Before you write a single body paragraph, you need a clear central argument. This step asks you to:
Write a thesis statement (1–2 sentences) arguing why the Weimar Republic collapsed and what your comparison reveals
Write a 1-paragraph explanation of your thesis: What is your central argument? Why does this comparison matter? What historical patterns do you hope to illuminate?
Develop a guiding research question that frames your paper
Example thesis: The collapse of the Weimar Republic illustrates how economic crisis, ideological polarization, and the exploitation of emergency legal powers can dismantle democracy from within — a pattern that also appears in [chosen regime], where [specific parallel]. Both cases reveal that democracy is most vulnerable not to direct assault, but to the slow erosion of institutional trust.
Your Information
✍️ Your Thesis Statement
Write 1–2 sentences. Your thesis should: (1) argue why the Weimar Republic collapsed, and (2) state what your comparative case reveals about the pattern.
0 words
Your thesis will appear here as you type…
Thesis Strength Check
Start typing your thesis above…
Self-check: Does your thesis…
📝 Thesis Explanation (1 paragraph)
Explain your thesis in 1 paragraph. Address: What is your central argument? Why is this comparison historically important? What patterns do you hope to illuminate?
0 words
❓ Guiding Research Question
Write one clear question that frames your entire paper. This is the question your thesis answers. A strong research question is specific, historically grounded, and requires analysis — not just description.
Weak question: Why did the Weimar Republic fail? | Stronger: How did economic crisis and the exploitation of emergency powers combine to dismantle Weimar democracy, and does this pattern appear in [chosen regime]?
📖 Connection to Pelz
Pelz is required. Which chapter(s) from A People's History of Modern Europe are most relevant to your thesis? How does Pelz's bottom-up perspective shape or complicate your argument?