9.4: Argumentative Thesis Statements
- 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.
Debatable
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:
- BAD: 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. A debatable thesis would be:
- GOOD: 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.
Assertive
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:
- BAD: Federal immigration law is a tough issue about which many people disagree.
This is not an arguable thesis because it does not assert a position.
- GOOD: Federal immigration enforcement law needs to be overhauled because it puts undue constraints on state and local police.
This is an argumentative thesis because it asserts a position that immigration enforcement law needs to be changed.
Reasonable
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:
- BAD: 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.
- GOOD: City council members should be term-limited to prevent one group or party from maintaining control indefinitely.
This is an arguable thesis because term limits are possible, and shared political control is a reasonable goal.
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:
- BAD: Individuals convicted of murder will go to hell when they die.
This is not an argumentative thesis because its support rests on religious beliefs or values rather than evidence.
- GOOD: 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.
Focused
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:
- BAD: The federal government should overhaul the U.S. tax code.
This is not an effective argumentative thesis because it is too general (What part of the government? Which tax codes? What sections of those tax codes?) and would require an overwhelming amount of evidence to be fully supported.
- GOOD: 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.
In the practice exercises below, you will use this information from your reading to 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.
Contributors and Attributions
- Argumentative Thesis Statements. Provided by : University of Mississippi. License : CC BY: Attribution
- Argumentative Thesis Activity. Provided by : Excelsior College. Located at : http://owl.excelsior.edu/argument-and-critical-thinking/argumentative-thesis/argumentative-thesis-activity/ . License : CC BY: Attribution
- Purdue OWL: Thesis Statements. Provided by : OWLPurdue. Located at : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKXkemYldmw . License : Other . License Terms : Standard YouTube License