Evaluating Effective Thesis Statements

Evaluating Effective Thesis Statements

A Non-Thesis Thesis

Issue #1 - A thesis should always take a specific position on an issue

Poll

An effective thesis ALWAYS takes a specific position on an issue. It is different from a topic sentence (claim) in that a thesis statement is not neutral. It announces, in addition to the topic, the argument you want to make or the point you want to prove. This is your own opinion that you intend to back up; this is your reason and motivation for writing. Which of the following is the BEST thesis (and does NOT have this thesis issue)?

• In his article, Stanley Fish shows that we don't really have the right to free speech.

  Fish's argument that free speech exists more as a political prize than as a legal reality ignores the fact that even as a political prize, it still serves the social end of creating a general cultural atmosphere of tolerance that may ultimately promote free speech in our nation just as effectively as any binding law.

• This presentation will consider the advantages and disadvantages of certain restrictions on free speech.

• Even though there may be considerable advantages to restricting hate speech, the possibility of tempering open dialogue on crucial racial issues is too great and too high a price to pay.

The Overly-Broad Thesis

Issue #2 - A thesis should be as specific as possible to reflect the scope of the prompt

Poll

A thesis should be as specific as possible, and it should be tailored to reflect the scope of the prompt. It is not possible, for instance, to write about the history of English literature in a 5-page paper. In addition to choosing simply a smaller or more specific topic or argument, strategies to narrow a thesis include specifying a perspective or delineating certain limits. Which of the following is the BETTER thesis statement (and does not have this thesis issue)?

• There should be no restrictions on the 1st amendment.

• There should be no restrictions on the 1st amendment if those restrictions are intended merely to protect individuals from unspecified or otherwise unquantifiable or unverifiable "emotional distress."

Poll

A thesis should be as specific as possible, and it should be tailored to reflect the scope of the prompt. It is not possible, for instance, to write about the history of English literature in a 5-page paper. In addition to choosing simply a smaller or more specific topic or argument, strategies to narrow a thesis include specifying a perspective or delineating certain limits. delineating certain limits. Which of the following is the BETTER thesis statement (and does not have this thesis issue)?

• The government has the right to limit free speech.

• The government has the right to limit free speech in cases of overtly racist or sexist language because our failure to address such abuses would effectively suggest that our society condones such ignorant and hateful views.

The Uncontestable, Unarguable Thesis

Issue #3 - A thesis should always be "arguable" rather than universally accepted truth

Poll

A thesis must be arguable. And in order for it to be arguable, it must present a view that someone might reasonably contest. Sometimes a thesis ultimately says, "we should be good," or "bad things are bad." Such thesis statements are tautological or so universally accepted that there is no need to prove the point. Which of the following is the BETTER thesis statement (and does not have this thesis issue)?

• Although we have the right to say what we want, we should avoid hurting other people's feelings.

• If we can accept that emotional injuries can be just as painful as physical ones we should limit speech that may hurt people's feelings in ways similar to the way we limit speech that may lead directly to bodily harm.

Poll

A thesis must be arguable. And in order for it to be arguable, it must present a view that someone might reasonably contest. Sometimes a thesis ultimately says, "we should be good," or "bad things are bad." Such thesis statements are tautological or so universally accepted that there is no need to prove the point. Which of the following is the BETTER thesis statement (and does not have this thesis issue)?

• There are always alternatives to using racist speech.

• The "fighting words" exception to free speech is not legitimate because it wrongly considers speech as an action.

Multiple Select

Christopher Bell gave a TED Talk for his Creating a More Utopic America project, where he argued that...

(Choose the BETTER thesis below):

• There aren’t enough female superheroes; companies need to make more of them so that there’s more equal representation.

• Media saturation and public ideology detrimentally and negatively impact gender roles in our society; however, we as a society do have the power to create a culture where both boys and girls are equally valued, respected, and most importantly, represented.

Multiple Select

WHY is the following thesis, the better thesis?

Media saturation and public ideology detrimentally and negatively impact gender roles in our society; however, we as a society do have the power to create a culture where both boys and girls are equally valued, respected, and most importantly, represented.

• The thesis contains specific ideas that are arguable.

• The thesis explains the problem / issue in the world.

• The thesis points out the solution to the problem / issue.

• All of these options are reasons why that this thesis is effective.