials. The best outlines will consider information that relates to both Columbus and other contemporaneous maritime explorers. The outline may be fully written out or bulleted. You may use parenthetical citations with the following format: (Author, Page Number). As with all assignments in this class, do not use AI to write or revise.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00tn9vp