{"id":52,"date":"2017-06-19T22:54:28","date_gmt":"2017-06-19T22:54:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/olemiss-writing100\/chapter\/argumentative-thesis-statements\/"},"modified":"2025-06-03T00:29:08","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T00:29:08","slug":"argumentative-thesis-statements","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/olemiss-writing100\/chapter\/argumentative-thesis-statements\/","title":{"raw":"Argumentative Thesis Statements","rendered":"Argumentative Thesis Statements"},"content":{"raw":"Below are some of the key features of an argumentative thesis statement.\r\n\r\nAn argumentative thesis is . . .\r\n

Debatable<\/h2>\r\nAn 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.\r\n
\r\n

Example<\/h3>\r\nJunk food is bad for your health<\/strong> is not a debatable thesis. Most people would agree that junk food is bad for your health.\r\n\r\nBecause junk food is bad for your health, the size of sodas offered at fast-food restaurants should be regulated by the federal government<\/strong> is a debatable thesis. \u00a0Reasonable people could agree or disagree with the statement.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

Assertive<\/h2>\r\nAn argumentative thesis takes a position, asserting the writer\u2019s stance. Questions, vague statements, or quotations from others are not argumentative theses because they do not assert the writer\u2019s viewpoint.\r\n
\r\n

Example<\/h3>\r\nFederal immigration law is a tough issue about which many people disagree<\/strong> is not an arguable thesis because it does not assert a position.\r\n\r\nFederal immigration enforcement law needs to be overhauled because it puts undue constraints on state and local police<\/strong> is an argumentative thesis because it asserts a position that immigration enforcement law needs to be changed.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

Reasonable<\/h2>\r\nAn argumentative thesis must make a claim that is logical and possible. Claims that are outrageous or impossible are not argumentative theses.\r\n
\r\n

Example<\/h3>\r\nCity council members stink and should be thrown in jail<\/strong> is not an argumentative thesis. City council members\u2019 ineffectiveness is not a reason to send them to jail.\r\n\r\nCity council members should be term limited to prevent one group or party from maintaining control indefinitely<\/strong> is an arguable thesis because term limits are possible, and shared political control is a reasonable goal.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

Evidence Based<\/h2>\r\nAn 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.\r\n
\r\n

Example<\/h3>\r\nIndividuals convicted of murder will go to hell when they die<\/strong> is not an argumentative thesis because its support rests on religious beliefs or values rather than evidence.\r\n\r\nRehabilitation programs for individuals serving life sentences should be funded because these programs reduce violence within prisons<\/strong> is an argumentative thesis because evidence such as case studies and statistics can be used to support it.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

Focused<\/h2>\r\nAn 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.\r\n
\r\n

Example<\/h3>\r\nThe federal government should overhaul the U.S. tax code<\/strong> 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.\r\n\r\nThe U.S. House of Representative should vote to repeal the federal estate tax because the revenue generated by that tax is negligible<\/strong> 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.\r\n\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"

Below are some of the key features of an argumentative thesis statement.<\/p>\n

An argumentative thesis is . . .<\/p>\n

Debatable<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\n

Example<\/h3>\n

Junk food is bad for your health<\/strong> is not a debatable thesis. Most people would agree that junk food is bad for your health.<\/p>\n

Because junk food is bad for your health, the size of sodas offered at fast-food restaurants should be regulated by the federal government<\/strong> is a debatable thesis. \u00a0Reasonable people could agree or disagree with the statement.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Assertive<\/h2>\n

An argumentative thesis takes a position, asserting the writer\u2019s stance. Questions, vague statements, or quotations from others are not argumentative theses because they do not assert the writer\u2019s viewpoint.<\/p>\n

\n

Example<\/h3>\n

Federal immigration law is a tough issue about which many people disagree<\/strong> is not an arguable thesis because it does not assert a position.<\/p>\n

Federal immigration enforcement law needs to be overhauled because it puts undue constraints on state and local police<\/strong> is an argumentative thesis because it asserts a position that immigration enforcement law needs to be changed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Reasonable<\/h2>\n

An argumentative thesis must make a claim that is logical and possible. Claims that are outrageous or impossible are not argumentative theses.<\/p>\n

\n

Example<\/h3>\n

City council members stink and should be thrown in jail<\/strong> is not an argumentative thesis. City council members\u2019 ineffectiveness is not a reason to send them to jail.<\/p>\n

City council members should be term limited to prevent one group or party from maintaining control indefinitely<\/strong> is an arguable thesis because term limits are possible, and shared political control is a reasonable goal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Evidence Based<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\n

Example<\/h3>\n

Individuals convicted of murder will go to hell when they die<\/strong> is not an argumentative thesis because its support rests on religious beliefs or values rather than evidence.<\/p>\n

Rehabilitation programs for individuals serving life sentences should be funded because these programs reduce violence within prisons<\/strong> is an argumentative thesis because evidence such as case studies and statistics can be used to support it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Focused<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\n

Example<\/h3>\n

The federal government should overhaul the U.S. tax code<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

The U.S. House of Representative should vote to repeal the federal estate tax because the revenue generated by that tax is negligible<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t

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Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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CC licensed content, Original<\/div>