Thesis: constructing a defensible claim that answers the prompt

Learning objectives

Write a thesis that takes a defensible position, so that a reasonable reader could disagree with it, and check that it is not merely a restatement of the prompt

Locate and evaluate the claim of a text you are reading, distinguishing the overall claim from the supporting claims that serve it

Build a thesis for rhetorical analysis that names what the writer is doing and to what end, rather than listing the devices you intend to discuss

Build a thesis for argument that states a position and, where useful, previews the reasoning that will support it, without collapsing into a list of topics

Qualify a claim with terms such as although, unless, to the extent that, so that the position is precise rather than absolute

Revise a weak thesis by testing whether it is arguable, specific to the text or prompt, and answerable within the time available