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Join our interactive workshop focused on making persuasive arguments and developing strong thesis statements. Learn how to create a clear, specific claim supported by reasoning, and discover the difference between effective and ineffective thesis statements. We’ll analyze a case study on Walmart’s impacts—both positive and negative—while guiding you through the process of developing your own arguments and counterarguments. By the end, you’ll be equipped to construct a persuasive thesis statement that resonates with readers and strengthens your essays.
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What makes a thesis statement strong? • A single, specific claim that your essay supports • Includes: • a topic • a precise opinion • your reasoning • A thesis should be: • specific • debatable
Example “The overall effects of Walmart are negative because of its low quality products, unattractive stores, and the increase of traffic it brings to a community.” • Topic: Whether Walmart has a negative or positive effect. • Precise Opinion: Effects are negative • Reasoning: Low quality products, unattractive stores, and increase of traffic.
Why is this not a thesis statement? Not a thesis: • There are many opinions on whether Walmart has negative or positive effects that I will examine throughout the course of this paper.
Thesis statements are not just opinion statements Not an effective thesis: • The overall effects of Walmart are negative.
In Conclusion • Your thesis should make clear what your argument is; it should also provide the reader with some indication of why your argument is persuasive.
Arguments • What arguments could you use to support a thesis that Walmart has had on balance a positive effect?
Arguments • What arguments could you use to support a thesis that Walmart has had on balance a negative effect?
Thesis Statement • Using these arguments and counterarguments, what would you propose as a effective thesis statement?
Using Evidence • Using these arguments and counterarguments, what would you propose as a effective thesis statement? • What evidence would you need to see in order to be persuaded of the merit of this claim?
Organization and Sequencing • Write your thesis statement (precise opinion with reasons for holding that opinion) down on one of the pieces of paper we handed out • Write each of the arguments you will use to support this thesis statement on separate slips of paper (and note the evidence you will use that support the argument) • Write each of the counterarguments you will want to address in your paper on separate slips of paper • What sequencing could you use to make your argument most persuasive?