purdue owl debatable thesis

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Introduction to library research.

• Types of Periodicals
• Google Scholar
• Finding Books and Articles
• Evaluating Sources
• Reference: Dictionaries and Encyclopedias
• Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources
• Primary Materials and Statistics
• Steps in the Research Process

Developing a Thesis

From Purdue OWL:

Definition:

A thesis statement is a sentence that summarizes the main point of your essay and previews your supporting points. The thesis statement is important because it guides your readers from the beginning of your essay by telling them the main idea and supporting points of your essay.

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.

In short, a strong thesis statement should be a focused argument that can be disputed.

Tips for Writing Your Thesis Statement

1. Determine what kind of paper you are writing:

An analytical paper breaks down an issue or an idea into its component parts, evaluates the issue or idea, and presents this breakdown and evaluation to the audience.

An expository (explanatory) paper explains something to the audience.

An argumentative paper makes a claim about a topic and justifies this claim with specific evidence. The claim could be an opinion, a policy proposal, an evaluation, a cause-and-effect statement, or an interpretation. The goal of the argumentative paper is to convince the audience that the claim is true based on the evidence provided.

If you are writing a text that does not fall under these three categories (e.g., a narrative), a thesis statement somewhere in the first paragraph could still be helpful to your reader.

2. Your thesis statement should be specific —it should cover only what you will discuss in your paper and should be supported with specific evidence.

3. The thesis statement usually appears at the end of the first paragraph of a paper (the introduction).

4. Your topic may change as you write, so you may need to revise your thesis statement to reflect exactly what you have discussed in the paper.

Examples of underdeveloped thesis statements that are broad and not debatable :

• Pollution is bad for the environment.
• In this paper, I will discuss how SUVs are bad for the environment.

Examples of good statements that are focused and encourage debate:

• America's anti-pollution efforts should focus on privately owned cars.
• Recent scientific research provides evidence that SUVs emit more CO2 than other types of vehicles. High CO2 emissions contribute to global warming.
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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.

• 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

Debate Issues & Paper Topics

• Choosing a Topic
• Gathering & Evaluating Sources
• Citation Tools
• Opposing Viewpoints in Context This link opens in a new window
• Databases for an Argumentative Paper
• Math & Science
• English Language Arts
• Social Studies
• News & Current Events
• Language Learning
• Recommended Websites
• Writing Help
• Search the SLCL Catalog This link opens in a new window

Choosing A Topic

• Understanding the Assignment
• Brainstorming
• Writing a Reserach Question
• Writing a Thesis Statement

The first step to any successful research paper is to make sure you understand the assignment and its requirements. Here are some questions to consider when you receive the assignment from your teacher. If you don't know the answers to these questions, you may want to talk to your teacher about what you are missing.

• What is the topic? Did your teacher assign you a specific topic or do you get to choose one that interests you?
• How many sources do you need? Do you have to find a certain number books, websites, newspapers, or magazine articles? Are you required to use scholarly sources like Academic Journals?
• What are the formatting and length requirements? How long does your paper need to be? Do you need to use a certain font and size? Where do your pages numbers need to be located?
• What citation style should you use? The most common is MLA style, but there is also Chicago, APA, and more.
• Purdue OWL: Understanding Writing Assignments Tips for understanding writing assignments, with detailed examples.
• In Context Toolbox: How to Choose a Topic Tip Sheet The In Context Toolbox tip sheets are designed to help middle school and high school researchers prepare a written report. This document will explain how to choose a topic for your report.

Choosing a topic is one of the most difficult parts of writing a research paper. There are so many topics you could research, where do you even begin? Even if your teacher assigns you a topic, it might be too broad to actually research in the time you have to complete the assignment. These brainstorming tips can help you narrow your focus. Also, depending on what subject this assignment is for, you might ask yourself different questions. For instance, a research paper for history class will differ than a research paper on current events. These tips focus on writing an argumentative paper on a current event or issue.

Here are some tips for initial brainstorming of a research paper topic:

• What topic would you like to learn more about? Has there been a issue in the news that you would like to investigate? Examples: increased opioid addiction, rising cost of college tuition, racial profiling.
• Is there a political or social cause you are interested in, passionate or angry about? A research paper is a great opportunity to investigate why you feel strongly about a certain issue. The research process can reinforce ideas you already had or it can open you up to new ideas and opinions. Be open to changing your mind.
• Is your topic too broad? Too narrow? The scope of your research question will determine how many sources you will be able to find. Be flexible and ready to makes changes to your research question.
• In Context Toolbox: Writing a Topic Sentence Tip Sheet The In Context Toolbox tip sheets are designed to help middle school and high school researchers prepare a written report. This document will explain how to choose a topic for your report.

Once you know your research topic, it is time to formulate your research question . Your research question will later become your thesis statement , which will be your guide in finding sources that support your argument. Here are some tips to help you formulate a research question.

• Find an encyclopedia article for your topic. An encyclopedia entry will give you a broad overview of your topic, introduce you to the vocabulary surrounding the issue, and may give you an idea of how to narrow your topic. For example, an encyclopedia entry on "climate change" introduces the concepts of global warming, greenhouse gases, and changes in weather patterns.
• Remember not to narrow your focus too far. The question, "Has there been an increase in greenhouse gas emissions in St. Louis, MO in the last three years?" might be difficult to find enough sources to complete your assignment.
• Look for Key Words. Have you noticed any repeated words, concepts, or issues in your background reading? Those words will be useful as search terms in library databases and internet searches.
• Research topic or idea: Cost of college tuition.
• Research question after background reading: Has the rising cost of college tuition affected potential applicants?
• Research question focused by time period and population group: How has the rising cost of college tuition since 1990 affected admission rates of students from lower socio-economic backgrounds?

A Thesis Statement is not the same thing as your research topic. One your have chosen a topic and formulated your research question, it is time to begin thinking about the thesis of your research assignment. A topic is general idea or subject that you would like to research, while a thesis is a an argument for a specific angle on that topic supported by research.

Your thesis statement is the answer to your Research Question and the basis for the rest of your research, as well as, your paper's argument.

The thesis statement is your paper in a nutshell. It informs your audience of idea that you are going to develop and support throughout the paper. It not only aids your audience's understanding of your topic, but it also gives you something to consult in order to make sure all of your points support the central claim of your argument.

Consider what kind of paper are you writing:

• An analytical paper breaks down an issue or an idea into its component parts, evaluates the issue or idea, and presents this breakdown and evaluation to the audience.
• An expository (explanatory) paper explains something to the audience.
• An argumentative paper makes a claim about a topic and justifies this claim with specific evidence. The claim could be an opinion, a policy proposal, an evaluation, a cause-and-effect statement, or an interpretation. The goal of the argumentative paper is to convince the audience that the claim is true based on the evidence provided.

A thesis statement should be:

• Precise : 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 correct.
• 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.
• Flexible : Be prepared for your thesis statement to change as you do more research.

Adapted from: Purdue OWL , Berea College

• In Context Toolbox - Writing a Thesis Statement The In Context Toolbox tip sheets are designed to help middle school and high school researchers prepare a written report. This document will explain how to write a thesis statement for your report.
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• Last Updated: Jan 23, 2024 12:02 PM
• URL: https://slcl.libguides.com/papertopics

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