Learners Can:

Choose ONE of the three source analyzed in the previous lesson to prepare a thesis statement.

Progressive Goals

REMEMBER: The reformers of the Progressive movement focused on different problems and did not always agree on the same solutions, but all Progressive reform groups held at least one of these four goals:

• social welfare reform - to help the people and families with basic economic and social needs

• moral reform - to remedy social problems by reforming immoral behavior

• economic reform - to change unfair business practices and improve the lives of workers

• efficiency reform - to apply scientific principles to society to make it operate most efficiently

Notice you need to discuss:

• one goal of the Progressive reformers

• one method they used to achieve those goals

Start your thesis statement by restating the question.


Progressive reformers wanted to _____ (name one goal) by _____ (name one method Progressive reformers used to achieve their goals).

The first step when writing any essay is to write your thesis statement. The thesis statement not only tells the reader what your essay is about, but also helps you stay focused on the main idea of your essay as you write.  

Keep in mind, the thesis statement is essentially your one-sentence answer to the document-based question.

Read the question carefully to make sure you are answering all parts of the question:

What was one goal of Progressive reformers and one method they used to achieve their goals?

The Thesis Statement