Conduct Research, Choose a Topic, and Write a Thesis Statement
Conduct some online exploration to find more consequences of the Columbian Exchange and decide whether they are intended or unintended. Choose one unintended consequence that you found or one of the examples listed above and do in-depth research on it.
Gather details such as locations or countries, key people, populations involved, and ways in which the unintended consequence can be seen many years or even centuries later. Then, write the consequence in the form of a question, such as, “How did the introduction of the horse to the New World change the lives of Native Americans?”
Use the question to formulate a thesis statement for your essay.
The thesis should answer the question. Using the sample question above, the thesis would be, “Plains Indians domesticated horses from Europe. They became famous for their skill in hunting and fighting from horseback.” Write your thesis statement in one or two clear sentences.
