arguable claim
S imilar to the claims about fact or definition, claims about cause and effect need to be opinionated or debatable. It is obvious, for example, that smoking causes lung cancer, but one could debate whether or not secondhand smoke causes lung cancer. A few recent examples of debatable cause-and-effect topics could be about the new train that has been built, traveling from Beijing to Tibet. Many feel that this train will threaten the Tibetan culture and ancient way of life. Other more typical controversial cause-and-effect topics range from the effect television has on teens to the effect testing has on the quality of education.
The thesis for your argument needs to be opinionated or debatable. The thesis will usually fall into 4 different categories or claims. You SHOULD make sure that your thesis fits one of the following types of claims. Sometimes, an arguable thesis may overlap and use 2 or even 3 different claims. Remember, the more claims you incorporate into your thesis, the longer your essay will be. Be sure that you construct a focused and narrow thesis-claim that will allow you enough room to write a full essay on your topic.
An argumentative thesis is . . .
Individuals convicted of murder will go to hell when they die is not an argumentative thesis because its support rests on religious beliefs or values rather than evidence.
Because I value preciseness and organization, I have separated thesis statements and claims. However, many people use these words interchangeably, and they are not wrong. A claim statement is a thesis statement. But in an effort to differentiate different types of thesis statements, I refer to argumentative, debatable thesis statements as claims. Certainly, you will have sub-claims throughout your essay, but your main claim asserts the main position you are arguing.
You do not have to put your position first and then list your reasons. You can certainly put your reasons first.
- “Why do you say that?”
- “What reason can you give me to believe that?” If a claim about liberal arts education is so challenged, a response with a reason could be: “It teaches students to think independently.”
- Liberal arts is best [claim] because it teaches students independent thinking [reason];
- That was Newman’s best [claim] because it presented the most difficult role [reason];
- Global warming is real [claim] because the most reputable science points in that direction [reason].
- Everyone should stop wearing seat belts [claim] because it would save lives [reason].
Here are some possible topic questions:
4. Why should men care about gender equality?
References:
http://courses.lumenlearning.com/wm-writingskillslab-2/chapter/argumentative-thesis-statements/
http://beaconpointservices.org/2018/03/13/how-to-write-effective-claim-statements/
http://www.comm.pitt.edu/argument-claims-reasons-evidence
http://owlcation.com/academia/Topic-List-for-Position-Essay
http://examples.yourdictionary.com/thesis-statement-examples.html