The document discusses the key characteristics of an effective thesis statement for an argumentative or persuasive paper. It notes that a good thesis takes a position on a debatable topic by making a claim that reasonable people could disagree with. It provides examples of thesis statements that meet this criteria by taking a stance using language like "should," "must," or "are needed." The document also highlights where the thesis statement is typically located - at the end of the introductory paragraph.

1. Identifying the Thesis Statement:
Get off the fence and take a position on a debatable
topic.
”Fence" by Henry Burrows is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

2. The Seahawks will come back stronger than ever and
win the Super Bowl next year!
”Super Bowl Rally" by Scott Iwata is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

3. "Message to the World" by Eduard V. Kurganov is licensed under CC BY 2.0

4. "Treating Refugees as the Problem is the Problem" by Takver is licensed under
CC BY-SA 2.0

5. "No Fracking" by The Weekly Bull is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

6. "Puppy Service Announcement" by dancingshiba is licensed under CC BY-
NC-ND 2.0

7. The Primary Characteristic of
the Thesis Statement: A Debatable
Claim
All individuals should become a vegetarian.
To ensure a better education, public
schools must require students to wear
uniforms.
Stricter speed limit laws are needed to
reduce traffic accidents.

8. The Common Thread:
Someone can disagree with each of the statements
All individuals should become a vegetarian.
(No way! That is an unhealthy way to eat.)
To ensure a better education, public schools
must require students to wear uniforms.
(No way! That is a violation of my First Amendment
rights!)
Stricter speed limit laws are needed to reduce
traffic accidents.
(No way! Speed limit laws are already too strict.)

9. Why Are These Poor Examples of
Thesis Statements?
Steroid use is a growing issue in sports.
Bullying is a problem on high school
campuses all across the country.
Some states are adopting policies that
require teenagers to be 18 before they are
eligible to obtain a driver’s license.

10. You Can’t Argue Facts. There’s
Nothing to Debate.
Steroid use is a growing issue in sports.
True. I can’t argue otherwise.
Bullying is a problem on high school
campuses all across the country.
True. I can’t argue otherwise.
Some states are adopting policies that
require teenagers to be 18 before they are
eligible to obtain a driver’s license
True. I can’t argue otherwise.

11. Location of a Thesis Statement
Introductory Paragraph
Final Sentence of the first paragraph

12. Introductory Paragraph Example
Student A
Professor Smith
English 101
14 March XXXX
School Uniforms: A Critical Solution
All too often, we hear tragic reports coming out of public schools.
Bullying has left children frightened to go to school. School shootings
have left students and teachers dead. Academic scores continue
to decline, and teachers are unable to control classrooms. These
are not the public schools of fifty years ago. Public debate rages on
as to the best approach to making the public school classroom a
safe and educational environment once again. One strategy that
has many people considering is the implementation a school
uniform policy. With that bold decision has come a safer school
environment, better academic scores, and teachers who are able
to prepare our students for the challenges of the future. Because of
these many benefits, it is imperative that all public schools require
students to wear uniforms.

13. Introductory Paragraph Example with
Thesis Highlighted
Student A
Professor Smith
English 101
14 March XXXX
All too often, we hear tragic reports coming out of public
schools. Bullying has left children frightened to go to school.
School shootings have left students and teachers dead.
Academic scores continue to decline, and teachers are unable
to control classrooms. These are not the public schools of fifty
years ago. Public debate rages on as to the best approach to
making the public school classroom a safe and educational
environment once again. One strategy that has many people
considering is the implementation a school uniform policy. With
that bold decision has come a safer school environment, better
academic scores, and teachers who are able to prepare our
students for the challenges of the future. Because of these
many benefits, it is imperative that all public schools require
students to wear uniforms.

14. Student A argues that “Because of
these many benefits, it is imperative
that all public schools require
students to wear uniforms. “
 Since someone can disagree and
say, “No, school uniforms are a bad
idea and a violation of student’s
rights,” then we know the student
wrote an effective thesis statement.

15. Summary-When writing an argumentative/persuasive thesis
statement for a research paper, you must take a position on a
debatable topic. If someone can disagree with you, then you have
most likely done it correctly. Using words/phrases such as “should,”
“must,” and “are needed” almost always produce a solid thesis
statement.
”Fence" by Henry Burrows is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

16. The Thesis Statement by Anne Eidenmuller is licensed
under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0