Module 9: Academic Argument
Argumentative thesis statements, learning objective.
- Recognize an argumentative thesis
A strong, argumentative thesis statement should take a stance about an issue. It should explain the basics of your argument and help your reader to know what to expect in your essay.
This video reviews the necessary components of a thesis statement and walks through some examples.
You can view the transcript for “Purdue OWL: Thesis Statements” here (opens in new window) .
Key Features of Argumentative Thesis Statements
Below are some of the key features of an argumentative thesis statement. An argumentative thesis is debatable, assertive, reasonable, evidence-based, and focused.
An argumentative thesis must make a claim about which reasonable people can disagree. Statements of fact or areas of general agreement cannot be argumentative theses because few people disagree about them. Let’s take a look at an example:
- Junk food is bad for your health.
This is not a debatable thesis. Most people would agree that junk food is bad for your health. Also what kind of junk food? Is there a way to make this thesis a bit more specific? A debatable thesis might be:
- Because junk food is bad for your health, the size of sodas offered at fast-food restaurants should be regulated by the federal government.
Reasonable people could agree or disagree with the statement. With this thesis statement, there is a more specific type of junk food (sodas), and there is call-to-action (federal regulation).
An argumentative thesis takes a position, asserting the writer’s stance. Questions, vague statements, or quotations from others are not argumentative theses because they do not assert the writer’s viewpoint. Let’s take a look at an example:
- Federal immigration law is a tough issue for American citizens.
This is not an arguable thesis because it does not assert a position. Start by asking questions about how to make this statement more specific. Which laws? What is the “tough issue” and why is it difficult? Take a look at this revision.
- Federal immigration enforcement law needs to be overhauled because it puts undue financial constraints on state and local government agencies.
This is an argumentative thesis because it asserts a position that immigration enforcement law needs to be changed. The “undue financial restraints” gives the writer a position to explore more.
An argumentative thesis must make a claim that is logical and possible. Claims that are outrageous or impossible are not argumentative theses. Let’s take a look at an example:
- City council members are dishonest and should be thrown in jail.
This is not an argumentative thesis. City council members’ ineffectiveness is not a reason to send them to jail unless they have broken the law. A more useful question is to ask why are they dishonest? What can they do to improve?
- City council members should not be allowed to receive cash incentives from local business leaders.
This is an arguable thesis because it is possible and reasonable to set ethical practices for business leaders.
Evidence-Based
An argumentative thesis must be able to be supported by evidence. Claims that presuppose value systems, morals, or religious beliefs cannot be supported with evidence and therefore are not argumentative theses. Let’s take a look at an example:
- Individuals convicted of murder have committed a sin and they do not deserve additional correctional facility funding.
This is not an argumentative thesis because its support rests on religious beliefs or values rather than evidence. Let’s dig a bit deeper to think about what specifically you can address as a writer and why it is important to your argument. Let’s take a look at this revision:
- Rehabilitation programs for individuals serving life sentences should be funded because these programs reduce violence within prisons.
This is an argumentative thesis because evidence such as case studies and statistics can be used to support it. The subject is a bit more specific (individuals serving life sentences) and the claim can be supported with research (programs that reduce violence within prisons).
An argumentative thesis must be focused and narrow. A focused, narrow claim is clearer, more able to be supported with evidence, and more persuasive than a broad, general claim. Let’s take a look at an example:
- The federal government should overhaul the U.S. tax code.
This is not an effective argumentative thesis because it is too general (Which part of the government? Which tax codes? What sections of those tax codes?). This is more of a book-length project and it would require an overwhelming amount of evidence to be fully supported. Let’s take a look at a revision:
- The U.S. House of Representatives should vote to repeal the federal estate tax because the revenue generated by that tax is negligible.
This is an effective argumentative thesis because it identifies a specific actor and action and can be fully supported with evidence about the amount of revenue the estate tax generates. By starting with a too broad focus, you can ask questions to create a more specific thesis statement.
In the practice exercises below, see if you can recognize and evaluate argumentative thesis statements. Keep in mind that a sound argumentative thesis should be debatable, assertive, reasonable, evidence-based, and focused. If you choose the incorrect response, read why it is not an argumentative thesis.
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Purdue Online Writing Lab College of Liberal Arts
Developing Strong Thesis Statements
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These OWL resources will help you develop and refine the arguments in your writing.
The thesis statement or main claim must be debatable
An argumentative or persuasive piece of writing must begin with a debatable thesis or claim. In other words, the thesis must be something that people could reasonably have differing opinions on. If your thesis is something that is generally agreed upon or accepted as fact then there is no reason to try to persuade people.
Example of a non-debatable thesis statement:
This thesis statement is not debatable. First, the word pollution implies that something is bad or negative in some way. Furthermore, all studies agree that pollution is a problem; they simply disagree on the impact it will have or the scope of the problem. No one could reasonably argue that pollution is unambiguously good.
Example of a debatable thesis statement:
This is an example of a debatable thesis because reasonable people could disagree with it. Some people might think that this is how we should spend the nation's money. Others might feel that we should be spending more money on education. Still others could argue that corporations, not the government, should be paying to limit pollution.
Another example of a debatable thesis statement:
In this example there is also room for disagreement between rational individuals. Some citizens might think focusing on recycling programs rather than private automobiles is the most effective strategy.
The thesis needs to be narrow
Although the scope of your paper might seem overwhelming at the start, generally the narrower the thesis the more effective your argument will be. Your thesis or claim must be supported by evidence. The broader your claim is, the more evidence you will need to convince readers that your position is right.
Example of a thesis that is too broad:
There are several reasons this statement is too broad to argue. First, what is included in the category "drugs"? Is the author talking about illegal drug use, recreational drug use (which might include alcohol and cigarettes), or all uses of medication in general? Second, in what ways are drugs detrimental? Is drug use causing deaths (and is the author equating deaths from overdoses and deaths from drug related violence)? Is drug use changing the moral climate or causing the economy to decline? Finally, what does the author mean by "society"? Is the author referring only to America or to the global population? Does the author make any distinction between the effects on children and adults? There are just too many questions that the claim leaves open. The author could not cover all of the topics listed above, yet the generality of the claim leaves all of these possibilities open to debate.
Example of a narrow or focused thesis:
In this example the topic of drugs has been narrowed down to illegal drugs and the detriment has been narrowed down to gang violence. This is a much more manageable topic.
We could narrow each debatable thesis from the previous examples in the following way:
Narrowed debatable thesis 1:
This thesis narrows the scope of the argument by specifying not just the amount of money used but also how the money could actually help to control pollution.
Narrowed debatable thesis 2:
This thesis narrows the scope of the argument by specifying not just what the focus of a national anti-pollution campaign should be but also why this is the appropriate focus.
Qualifiers such as " typically ," " generally ," " usually ," or " on average " also help to limit the scope of your claim by allowing for the almost inevitable exception to the rule.
Types of claims
Claims typically fall into one of four categories. Thinking about how you want to approach your topic, or, in other words, what type of claim you want to make, is one way to focus your thesis on one particular aspect of your broader topic.
Claims of fact or definition: These claims argue about what the definition of something is or whether something is a settled fact. Example:
Claims of cause and effect: These claims argue that one person, thing, or event caused another thing or event to occur. Example:
Claims about value: These are claims made of what something is worth, whether we value it or not, how we would rate or categorize something. Example:
Claims about solutions or policies: These are claims that argue for or against a certain solution or policy approach to a problem. Example:
Which type of claim is right for your argument? Which type of thesis or claim you use for your argument will depend on your position and knowledge of the topic, your audience, and the context of your paper. You might want to think about where you imagine your audience to be on this topic and pinpoint where you think the biggest difference in viewpoints might be. Even if you start with one type of claim you probably will be using several within the paper. Regardless of the type of claim you choose to utilize it is key to identify the controversy or debate you are addressing and to define your position early on in the paper.
15 Thesis Statement Examples to Inspire Your Next Argumentative Essay
Have you ever watched a great film trailer and thought, “I have to see that movie!”? A good trailer gives you the basic premise of the movie , shows you the highlights, and encourages you to want to see more.
A good thesis statement will accomplish the same thing. It gives readers an idea of the most important points of an essay, shows the highlights, and makes them want to read more.
It will also help keep you, the writer, from getting lost in a convoluted and directionless argument.
Most importantly, a good thesis statement makes a statement. After all, it’s called a thesis statement for a reason!
“This is an interesting statement!” you want your reader to think. “Let’s see if this author can convince me.”
This blog post will dissect the components of a good thesis statement and give you 15 thesis statement examples that you can use to inspire your next argumentative essay .
The Thesis Statement Dissected
Before I give you a blanket list of thesis statement examples, let’s run through what makes for a good thesis statement. I’ve distilled it down to four main components.
1. A good argumentative thesis is focused and not too broad.
It’s important to stay focused! Don’t try to argue an overly broad topic in your essay, or you’re going to feel confused and unsure about your direction and purpose.
Don’t write: “Eating fast food is bad and should be avoided.”
This statement is too general and would be nearly impossible for you to defend. It leaves a lot of big questions to answer. Is all fast food bad? Why is it bad? Who should avoid it? Why should anyone care?
Do write: “Americans should eliminate the regular consumption of fast food because a fast food diet leads to preventable and expensive health issues, such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.”
In this example, I’ve narrowed my argument to the health consequences related to a diet of fast food . I’ve also chosen to focus on Americans rather than everyone in the universe.
2. A good argumentative thesis is centered on a debatable topic.
Back in the ‘80s, teens loved to say “ that’s debatable ” about claims they didn’t agree with (such as “ you should clean your room” and “ you shouldn’t go to that movie” ).
Don’t write: “There are high numbers of homeless people living in Berkeley, California.”
No one can argue for or against this statement. It’s not debatable. It’s just a fact.
An argument over this non-debatable statement would go something like this:
“There are lots of homeless people in Berkeley.” “Yes, there sure are a bunch of them out there.” “Yup.”
As you can see, that’s not much of an argument.
Do write: “Homeless people in Berkeley should be given access to services—such as regular food donations, public restrooms, and camping facilities—because it would improve life for all inhabitants of the city.”
Now that’s debatable .
Opponents could also easily argue that homeless people in Berkeley already receive adequate services ( “just look at all those luxurious sidewalks!” ) or perhaps that they shouldn’t be entitled to services at all ( “get a job, ya lazy loafers!” ).
Interested in picking up a few more tips about debating issues and perfecting the art of persuasion? Read How to Write a Persuasive Essay That’s Convincing .
3. A good argumentative thesis picks a side.
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Picking a side is pretty much the whole entire point of an argumentative essay. Just as you can’t root for both the Yankees and the Mets, you can’t argue both sides of a topic in your thesis statement.
Learn more about the importance of picking sides by reading the post The Secrets of a Strong Argumentative Essay .
Don’t write: “Secondhand smoke is bad and can cause heart disease and cancer; therefore, smoking should be outlawed in public places, but outlawing smoking is unfair to smokers so maybe non-smokers can just hold their breath or wear masks around smokers instead.”
A wishy-washy statement like this will make your reader scratch his head in puzzlement. Are you for smoking laws or against them? Yankees or Mets? Mets or Yankees?
Pick a side , and stick with it!
Then stick up for it.
Do write: “Secondhand smoke is just as harmful as smoking and leads to a higher prevalence of cancer and heart disease; therefore, smoking in any public place should be banned.”
4. A good thesis makes claims that will be supported later in the paper.
As I explained in the post How to Create a Powerful Argumentative Essay Outline , your claims make up a critical part of building the roadmap to your argument.
It’s important to first include a summary of your claims in your thesis statement. During the course of your essay, you will back each of your claims with well-researched evidence .
Don’t write: “Humans should relocate to Mars.”
This statement doesn’t include any supporting claims. Why should humans move to Mars? What are the benefits of moving to a planet without oxygen or trees?
Do write: “It is too late to save earth; therefore, humans should immediately set a date for their relocation to Mars, where they can, with proper planning, avoid issues of famine, war, and global warming.”
This statement includes some thought-provoking claims. The reader will wonder how the author plans to defend them. (“ Famine, war, and global warming can be easily avoided on Mars? Go on…”)
Looking for even more help understanding the key components of a strong thesis statement? Check out these posts:
- How to Write a Thesis Statement in 5 Simple Steps
- How to Turn a Good Thesis Statement Into a Great One
- How to Make a Thesis Statement the Easy Way (Infographic)
- How to Write a Compare and Contrast Thesis Statement
Now that you have a better understanding of the all things thesis statement, here are 15 more thesis statement examples to inspire your next argumentative essay.
15 Thesis Statement Examples
Below are 15 debatable, supportable, and focused thesis statements for you to learn from. Feel free to customize them for use in your own argumentative essay.
As you read the following examples, be careful not to use these thesis statements word-for-word. I wouldn’t want you to get in trouble if your teacher did a copy/find Google maneuver on you!
#1. Vaccinations should be mandatory
Inspired by this sample essay on vaccinations .
Vaccinations against diseases such as polio, rubella, and mumps should be mandatory for all U.S. children who wish to attend school as these vaccinations are critical to the control and eradication of deadly infectious diseases.
#2. Government surveillance is harmful
Inspired by this sample essay on government surveillance .
Government surveillance programs, such as PRISM, should be banned because they invade civil liberties, lead innocent people to suffer unfair punishments, and ultimately fail to protect the citizens that they are designed to safeguard.
#3. Organ donors should be financially compensated
Inspired by this sample essay on organ donation .
Organ donors should be financially compensated to increase the supply of available organs and, at the same time, to decrease profitable, illegal organ-harvesting activities in the black market.
#4. Schools are too dependent on technology
Inspired by this sample essay on technology dependence .
Schools’ dependence on technology has caused students to lose the ability to think independently, leading to a greater prevalence of mood disorders, memory loss, and loneliness.
#5. School officials should fight cyberbullying
Inspired by this sample essay on cyberbullying .
In order to improve the online behavior of students and decrease cyberbullying-related suicide attempts, school officials should have the authority to discipline students who engage in cyberbullying .
#6. The U.S. media should update the depiction of traditional families
Inspired by this sample essay on families .
The U.S. media depicts the traditional family as comprising a mother, father, and children; however, this notion of the traditional family is outdated and can be harmful to children who look to this as the gold standard.
#7. Student loans should be forgiven
Inspired by this sample essay on student loans .
Crippling student debt is stifling the growth of the U.S. economy because it inhibits graduates from being able to spend money on consumer goods and home purchases.
#8. Marijuana should be legalized
Inspired by this sample essay on legalizing marijuana .
Marijuana has numerous medical applications, such as treating symptoms of epilepsy, cancer, and glaucoma. Legalizing the use of marijuana in the United States will greatly benefit the medical sector by giving physicians the ability to prescribe this life-saving drug.
#9. Foreign aid to Africa does not work
Inspired by this sample essay on foreign aid to Africa .
Sending foreign aid to African countries is doing more harm than good because the practice has caused African countries to become vulnerable to inflation, currency fluctuations, corruption, and civil unrest.
#10. China’s one-child policy led to unintended and negative consequences
Inspired by this sample essay on advertising to children .
Though some argue that advertising to children is harmful, it is actually a positive marketing technique that spurs economic growth.
#12. Most teen celebrities should not be role models for children
Inspired by this sample essay on teen celebrities as role models .
Teen celebrities often engage in inappropriate and sometimes illegal activities and thus should not be considered role models for children.
#13. The current welfare system promotes dependency
Inspired by this sample essay about the abuse of welfare .
The welfare system was designed to assist those in need; however, the current system does more harm than good by promoting government dependency.
#14. Schools should start at a later time of day
Inspired by this sample essay about school start times .
Beginning the school day at a later time would stabilize students’ sleep patterns, improve students’ moods, and increase students’ academic success.
#15. Schools should distribute birth control to teens
Inspired by this sample essay about birth control distribution in schools .
Though some argue that distributing condoms to teens means that schools are encouraging sexual behavior, schools should distribute birth control to reduce teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.
Now…Turn Your Thesis Statement Into an Essay
Any one of these thesis statement examples will get you started on the road to writing an awesome argumentative essay, but if none of these thesis statements or topics are working for you, try one of these:
- 70 Argumentative Essay Topics That Will Put Up a Good Fight
- 30 Argumentative Essay Ideas That Will Pick a Good Fight
Have a topic and thesis but need to put all of your ideas into essay format ? Try prewriting , outlining , or using a graphic organizer to help organize information.
Once your essay is finished, feel free to send it to a Kibin editor , who can check for grammar errors, sentence structure issues, and of course, the strength of your thesis.
Good luck with your essay!
Psst... 98% of Kibin users report better grades! Get inspiration from over 500,000 example essays .
About the Author
Naomi Tepper is a former Kibin editor, the former content manager for the Kibin blog, and forever a word nerd.
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Writing a thesis and making an argument.
Almost every assignment you complete for a history course will ask you to make an argument. Your instructors will often call this your "thesis" -- your position on a subject.
What is an Argument?
An argument takes a stand on an issue. It seeks to persuade an audience of a point of view in much the same way that a lawyer argues a case in a court of law. It is NOT a description or a summary.
- This is an argument: "This paper argues that the movie JFK is inaccurate in its portrayal of President Kennedy."
- This is not an argument: "In this paper, I will describe the portrayal of President Kennedy that is shown in the movie JFK."
What is a Thesis?
A thesis statement is a sentence in which you state an argument about a topic and then describe, briefly, how you will prove your argument.
- This is an argument, but not yet a thesis: "The movie ‘JFK’ inaccurately portrays President Kennedy."
- This is a thesis: "The movie ‘JFK’ inaccurately portrays President Kennedy because of the way it ignores Kennedy’s youth, his relationship with his father, and the findings of the Warren Commission."
A thesis makes a specific statement to the reader about what you will be trying to argue. Your thesis can be a few sentences long, but should not be longer than a paragraph. Do not begin to state evidence or use examples in your thesis paragraph.
A Thesis Helps You and Your Reader
Your blueprint for writing:
- Helps you determine your focus and clarify your ideas.
- Provides a "hook" on which you can "hang" your topic sentences.
- Can (and should) be revised as you further refine your evidence and arguments. New evidence often requires you to change your thesis.
- Gives your paper a unified structure and point.
Your reader’s blueprint for reading:
- Serves as a "map" to follow through your paper.
- Keeps the reader focused on your argument.
- Signals to the reader your main points.
- Engages the reader in your argument.
Tips for Writing a Good Thesis
- Find a Focus: Choose a thesis that explores an aspect of your topic that is important to you, or that allows you to say something new about your topic. For example, if your paper topic asks you to analyze women’s domestic labor during the early nineteenth century, you might decide to focus on the products they made from scratch at home.
- Look for Pattern: After determining a general focus, go back and look more closely at your evidence. As you re-examine your evidence and identify patterns, you will develop your argument and some conclusions. For example, you might find that as industrialization increased, women made fewer textiles at home, but retained their butter and soap making tasks.
Strategies for Developing a Thesis Statement
Idea 1. If your paper assignment asks you to answer a specific question, turn the question into an assertion and give reasons for your opinion.
Assignment: How did domestic labor change between 1820 and 1860? Why were the changes in their work important for the growth of the United States?
Beginning thesis: Between 1820 and 1860 women's domestic labor changed as women stopped producing home-made fabric, although they continued to sew their families' clothes, as well as to produce butter and soap. With the cash women earned from the sale of their butter and soap they purchased ready-made cloth, which in turn, helped increase industrial production in the United States before the Civil War.
Idea 2. Write a sentence that summarizes the main idea of the essay you plan to write.
Main Idea: Women's labor in their homes during the first half of the nineteenth century contributed to the growth of the national economy.
Idea 3. Spend time "mulling over" your topic. Make a list of the ideas you want to include in the essay, then think about how to group them under several different headings. Often, you will see an organizational plan emerge from the sorting process.
Idea 4 .Use a formula to develop a working thesis statement (which you will need to revise later). Here are a few examples:
- Although most readers of ______ have argued that ______, closer examination shows that ______.
- ______ uses ______ and ______ to prove that ______.
- Phenomenon X is a result of the combination of ______, ______, and ______.
These formulas share two characteristics all thesis statements should have: they state an argument and they reveal how you will make that argument. They are not specific enough, however, and require more work.
As you work on your essay, your ideas will change and so will your thesis. Here are examples of weak and strong thesis statements.
- Unspecific thesis: "Eleanor Roosevelt was a strong leader as First Lady." This thesis lacks an argument. Why was Eleanor Roosevelt a strong leader?
- Specific thesis: "Eleanor Roosevelt recreated the role of the First Lady by her active political leadership in the Democratic Party, by lobbying for national legislation, and by fostering women’s leadership in the Democratic Party." The second thesis has an argument: Eleanor Roosevelt "recreated" the position of First Lady, and a three-part structure with which to demonstrate just how she remade the job.
- Unspecific thesis: "At the end of the nineteenth century French women lawyers experienced difficulty when they attempted to enter the legal profession." No historian could argue with this general statement and uninteresting thesis.
- Specific thesis: "At the end of the nineteenth century French women lawyers experienced misogynist attacks from male lawyers when they attempted to enter the legal profession because male lawyers wanted to keep women out of judgeships." This thesis statement asserts that French male lawyers attacked French women lawyers because they feared women as judges, an intriguing and controversial point.
Making an Argument-- Every Thesis Deserves Its Day in Court
You are the best (and only!) advocate for your thesis. Your thesis is defenseless without you to prove that its argument holds up under scrutiny. The jury (i.e., your reader) will expect you, as a good lawyer, to provide evidence to prove your thesis. To prove thesis statements on historical topics, what evidence can an able young lawyer use?
- Primary sources: letters, diaries, government documents, an organization’s meeting minutes, newspapers.
- Secondary sources: articles and books from your class that explain and interpret the historical event or person you are writing about, lecture notes, films or documentaries.
How can you use this evidence?
- Make sure the examples you select from your available evidence address your thesis.
- Use evidence that your reader will believe is credible. This means sifting and sorting your sources, looking for the clearest and fairest. Be sure to identify the biases and shortcomings of each piece of evidence for your reader.
- Use evidence to avoid generalizations. If you assert that all women have been oppressed, what evidence can you use to support this? Using evidence works to check over-general statements.
- Use evidence to address an opposing point of view. How do your sources give examples that refute another historian’s interpretation?
Remember -- if in doubt, talk to your instructor. Thanks to the web page of the University of Wisconsin at Madison’s Writing Center for information used in this handout. See writing.wisc.edu/handbook for further information.
Making Arguments and Writing Theses
What is an argument?
An argument takes a stand on an issue that is debatable . It seeks to persuade an audience of a point of view in much the same way that a lawyer argues a case in a court of law. It is NOT a description or a summary.
- This is an argument: “Although it may seem that internal discord and external barbarian invasions were separate problems for the Roman Empire in the fourth century, these developments were fundamentally interrelated and formed the single most important explanation for the long-term decline of Rome.”
- This is not an argument: “In this paper, I will elucidate the reasons for the collapse of the Roman Empire in the two tumultuous centuries leading up to the sack of its capital city in 410 by the notorious Visigoth king Alaric.”
What is a thesis?
A thesis statement states the main argument of your project and describes, briefly, how you will prove your argument . In other words, it also states how you will organize your body of evidence in support of the argument.
- This is an vague argument, and not yet a thesis: “The Roman Empire fell due to multiple interrelated reasons.”
- This is a thesis: “The barbarian invasions from the late third to the early fifth century were a direct result of policy changes by the Roman government responding to political struggles within the empire, culminating in the collapse of the Roman Empire at the hands of the Germanic tribes from the north.”
A thesis makes a specific statement to the reader about what you will be trying to argue. Your thesis can be more than one sentence, but should not be longer than a paragraph. Do not state evidence or use examples in your thesis paragraph.
A Thesis Helps You and Your Reader
Your blueprint for writing:
- Helps you focus and clarify your ideas.
- Provides a “hook” on which you can “hang” your topic sentences.
- Can (and should) be revised as you further refine your evidence and arguments. New evidence often requires you to change your thesis.
- Gives your paper a unified structure and point.
Your reader’s blueprint for reading:
- Serves as a “map” to follow through your paper.
- Keeps the reader focused on your argument.
- Signals to the reader your main points.
- Engages the reader in your argument.
Tips for Writing a Good Thesis
- Find a Focus : Choose a thesis that explores an aspect of your topic that is important to you, or that allows you to say something insightful about your topic. For example, if your project seeks to analyze women’s domestic labor during the late fifteenth century, you might decide to focus on the products they produced at home.
- Look for Patterns : After determining a general focus, go back and look more closely at your evidence. As you re-examine your evidence and identify patterns, you will develop your argument and some conclusions. For example, you might find that as men’s access to professional training increased, women made fewer textiles at home, though they generally retained their production of butter and ale.
Strategies for Developing a Thesis Statement
Here are four ways to begin to develop your thesis. These will not necessarily result in a finished product, but will give you a place to start.
Strategy 1: Spend time ruminating over your topic. Make a list of the ideas you want to include in the essay, and then think about how to group them under several different headings. Often, you will see an organizational plan emerge from the sorting process.
Strategy 2: Write a sentence that summarizes the main idea of the essay you plan to write.
Main Idea : Women’s domestic labor during the later Middle Ages contributed to the growth of the early industrial economy in Europe.
Strategy 3: Use a formula to develop a working thesis statement (which you will need to revise later). Here are a few examples:
- Although most readers of _________ have argued that _________, closer examination shows that _________.
- ________ used _________ and _________ to prove that _________.
- Historical event “X” is a result of the combination of _________, _________, and _________.
Strategy 4: Since your project instructions asks you to develop a specific historical question, turn the question into an assertion and give reasons for your statement.
Research Question : How did women’s domestic labor change between 1348 and 1500? How were changes in their work important to late medieval economic culture in Germany?
Beginning thesis : Between 1348 and 1500 women’s domestic labor changed as women stopped producing home-made textiles, although they continued to produce butter and ale. With the cash women earned from the sale of butter and ale they purchased cloth imported from Flanders and Italy, which in turn, helped increase early industrial production in those areas.
These strategies all should help you develop two characteristics all thesis statements should have: they state an argument and they reveal how you will make that argument. Your thesis probably still needs revising but these strategies may provide a good start.
Refine, Refine, Refine
As you work on your project, your ideas will change and so will your thesis. Here are examples of weak and strong thesis statements.
- Unspecific thesis : “Francis of Assisi was an important figure in the development of Christian attitudes about nature.”
This thesis lacks an argument. Why was Francis an important leader?
- Specific thesis : “Francis of Assisi offered a new interpretation of Christian asceticism that responded to the frustrations felt my many urban dwellers with the commercial economy of the thirteenth century, while using simple religious language that attracted people who were uncomfortable with impenetrable scholastic theology of the period.”
This thesis has an argument: Francis’s interpretation of Christianity became popular because it satisfied two different frustrations felt by many people in thirteenth-century Europe.
- Unspecific thesis : “At the end of the fifteenth century French women faced difficulty when they attempted to enter universities.”
No historian could argue with this general statement and uninteresting thesis.
- Specific thesis : “At the end of the fifteenth century French women experienced misogynist attacks from scholastics when they petitioned to enter universities primarily because theologians were concerned with protecting the monopoly that males had on priesthood, which was required for entry into academia.”
This thesis statement asserts that theologians attacked women who wanted a formal education because they feared that if women were allowed into universities they would be granted clerical status, which might threaten the male monopoly on priesthood.
Making an Argument
Your thesis is defenseless without you to prove that its argument holds up under scrutiny. Your reader expects you to provide all of the evidence to prove your thesis. There are two categories of evidence that you can use:
- Primary sources: treatises, letters, diaries, newspaper accounts, government documents, an organization’s meeting minutes and pamphlets.
- Secondary sources: articles and books that explain and interpret historical events.
How can you use this evidence?
- Make sure the examples you select from your available evidence address your thesis.
- Use evidence that your reader will deem credible. This means sorting through your sources, and identifying the clearest and fairest. It also means paying careful attention to the credibility of the source. This is especially important when dealing with web-based sources. Be sure to understand the biases and shortcomings of each piece of evidence. When in doubt consult with your professor or teaching assistant.
- Avoid broad generalizations that your reader may question by appealing to specific evidence.
- Use evidence to address an opposing point of view. How do your sources give examples that refute another historian’s interpretation?
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How to Write an Argumentative Thesis to Impress the Reader
By: Tasha Kolesnikova
What Does The Thesis Statement Mean?
Evidence-based, don't use strange phrases, don't write general language, describe the clear purpose of the paper, literary analysis, analytical essay, rhetorical analysis, expository essay, compare and contrast essay, anecdotal essay, key qualities of a convincing thesis statement, get help from experts if you have problems with thesis statement.
Unfortunately, schools do not teach such a practical matter on how to make a thesis statement . For example, a supervisor puzzles you with a task: write a thesis for an essay. Or for student research. But the teacher does not specify how to write the assumption. As if you should know about it without their advice. Well, then we will explain how to write a convincing thesis:
- Decide what type your thesis will be and choose the appropriate structure.
- Be clear about what will be the main result or conclusion of your work.
- Pick a working title for your thesis.
- Make a structure for your thesis. Think about what each section is about and write its main idea in one sentence opposite each section. Usually, one section in the text of the thesis corresponds to one paragraph. Thus, you have received a detailed outline of your thesis - the main content for each paragraph.
- Read carefully what has been written and check if these sections and paragraphs are sufficient to fully cover the topic. If not enough, add it. If necessary, change the order of the paragraphs, clarify the wording. You may want to adjust the title of the work.
- Carefully read the requirements for the thesis, paying attention to their volume. Express it in the number of lines in the appropriate font and distribute this amount among the individual sections and paragraphs, so you have a detailed outline of your thesis. You can proceed to write to them.
- Take turns, starting with the first paragraph, express your thoughts, trying to keep within the volume allotted for them. After writing the first paragraph, move on to the second, etc.
The thesis of a report, article, essay, or other voluminous material is a set of separate provisions logically related to each other. Moreover, it is often assumed that their proof takes place in the text of the central part.
Can a thesis statement be a question? The primary purpose of writing any thesis is to summarize the available material, to give its essence in short formulations, to reveal the content of a relatively large publication. Deeply understand the issue, analyze it, and create an opportunity to oppose your thoughts to the thoughts of others. The main difference between the assumptions and other scientific texts is the small volume in which it is necessary to resent all the article's main ideas. By the quality thesis, readers will judge the whole work and decide about the need to get acquainted with the material in full.
A poorly written assumption can scare away the reader from exciting work. Conversely, a well-written thesis text also draws attention to the scientific material. Of course, the thesis's quality is primarily determined by the real scientific content of the work.
Basic Signs of Argumentative Thesis Statements
Argumentative thesis statements is an exact, understandable position at the beginning of a text that has the following characteristics:
- on the one hand, the author of his statement can quickly and convincingly write why he thinks so (because he/she is sure of its truth, correctness);
- on the other hand, the reader can easily isolate and recognize a thesis, which the author wants to prove in the future.
Thus, in a good thesis, the author of his statement should more clearly determine his view of the problem, clearly and unambiguously (without concealment, without intrigue), formulate his idea. In other words, a reasonable assumption is an understandable answer to the question, what is the problem posed in the condition.
The most important thing is that the assumption responds to the topic raised in the text and answers it. For example, your task is to provide arguments on the topic “Has the book's value been preserved in our information society?”. Suppose the author of his statement focuses on information technology or the information society. In that case, his text will be assessed at 0 points as such, which does not correspond to the topic.
There is a debatable thesis depending on the style of the presentation. An argumentative text should have an assertion with which most people can argue or disagree. Such statements can be facts of history, architecture, films. Our debatable thesis example :
What is the attraction of the new book by Yitzhak Adizes? In my opinion, it is convenient. It can be very effectively used for self-education and self-development of specific management techniques. The book makes you think that we often rob ourselves, instinctively striving to communicate and work with people like us: it's easier that way. Those who are very different from us seem strange and even annoying to us. But it is they who can diversify our lives, do what we are not capable of, or do not like to do. Developing sympathy for people who are unlike us is an essential task of personal growth.
Simultaneously, the Adizes model and the book's recommendations can serve as an excellent basis for developing training designed for managers of all levels. This last assumption may seem controversial since the book's title is about developing leaders, not managers in general. However, I firmly believe that modern organizations need leaders at all levels of management. The leader-manager dichotomy is a thing of the past: today, an effective manager must always be a leader. At the same time, they do not turn into leaders, being at the top of the organizational hierarchy; they become consistently developing leadership qualities and increasing leadership scale. Therefore, the sooner a person thinks about their preferences and leadership regarding style, the more likely they are to become a good manager faster.
In this case, an argumentative thesis is a position where it is necessary to express the writer's point of view. The questions posed, not clear statements, quotations from unknown sources do not refer to an argumentative thesis. Why? Because the given item does not support the author's point of view.
Let's consider an example:
- Federal immigration law is one of the most challenging issues because people's opinions differ according to this law.
This example of the thesis is not controversial since it does not confirm the author's position.
- Federal immigration law necessarily requires a revision since it carries too many boundaries on the state and local police in the opinion of people.
In this example, the thesis's argumentation is clearly expressed since the author immediately explains why it is worth changing the law.
This kind of argumentative thesis means that it is necessary to express a logical and structured statement. If you think you can use an outrageous statement or statement that doesn't make sense, you are wrong. These statements are not an argumentative thesis.
Study the example:
- The city council steals, and they need to be imprisoned for what they did.
This statement is not an argumentative thesis because you have no evidence to make such an assumption.
- The city council's powers should be limited to a specific period because a group or party cannot control the city for an extended period; this leads to degradation; new views are needed.
This statement is well-reasoned because it is permissible to introduce limited terms for the city council.
The thesis consists of three proofs. Even in cases where the assumption proved evident, it is usually confirmed (this is especially true in mathematics). For example, this is the case because the circle's diameter is divided into two equal parts. What conceive in this position seems obvious. However, despite the apparent evidence of state, this proposition is proved in geometry.
This example is not an exception but an illustration of a general rule. Science seeks to prove, whenever possible, everything that can only prove, regardless of whether it is obvious or non-obvious.
Elucidation of the truth or falsity of an assumption is the goal of any proof. The proposal by which the validity of a thesis ascertains is called proof. The proof by which the falsehood of the thesis clarified is called refutation. To refute an assumption means to prove that it is false; that is, it does not correspond to reality.
An argumentative thesis should cover a narrow topic and aim only at a specific problem. If you focus on a particular task, provide evidence and convincing examples, the reader will immediately become interested. Please do not give a broad general statement because it does not carry any message; it is boring to read about it.
- The federal government urgently needs to change the U.S. tax code. And this is where you make mistakes most often when you tackle the laws.
This statement is not a persuasive, argumentative thesis since it is not indicated which part of the law, which clause of the code, which section of the code. Therefore, you need to describe in the future what exactly you consider unacceptable in the law, and the assumption must have this information; if you have not indicated it, your statement will be wrong.
- The federal government must amend the U.S. tax code regarding the abolition of personal property tax since it is too high for the entrepreneur.
This statement sounds convincing since it indicates what needs to be changed, and there is a right to appeal the tax percentage if hard evidence is given.
Main Components Of The Argumentative Thesis Statement
The thesis is a consequence of well-done research. It is unlikely to write a good thesis carelessly, of low quality, and not meeting the established requirements. You have to work hard on a good thesis. A reasoned assumption statement should contain the following three components:
- Does not use inappropriate phrases;
- Avoids vague language;
- Gives clear direction for the paper.
Since the thesis's task is to inform the reader about the author's view of the problem that was violated in the task, any language means will be appropriate for the formulation. They will show that everything said is an individual, original view of the author, position, and an idea regarding the related problem.
Linguistic tools that help the author guide the reader through their text, although they do not carry important semantic information about the topic, are sometimes called metatextual means. Convenient metatextual means for informing readers about the assumption are presented below:
1. I think that
I believe that a future professional's choice should be made taking into account two factors: firstly, on whether a person likes a suitable occupation, and secondly, on whether this work can provide a normal life.
2. I am deeply convinced that ...
I am deeply convinced that a person should choose a future profession, taking into account their talents and passions, and not on whether this work can give significant income in the future.
3. I, as well as many of my friends, believe that
As well as many of my friends, I believe that when choosing what to do in the future in life, one should consider the financial side of the issue. In other words, it seems to me that in the future, the job will be the best, thanks to which I will be able to provide for myself, my parents, and my future family.
4. It's hard to disagree with the fact that
It isn't easy to disagree that a profession's choice is one of the main decisions in life that a person should take, taking into account, first of all, the prospects for his self-realization.
5. It will be quite fair to say that
It will be quite fair to say that only the profession that, as they say, to one's liking, can become a favorite hobby and the basis for success in the future.
We have prepared a list of words and expressions that should not be used in the argumentative thesis statement. We are trying to protect students from the most common mistakes, so carefully study the list:
- “I am going to show you the plot of one book.” You are not doing anything in the text; you were not there at all!
- “This paper / In this paper is about a story about a book by my favorite writer.” And what another article can there be if the reader has already opened it?
- “The author wanted to say this.” Everything the author wanted to say, he said. And we can only talk about what we have understood. So if there are no direct confessions of the author in the text, we have no reason to believe that we know what the author wanted to say. Besides, what he wanted to say and what he said is not always the same thing.
- “The author managed to convey the writer portrayed well; the author described it very accurately.” Who are we to patronizingly pat an author on the shoulder? Moreover, we did not see what the writer portrayed or conveyed. How do we know whether we succeeded or failed.
- “The author touched on the idea.” He does not touch anything! The author writes about something, speaks, reflects. You can only handle material. The problem is not "material"; it is not touched, not raised - attention is drawn to it, it can be interesting, important, etc.
To make it easier and more pleasant for people to read your text, you must try to clearly and precisely explain yourself. But we think you agree with us that sometimes you can have vague ideas about something, speak evasively or express your thoughts vaguely. At the same time, please do not care that:
- you may not be understood at all;
- get it wrong;
- only a few will understand;
- readers will be at a loss, what did you mean?
So, in what words or phrases is there this very evasiveness and uncertainty that can confuse someone? If something happens out of the blue, take you by surprise.
One day, out of the blue, she announced that she was leaving. The famous British singer Adele used this phrase in her song “Someone like you”. It tells the story of how a girl, without an invitation, declared in her ex-boyfriend's wedding to let him know that it's not over for her.
- I hate to turn up out of the blue, uninvited.
- But I couldn't stay away; I couldn't fight it.
- I had hoped you'd see my face.
- And that you'd be reminded that for me, it isn't over.
At first glance, it seems that nothing in this phrase hints at its meaning. The same out of nowhere is much more understandable. However, if you look at a similar idiom out of the clear blue sky, which means what happened as unexpectedly as a bolt from the blue, then everything falls into place. By the way, for "thunder from a clear sky," the expression "a bolt from/out the blue" is used.
In addition to the fact that you should not use inaccurate phrases, it is worth adding that you should also not write generalized assumptions. In other words, the ability to formulate an assumption is to clearly express an attitude or, even better, to give instructions, to say how to relate correctly, how to think correctly, and what should be done in such a situation.
If you are writing an essay where there is a discussion, your assumption should be explicit and definite. Ask yourself the question: what conclusions follow from this, what does it mean, how to treat it correctly, what to do about it?
Let's look at an example of a bad thesis:
"Today's education problems are severe."
And now compare it with an expressly stated thesis:
"Each student accepts information in different ways; accordingly, it is more difficult for someone to solve tests on the exam but more accessible for others.
Do you feel there is a big difference between them?"
If you want to write abstracts correctly, then I offer you several tasks:
- During the week, write down situations where people talk about circumstances but cannot make conclusions. They do not formulate explicit theses.
- As you listen to people's conversations, notice the changing topics and the presence of the assumption.
- Indicate intentions. Begin any appeal with the indication of your intentions: I have a request, offer, demand, advice, objection, chat.
- Don't write about your feelings unless there are reasonable instructions, and no one wants to.
- Write an assumption when you have a version of the final decision.
Our Examples of Analytical Thesis Statements
Below we will analyze a few examples that students need to write most often. Study the introduction, central part, conclusion sample carefully, but do not copy; use them only for inspiration.
We look at the saving grace of O'Connor, in which he uses both kindness and hypocrisy. Are you wondering how this happens? Due to the characteristics of the character and events in the plot. In this example, we will consider how the author conveys this writing style with the help of characters and events.
"I studied the Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens and noticed that it shows the process by which a person can redeem a life in which he has shaken the meaning, made many mistakes. Notice the transition and development in terms of character. So from a negative, hopeless, evil character, he turned for which the meaning of life appeared, and now death is what he thinks about at the last moment. Because of the woman he loves, he wants to do noble deeds. "
This example is written in the author's style; you can also write a literary analysis based on Lucy Manette from the same book. Before reading a work of art, we recommend looking through all the points you need to analyze. So you can find answers to the necessary points along the way: descriptions of heroes, their remarks, quotes, and the like.
Everything is simple here - you need to describe a process. For example, we will look at how writing a personal statement for college goes and tells it.
"Even if your grades are not good enough, you can still go to Harvard, and not the best TOEFL and GMAT scores can lead you to Stanford. This happens often. It's all about a well-written essay that shows your ambition and reveals your talent.
According to representatives of universities and colleges' admissions committees, the essay can fully characterize the applicant. In their opinion, the essay is the most striking document of the entire package of papers provided. Through your essay, the selection committee members will see you define who you are and what is important to you in life.
Leadership is essential to Harvard because they train leaders. And if you want to go to Columbia University, you need to be interested in world problems and have an informed opinion on any issue."
Rhetorical analysis is a close reading that uses rhetoric principles to explore the interactions between a text, author, and audience. It is also called rhetorical critic or pragmatic criticism. A rhetorical analysis can be applied to almost any text or image — in speech, in an essay, advertisement, poem, photograph, web page. Let's look at an example.
"I want to do a rhetorical analysis based on Claude McKay's English sonnet "Africa," which interestingly describes a short but very tragic life of the main heroine. The poem opens with an extended sentence of practically located paragraphs, the first of which reads: "The sun looked for your dim bed and brought out the light." Abstracting scientific and historical discourses on humanity's African origins, based on Genesis, where God creates light with one command. This shows me Africa's unlit knowledge before God's intervention and associates with the dark color of the face of Africa's descendants, the unspoken figures of which the disastrous is a repetitive subject in McKay's work. "
Our Examples of Expository Thesis Statements
There are also expository thesis statements, so we have prepared several examples.
To justify your criticism, as well as not to make it too abstract or simple, to bring your point of view without insult, five essential criteria for ethical consideration create:
- it is necessary to compose a message intended to improve social values and human life;
- it would help if you thought about the actions and consequences;
- it is necessary to demonstrate authoritative actions of people who should be followed;
- it is necessary to convey that there are miracles and it is worth believing in a fairy tale;
- it is necessary to show that each part of the text is one whole. "
In this case, the student needs to write about five criteria that make the text a real ethical, literary work.
"A student's life is based on the study, lessons, homework, and communication with classmates."
From this statement, it is necessary to show how the student's life is arranged. Describe how his day goes; what he most often has to do.
The purpose of the compare and contrast essay is to reveal a concept using the same parameters, to search for similarities and differences. See an example of an assumption for such an essay:
"The profession of a chef combines both differences and common features, but despite their common goal - cooking, they still differ in education, ability to cook, purposefulness, charm."
The purpose of this essay is to write a funny story from your own experience, or perhaps you have heard a story somewhere that evokes positive emotions in you. Example assumption in the anecdotal essay:
"At the first experience on sports rafting on mountain rivers and artificial rowing canals, this occupation can turn a teenager into an adult."
Here you can describe how rafting has impacted you and what impressions it has left you. There are many ideas, use funny stories - this is your main rule in an anecdotal essay.
The most effective thesis allows the reader to understand the purpose of writing the text. Think about who your reader might be and what information they require to understand your topic. There are properties of a strong thesis:
Comprehensibility is the assumption ability to convey the content in the author's head to his readers' head. The assumption is more straightforward if it clearly states what to do, why it is so, provides all the necessary clarifications, and provides illustrations.
The assumption validity can also be attributed to the property; however, one can often find a theory like "America for Americans," although without sufficient substantiation. The assumption validity is the arguments, facts, views, and circumstances showing why the author thinks.
The structure of the assumption should not belong and distract from the main idea.
The authors of Studybay have many years of experience working with the thesis, so they know how to write such a vital work element to grab the reader's attention immediately. All work is done by holders of scientific degrees from different countries, so we can mean that every student can get help. To get assistance on the task, do the following steps:
- Contact our manager. Refine the argumentative essay topic, and the writer will pick up the assumption himself.
- Fill out an application where you need to indicate your wishes for work as well as style paper.
- Choose the author you think is best for the job.
- When the author starts working, you will receive a notification about his readiness.
- Read the result, express your wishes for revision or adjustment.
- The author will receive payment only if you are delighted with the document.
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Developing Your Thesis Statement
What is a thesis statement.
Composition classes stress the role of the thesis statement because it is the backbone of collegiate composition. The thesis statement gives the reader insight into the topic, letting him/her know what the essay is about. Without a thesis statement, the essay may lack an argument, focus, clarity, and continuity.
1. There are two major types of thesis statements: explanatory and argumentative. The explanatory thesis announces the subject to the reader; it never declares a stance which needs an argument to defend. These explanatory theses are evident in expository essays and research essays. In an argumentative essay, the thesis statement should be a claim, not a factual statement or a personal response to a topic. It should be an idea that provokes opposition, a claim that readers might choose to refute.
2. The thesis statement is usually found at the end of an introductory paragraph. It's planted early in the essay because it informs the reader of the main important idea that encompasses the entire essay.
3. A thesis statement is not always one sentence; the length of the thesis depends on the depth of the essay. Some essays may require more than a single sentence. However, the statement should be as clear and concise as possible in the final draft of the essay. The shorter and more direct a thesis statement is the more confident and assertive the writer sounds. Being assertive and confident is crucial, especially in argumentative essays.
Creating a thesis statement:
As a writer, keep your thesis statement in mind. Each proposed or considered topic within the essay should have some relevance to your thesis statement. It is the argument or focus of the essay, as well as a great structuring tool.
Because of the pivotal role a thesis statement plays in a piece of composition, many novice writers put too much emphasis on the thesis statement during the production of an essay. It is important to keep the thesis in mind, but it is also important to avoid hindering the writing process by restricting your writing to a thesis statement. This is where a working thesis comes into play.
A working thesis is exactly what it means: a thesis statement that is "in progress" during the writing process. Normally, a thesis statement will not be fully constructed until the entire essay is written. A working thesis allows for a writer to approach the topic with a thesis in mind, even though that thesis can be revised (and it will be numerous times) during the writing prcess.
Constructing a working thesis should come after brainstorming or deriving a topic. It should be a thesis that can help guide you as a writer through the composition of the essay. A simple way to begin the construction of a working thesis is to write "I believe that ... " and follow it up with a simple claim that includes the key topics to be discussed in the essay. An example would be:
" I believe that America's cultural identity can be defined by art, literature, and film."
The working thesis stated above now gives the writer a structure for the paper. Three main ideas should be discussed in their relation to cultural identity: art, literature, and film.
The best aspect of a working thesis is that it can be revised at any time to meet the needs of the essay or the writer. For instance, when using a working thesis, the writer knows that the thesis can be changed to fit in an extra topic if the essay needs it:
" I believe that America's cultural identity can be defined by art, literature, music , and film."
The role of the working thesis is to lessen the stress of writing a collegiate essay and to incorporate some flexibility into the writing process. Knowing that a working thesis will be subjected to numerous revisions allows the writer more freedom when writing the essay.
Now let's revise our working thesis into a stronger claim.
Revising the thesis statement
The first step in changing the working thesis into a strong, independent claim is to cut "I believe that" from the beginning of the sentence. Let us use the original working thesis from the previous section as an example:
As it stands now, this thesis is a bit weak because the writer is asserting that it is their opinion or what they think. To make it into an argument or claim, the writer must be taken out of the sentence.
"America's cultural identity can be defined by art, literature, and film."
Hmm….Still sounds a little weak. Although the writer is now void from the statement, there is still doubt in this claim. This is where diction becomes important. The key is to use words that make the claim stronger and more assertive. Taking out the passive voice in the statement will add strength to the statement.
"Art, literature, and film define America's cultural identity."
Now an argument can be sparked.
Although this is not the best thesis statement, the aforementioned example is to show how to create and revise a thesis. If this thesis were to be used, it probably would be revised again to make it more specific; the types of art, literature, and film would need clarification.
Key points in revising a thesis statement:
Make sure that your paper reinforces your thesis statement at all times. One way to ensure this is by checking the use of the topic sentences throughout the essay:
- Do they have any relevance to the thesis statement?
- Do they pertain to the topic or argument?
If not, don't change your paper right away; see if you can revise the thesis statement to meet the needs of your essay. If you can't change the thesis, then change the essay.
Using diction in a thesis statement is important. Make sure the words comprising the statement are used correctly and help reinforce the claim.
Be direct, clear and concise. Do not use large, vague words unless they are necessary. Do not fluff the thesis statement. The goal of the thesis statement is to make sure the reader understands the topic on hand. Don't confuse him/her with a big, flowery sentence.
If the essay is argumentative, be assertive !!
A Check List:
Here is a list of questions to help determine the strength of your thesis statement. After revising the working thesis into a more effective statement, ask yourself the following:
- Does my thesis statement introduce readers to the argument or claim headlining the essay?
- Will this thesis evoke discussions or arguments? Can it be opposed? Or is it merely a factual statement?
- Is my thesis obscure? Is it too general? Would making it more specific be helpful for readers?
- Does my thesis guide the essay? Is it the foundation for the topics discussed in the essay?
- Is it clear that the progression of the essay pertains to the thesis statement?
- Are my word choices in the thesis statement correct? Are all the words used in the right context? Could I make the sentence stronger by cutting unnecessary words?
- If I am writing a research paper, does my thesis place the essay and reader into a larger, contemporary scholastic discourse?
- Overall, do I feel comfortable with and confident about the final revision of the thesis statement? Do I feel that it would pique a reader's interest?
- by Patrick Williams
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IMAGES
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COMMENTS
An argumentative thesis must make a claim about which reasonable people can disagree. Statements of fact or areas of general agreement cannot be
A strong, argumentative thesis statement should take a stance about an issue. It should explain the basics of your argument and help your reader to know
A strong thesis statement for an argument essay states a clear position on the issue ... because of the large number of job options and the higher salaries.
An argumentative or persuasive piece of writing must begin with a debatable thesis or claim. In other words, the thesis must be something that people could
Instead of implying your thesis or main idea, in an argumentative essay, you'll most likely be required to write out your thesis statement for your audience
15 Thesis Statement Examples · #1. Vaccinations should be mandatory · #2. Government surveillance is harmful · #3. Organ donors should be
A thesis statement is a sentence in which you state an argument about a topic and then describe, briefly, how you will prove your argument.
A thesis statement states the main argument of your project and describes, briefly, how you will prove your argument. In other words, it also states how you
The primary purpose of writing any thesis is to summarize the available material, to give its essence in short formulations, to reveal the content of a
Composition classes stress the role of the thesis statement because it is the backbone of collegiate composition. The thesis statement gives the reader insight