I am writing a paper about music (as an art form) in respect to slavery/slaves. I am coming up blank. Can you help me focus? Any tips for writing a strong thesis?

All I've come up with so far is:

The music of slaves was not just an expression of art, it was an expression of life.

Does this even have potential, lol? My paper is about the different genres of music during slavery (marching chants to spread information and such) and how it evolved after slavery (jazz and the like).

Cool subject! I think this has the potential to be super interesting. Wanna send me a copy when you're done?:)
I think your thesis statement looks good. You'd tie in your writing to explaining how slaves used music for much more than entertainment. I admittedly am fairly sucky at thesis statements though.

You might want to say something with a bit more detail. For example (not sure if this is where you are going, but it might go like this..)

Like the art form of quilting, music played many roles within the slave culture. It formed a web of communication between people and created a means for spreading news and information without the slave owners explicit knowledge.

Is that where you are trying to go?
(i wish i could write as easily for my dissertation, funny how easy it is to help someone else and not do my own work!)
Misty

You might want to say something with a bit more detail. For example (not sure if this is where you are going, but it might go like this..)

Like the art form of quilting, music played many roles within the slave culture. It formed a web of communication between people and created a means for spreading news and information without the slave owners explicit knowledge.

Is that where you are trying to go?
(i wish i could write as easily for my dissertation, funny how easy it is to help someone else and not do my own work!)
Misty

That's where I'm heading. Isn't a thesis supposed to be one sentence though? Perhaps I'm wrong :). It's been awhile since I've written a paper.

I always put my thesis statement in my opening paragraph, usually as the last sentence and again it's restated or paraphrased in my closing paragraph.
So yeah a thesis statement is a sentence but I believe it should be included in a paragraph. I'm tired so if I'm wrong shoot me.:) I'm writing a craptastic paper about Dante with a baby sleeping on my arm.

Update... you might just want a comma in between the two sentences to make it one. I dont think it needs to be 1 sentence per se, but it helps to give you a comprehensive focus for where you are going in the paper. How about this?

Like the art form of quilting, music played many roles within the slave culture forming a web of communication between people and creating a means for spreading news and information without the slave owners explicit knowledge.

Does that help? or hurt?
hope that helps,
Misty

Like the art form of quilting, music played many roles within the slave culture. It formed a web of communication between people and created a means for spreading news and information without the slave owners explicit knowledge.

perhaps the bolded part is too specific for a thesis. how about

Like the art form of quilting, music played many roles within the slave culture. It formed a web of communication between people and created a unified force for a fragmented culture...

or something like that. I'm all about the unifying aspect of music. In fact I think I used the word "unifying" at least three times in my assignment today. :D

Oooohhh, thanks guys. My rusty brain is starting to move a little now that I've seen some examples. Thanks for the help!