Argumentative Essays: Apply It

  • Examine types of argumentative essays
  • Recognize an argumentative thesis statement

What Makes a Thesis Argumentative?

There are five key criteria of an argumentative thesis statement:

  • Debatable:Makes a claim that reasonable people could disagree with; not a statement of fact or common knowledge.
  • Assertive: Clearly states a specific position or viewpoint—not vague, neutral, or framed as a question.
  • Reasonable: Proposes a claim that is realistic and achievable—not extreme, exaggerated, or impractical.
  • Evidence-Based: Can be supported with facts, examples, or research—not solely based on personal belief or morality.
  • Focused: Narrow enough to be addressed effectively in the scope of a single essay—avoids broad or overly general claims.

Let’s practice identifying which of these five criteria are missing in different thesis statements. For each example, decide which quality is lacking or stands out as weak, and think about how it could be improved.