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Writing Arguments

Thesis StatementsWhat is a thesis statement?The word thesis comes from the Greek noun meaning setting down or a placing or a position. The purpose of the thesis statement is to set down the argument of the paper.

How can my thesis statement do this?This can be done most clearly if you think of the thesis statement as having three parts: a context, a subject, and a claim.

ExampleIn America today, the documented increase in childhood emotional CONTEXTSUBJECTdisorders reflects changes in institutional practices rather than a CLAIMdeterioration of family values.

Thesis StatementsThe context places the reader in the general area of discussion (In America today).

The subject directs the readers attention to the focus of the paper (documented increase in childhood emotional disorders).

The claim tells the reader what argument regarding the subject the paper will make (reflects changes in institutional practices rather than a deterioration of family values).

Thesis StatementsPurpose: After reading the thesis statement, the reader should have a clear understanding of the goals of the paper and be able to continue reading to see how compellingly the case is made.

Including context, subject, and claim in the thesis helps the writer to order thoughts and organize information gathered in service to the papers goals.the readers clearly understand the papers purpose at the outset.the reader and writer by providing important signposts to aid composition and comprehension.

Visualizing the C-S-C ThesisSentence Label

Visualizing the C-S-C ThesisGraduated Triangle

Visualizing the C-S-C ThesisGraduated Triangle

Visualizing the C-S-C ThesisGraduated Triangle

Visualizing the C-S-C ThesisList Format:

Context: today (that is, contemporary American society)Subject: animal rightsClaim: The most flagrant abuse ironically takes place in U.S. laboratories

Context: film version of Mary Shelleys FrankensteinSubject: the monsterClaim: depicts the detrimental effects of isolation and alienation on the human subject

Label these Thesis Statementsa. In America today, the documented increase in childhood emotional disorders reflects changes in institutional practices rather than a deterioration of family values.

b. The poor food served on the campuses of most universities across the nation represents campus administrators privileging of profit over student health.

Three Problems / FixesSubject is too broad.Subject is too narrow.Subject is too vague.

Three Problems / FixesSubject is too broad.If the subject of the paper is too broad, the paper may be superficial or inconclusive. For example, taking all of World War II as the subject for a thesis statement is too general and unwieldy. Solution: Shift left. Instead, ask yourself what about World War II you can explore. A better paper might orient the reader to World War II in the introduction and from there direct the readers focus to a particular battle in that war, such as the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Three Problems / FixesSubject is too narrow.If the subject is too narrow, the support for the claim may be exhausted too quickly to offer a satisfactory argument. EXAMPLE: The hummingbird necklace in Frieda Kahlos Self-Portrait with Thorn and Hummingbird illustrates her personal feelings of fragility.Context: Self-Portrait with Thorn and Hummingbird / Subject: the necklace / Claim: illustrates the artists personal feelings of fragilitySolution: Expand the subject.The nature imagery in Frieda Kahlos Self-Portrait with Thorn and Hummingbird illustrates her personal feelings of fragility.Context: Self-Portrait with Thorn and Hummingbird / Subject: the nature imagery/ Claim: illustrates the artists personal feelings of fragility

Three Problems / FixesSubject is vague.The way Kahlo paints Self-Portrait with Thorn and Hummingbird illustrates a devotion to feminist principles.Context: Self-Portrait with Thorn and Hummingbird / Subject: the way Kahlo paints/ Claim: illustrates devotion to feminist principlesSolution: Clarify the subject.Kahlos self-depiction in Self-Portrait with Thorn and Hummingbird illustrates a devotion to feminist principles.

Three essentials of aclaimEssential 1: A claim is something that can be objectively supported

A thesis claim must be based on objective evidence; it is essentially an opinion or hypothesis, but it is a type of opinion that can be supported by carefully selected and interpreted evidence from a text or other source. This is easier to explain through an illustration.

Here is a claim that cannot be objectively supported:The architectural design of the new library is ugly.

Three essentials of aclaimEssential 1: A claim is something that can be objectively supported

A thesis claim must be based on objective evidence; it is essentially an opinion or hypothesis, but it is a type of opinion that can be supported by carefully selected and interpreted evidence from a text or other source. This is easier to explain through an illustration.

Here is a claim that cannot be objectively supported:The architectural design of the new library is ugly.

Three essentials of aclaimEssential 1: A claim is something that can be objectively supported

Revise by asking so what?

The architectural design of the new library is repetitive, impractical, and inefficient, so the building should not be funded.ORThe architectural design of the new library is seriously flawed, so the building should not be built.

Three essentials of aclaimEssential 2: A claim should be debatable

Valid alternative viewpoints should be possible. A good thesis claim should elicit debate in the sense that it should suggest valid alternative viewpoints; that is, not everyone will already agree with it. Said differently, counterpositions or counterarguments should exist.

Three essentials of aclaimEssential 2: A claim should be debatable

Example: Although viewed by many as a work-saving addition to modern life, computers have, ironically, increased rather than decreased the amount of time people spend at work.

From among the possible ways to account for the impact of computers on modern society, this thesis chooses one: that computers have increased rather than decreased the amount of time we spend at work. However, there are a number of ways to counter this argument. One could argue, for instance, that computers have decreased the time required for work because people can now use e-mail as a substitute for some conferences and electronic attachments instead of delivering some documents in person.

Three essentials of aclaimEssential 2: A claim should be debatable

Example: Although viewed by many as a work-saving addition to modern life, computers have, ironically, increased rather than decreased the amount of time people spend at work.

From among the possible ways to account for the impact of computers on modern society, this thesis chooses one: that computers have increased rather than decreased the amount of time we spend at work. However, there are a number of ways to counter this argument. One could argue, for instance, that computers have decreased the time required for work because people can now use e-mail as a substitute for some conferences and electronic attachments instead of delivering some documents in person.

Three essentials of aclaimEssential 2: A claim should be debatable

Alternative thesis #1 (positive view on computers):Although it is widely believed that we spend more time at work than ever before, in fact, because of the wide use of computers in the workplace, the American worker today bothaccomplishes more and has more free time.Alternative thesis #2 (positive view on computers):Computers have led the way to a new sense of professionalism for the American worker. Alternative thesis #3 (neutral view on computers):In spite of the expectation that computers would bring greater efficiency and more free time to the American worker, computers have had very little impact on either of these.

Three essentials of aclaimEssential 3: A claim should reveal a perceptive point.

In developing a claim, a perceptive point is not necessarily a right point(as opposed to a wrong point) as much as it is an imaginative or provocative view on a subject. It should be interesting, have resonance, and be phrased in such a way that it provokes interest.

Meh: In Dombey and Son, Dickens uses the fi gure of the triangle in every scene.

Better: Throughout Dombey and Son, the triangle emerges as a symbol of the family, which is privileged as the ideal unit of society.

Burdens of ProofThe thesis statement provides a prescription for the paper; it contains the burdens of proof of the argument. Burdens of proof are the arguments or points that must be made in a paper to fully prove the thesis statement, or convince the reader of the thesis statements validity. They are requirements that logically flow from any thesis statement. If each burden of proof is not adequately discussed, the claim will be less credible.

Burdens of ProofExample 1:The use of steroids in college sports should be more tightly regulated.Burdens of Proof : show the reasons for, and dangers of, steroid use establish how steroid use is currently being monitored show why steroid use in college should be more tightly regulated

Burdens of ProofExample 2:Steroid use is acceptable for professional baseball players who are entertainers as much as athletes.Burdens of Proof : show how professional baseball players are entertainers show how professional baseball players are entertainers as much as they are athletes show how steroid use is acceptable for baseball players when they are viewed as entertainers