What's the best way to develop your own historical research question and thesis?

1 Choose a broad topic

The first step to developing your own historical research question and thesis is to choose a broad topic that interests you and relates to the field of history. You can start by brainstorming some general areas of history that you want to learn more about, such as a period, a region, a theme, a movement, or a group of people. You can also look for inspiration from your previous courses, readings, lectures, or personal experiences. The goal is to find a topic that is relevant, manageable, and engaging for you and your audience.

3 Formulate a research question

After you have narrowed down your focus, you can formulate a research question that expresses your main inquiry and guides your research. A good research question should be clear, focused, feasible, original, and significant. It should also be open-ended, meaning that it cannot be answered with a simple yes or no, but requires evidence and analysis. You can use the following question words to help you formulate your research question: who, what, when, where, why, and how. For example, based on the previous focus, a possible research question is: How did emancipation affect the experiences and identities of African American soldiers during and after the Civil War?

4 Conduct a literature review

Before you can answer your research question and develop your thesis, you need to conduct a literature review to find out what other scholars have written about your topic. A literature review is a critical evaluation of the existing sources that relate to your research question, such as books, articles, reports, dissertations, or websites. The purpose of a literature review is to identify the main arguments, methods, gaps, and debates in the field, and to position your own research within the context of the existing knowledge. You can use online databases, libraries, catalogs, or references to search for relevant sources, and use criteria such as currency, credibility, accuracy, and relevance to evaluate them.

5 Analyze primary and secondary sources

After you have reviewed the literature, you need to analyze the primary and secondary sources that support your research. Primary sources are the original documents, artifacts, or records that provide first-hand evidence of the past, such as letters, diaries, speeches, photographs, newspapers, or interviews. Secondary sources are the interpretations or analyses of the primary sources by other scholars, such as books, articles, or documentaries. You need to use both types of sources to answer your research question and develop your thesis, but you should pay more attention to the primary sources, as they are the basis of your historical evidence. You should analyze the primary sources by asking questions such as: Who created the source and why? What is the main message or point of view of the source? What is the context and significance of the source? How does the source relate to your research question and thesis?

6 Develop a thesis statement

The final step to developing your own historical research question and thesis is to write a thesis statement that summarizes your main argument and answer to your research question. A thesis statement is a concise sentence that expresses the main idea and purpose of your research paper, and guides your writing and organization. A good thesis statement should be specific, arguable, relevant, and original. It should also reflect your analysis and interpretation of the evidence, and not just state a fact or opinion. You can use the following formula to help you write your thesis statement: [Topic] + [Point of View] + [Evidence]. For example, based on the previous research question, a possible thesis statement is: Emancipation transformed the experiences and identities of African American soldiers during and after the Civil War, as they fought for freedom, citizenship, and equality in a racially divided nation.