Is Your Thesis Statement Actually an Argument? (Most Aren't)

The Paper That Got a C

You spent hours on that essay.

Research? Check. Grammar? Perfect. Met the page count? Yes.

Then you got it back. C+.

The professor's comment: "Your thesis statement isn't an argument. You're just summarizing a topic."

Wait, what? You had a thesis statement. It was right there in the first paragraph. How is it not an argument?

Here's the problem: Most students think any sentence at the end of their intro paragraph is a thesis statement.

It's not.

What Teachers Mean When They Say "Not an Argument"

Your professor isn't saying you didn't state a position.

They're saying your thesis doesn't require proving.

Here's the difference:

❌ NOT an argument:

"Social media has had a major impact on modern communication."

✅ ACTUAL argument:

"Social media has eroded our ability to have nuanced political conversations, making compromise impossible in modern discourse."

See the difference?

The first one is obviously true. Nobody would disagree. There's nothing to prove. It's just... a fact.

The second one is debatable. Someone could argue social media actually improves political discourse by giving marginalized voices a platform. Now you have something to prove.

If your thesis could fit into a Wikipedia introduction, it's not an argument.

The 5 Types of Fake Thesis Statements

🚫 Fake Thesis #1: The Obvious Statement

What it looks like:

"Climate change is a serious issue that affects many people."

Why it's not an argument:

Who would disagree with this?
There's nothing to prove
You're just stating a widely accepted fact

The test: If your thesis could be used in a textbook introduction without raising eyebrows, it's not arguable.

What an actual argument looks like:

"Climate policy will fail unless developed nations implement mandatory carbon taxes by 2030, even at the cost of short-term economic growth."

Now you have something to defend.

🚫 Fake Thesis #2: The Topic Announcement

What it looks like:

"This paper will examine the causes of World War I."

Why it's not an argument:

You're just announcing what you'll talk about
No position taken
Could be the title of a chapter, not a thesis

The test: Does your thesis contain the words "This paper/essay will..." or "I will discuss..."? That's a table of contents, not an argument.

What an actual argument looks like:

"World War I was inevitable by 1910 due to entangled alliances creating a domino effect that no single nation could prevent, even with different leadership decisions."

You're making a claim about causation that someone could disagree with.

🚫 Fake Thesis #3: The Question

What it looks like:

"What effect does social media have on teenage mental health?"

Why it's not an argument:

Questions don't make claims
You're asking, not arguing
Your paper should ANSWER a question, not BE a question

The test: If your thesis ends with a question mark, it's not a thesis.

What an actual argument looks like:

"Social media contributes to teenage anxiety primarily through performative identity construction, not screen time itself, meaning regulation should target algorithmic design rather than usage limits."

This answers the question AND makes a specific, debatable claim.

🚫 Fake Thesis #4: The List of Topics

What it looks like:

"Shakespeare's Hamlet deals with themes of revenge, madness, and mortality."

Why it's not an argument:

This is just a list
You're identifying elements, not making a claim about them
Anyone who read the play could say this

The test: If you're just listing things the text contains without arguing how they work together, it's not a thesis.

What an actual argument looks like:

"Hamlet's feigned madness is Shakespeare's critique of revenge culture itself—by the time Hamlet acts, his moral corruption mirrors those he seeks to punish, suggesting revenge destroys the avenger."

Now you're making a specific interpretive claim that requires textual evidence.

🚫 Fake Thesis #5: The Personal Opinion

What it looks like:

"I believe that college should be free for everyone because education is important."

Why it's not an argument:

"I believe" makes it sound like personal preference, not analytical claim
"Education is important" is vague and uncontroversial
No specific reasoning provided

The test: If you could replace your thesis with "I like X" or "I don't like Y," it's opinion, not argument.

What an actual argument looks like:

"Free college would reduce economic inequality more effectively than student loan forgiveness because it removes the barrier to entry rather than addressing consequences after debt accumulation."

Specific claim with comparative reasoning that can be supported with evidence.

Why Your Thesis Fails (Even When You Think It's Good)

Most students write thesis statements that fail one of these tests:

Test 1: The "So What?" Test

Read your thesis out loud. Now imagine your professor saying: "So what? Why does this matter?"

❌ Fails the test:

"F. Scott Fitzgerald uses symbolism in The Great Gatsby."

Professor's response: "Yes, obviously. Every novel uses symbolism. So what?"

✅ Passes the test:

"Fitzgerald's green light symbolism reveals the American Dream's fundamental contradiction: we pursue the future while romanticizing the past, making genuine progress impossible."

Now you've said something worth discussing.

Test 2: The "Who Cares?" Test

Why would someone read a 10-page paper about your thesis? What new insight are you offering?

❌ Fails the test:

"Technology has changed the way we communicate."

Who cares? Everyone knows this. Tell me something I don't know.

✅ Passes the test:

"Remote work technology increased productivity by 12% while decreasing worker satisfaction by 18%, suggesting efficiency gains come at the cost of human connection—a trade-off companies hide behind flexibility rhetoric."

Now I want to read your evidence because you're challenging a common narrative.

Test 3: The "Someone Could Disagree" Test

Could a reasonable, intelligent person look at the same evidence and reach a different conclusion?

❌ Fails the test:

"Smoking is bad for your health."

Nobody disagrees with this. There's no argument to be made.

✅ Passes the test:

"Smoking bans in public spaces are more effective at reducing smoking rates than taxation because social stigma influences behavior more powerfully than financial disincentive."

Someone could argue taxation works better. Now you have to prove your position.

Test 4: The "Requires Evidence" Test

Can you prove your thesis with specific examples, data, or analysis? Or is it just your feeling?

❌ Fails the test:

"Shakespeare is the best writer in history."

"Best" is subjective. How would you even prove this?

✅ Passes the test:

"Shakespeare's influence on modern English exceeds any other writer—over 1,700 common phrases originated in his plays, shaping how we conceptualize emotions, morality, and identity."

This makes a measurable claim you can support with linguistic evidence.

How to Turn Your Topic Into an Actual Argument

Here's the formula that works:

Step 1: Start with Your Topic

"Social media and political polarization"

This is not a thesis. It's a topic.

Step 2: Ask "What about it?"

"Social media increases political polarization."

Better, but still not arguable. This is widely accepted. You're stating the obvious.

Step 3: Ask "How?" or "Why?" or "What's the real cause?"

"Social media polarizes politics because algorithms prioritize engagement over accuracy."

Getting closer. But this is still pretty general. Everyone who studies this says the same thing.

Step 4: Add Specificity and Nuance

"Social media polarizes politics not because algorithms show partisan content, but because they reward performative outrage—incentivizing users to adopt more extreme positions than they actually hold to gain social validation."

Now you have a thesis. You're making a specific, debatable claim that:

✅ Someone could disagree with
✅ Requires evidence to support
✅ Offers fresh insight
✅ Answers "so what?"

Real Examples: Before and After

Example 1: History Essay

❌ WEAK (Not an argument):

"The Civil Rights Movement led to important changes in American society."

Problems:

Obviously true
No specific claim
Vague "important changes"
Could fit in a textbook

✅ STRONG (Actual argument):

"The Civil Rights Movement succeeded not because it changed white Americans' hearts, but because it made racism economically unsustainable—boycotts and protests disrupted commerce, forcing institutional change through financial pressure rather than moral persuasion."

Why this works:

Challenges common narrative (hearts and minds)
Makes specific causal claim
Debatable interpretation
Requires evidence to support

Example 2: Literature Essay

❌ WEAK (Not an argument):

"George Orwell's 1984 explores themes of totalitarianism and surveillance."

Problems:

Just identifying themes
Anyone who read the book knows this
No interpretive claim
Summary, not analysis

✅ STRONG (Actual argument):

"Orwell's 1984 argues that totalitarianism succeeds not through force but through language manipulation—by destroying words for freedom, the regime makes rebellion literally unthinkable, suggesting thought control precedes political control."

Why this works:

Specific interpretive claim
Explains HOW the novel makes its point
Arguable (someone could say it's about surveillance, not language)
Sophisticated analysis

Example 3: Science/Social Science Essay

❌ WEAK (Not an argument):

"This paper will examine the effects of sleep deprivation on academic performance."

Problems:

Just announcing topic
No claim made
Could be a research question, not a thesis
"Will examine" = no position taken

✅ STRONG (Actual argument):

"Sleep deprivation decreases academic performance not primarily through cognitive impairment, but through motivation collapse—exhausted students retain information but lack the executive function to prioritize studying, meaning time management interventions would be more effective than study technique training."

Why this works:

Challenges obvious explanation
Makes specific causal claim
Has practical implications
Invites disagreement and evidence

The 4 Perspectives Every Thesis Needs

A strong thesis statement addresses all four of these:

1. SIGNAL: Is your claim clear and specific?

Can someone understand exactly what you're arguing?
Or is it vague and general?

Weak: "Social media affects society." Strong: "Social media reduces empathy by replacing face-to-face conflict resolution with blocking and muting."

2. OPPORTUNITY: Does this advance the conversation?

Are you saying something new?
Or just repeating what everyone already knows?

Weak: "Shakespeare uses imagery." Strong: "Shakespeare's storm imagery in King Lear mirrors Lear's psychological breakdown, making madness a natural force beyond human control."

3. RISK: What's your counterargument?

What would someone who disagrees say?
If nobody would disagree, it's not an argument

Weak: "Pollution is bad for the environment." Strong: "Carbon taxes are more effective than renewable subsidies because they make pollution expensive rather than making alternatives cheap."

(Someone could argue subsidies work better—now you have to prove it.)

4. AFFECT: Why should anyone care?

What's at stake?
What changes if you're right?

Weak: "This author uses symbolism." Strong: "Fitzgerald's symbolism shows the American Dream is a delusion, suggesting national mythology prevents Americans from pursuing achievable happiness."

(If you're right, it matters—it challenges how we think about success.)

Check Your Thesis Before You Write

Before you spend 10 hours writing your paper, test your thesis:

1. Read it out loud to someone who hasn't read your assignment.

Can they tell you what your argument is? Or do they ask clarifying questions?

If they're confused, your thesis isn't clear enough.

2. Ask yourself: "Could I write an entire paper arguing the OPPOSITE?"

If no, it's not debatable. Revise to make a claim someone could disagree with.

3. Remove your thesis from your intro paragraph.

Does the rest of your introduction lead logically to that specific claim? Or could it lead to five different claims?

If your intro could support multiple theses, your thesis isn't specific enough.

4. Look at your topic sentences.

Do they each defend part of your thesis? Or are they just explaining different aspects of a general topic?

If your body paragraphs don't build an argument FOR your thesis, your thesis isn't an argument.

Get Your Thesis Analyzed Before You Write

Not sure if your thesis statement is actually an argument?

Check it free with 4Angles →

Paste your thesis. See how it scores on:

SIGNAL (Is it clear and specific?)
OPPORTUNITY (Does it offer fresh insight?)
RISK (Is it debatable?)
AFFECT (Why does it matter?)

Get specific suggestions before you spend hours writing a paper around a weak thesis.

No signup required. Just instant analysis.

The Real Reason Your Thesis Fails

It's not that you don't understand your topic.

It's that you were never taught the difference between:

A topic (what you're writing about)
An observation (something true about the topic)
An argument (a debatable claim that requires proof)

Most students stop at observation. They write about what's there, not what it means.

Your professor wants the third one. They want you to make a claim, take a risk, stake out a position someone could challenge.

That's what academic writing is.

The Paper That Got a C

You spent hours on that essay.

Research? Check. Grammar? Perfect. Met the page count? Yes.

Then you got it back. C+.

The professor's comment: "Your thesis statement isn't an argument. You're just summarizing a topic."

Wait, what? You had a thesis statement. It was right there in the first paragraph. How is it not an argument?

Here's the problem: Most students think any sentence at the end of their intro paragraph is a thesis statement.

It's not.

What Teachers Mean When They Say "Not an Argument"

Your professor isn't saying you didn't state a position.

They're saying your thesis doesn't require proving.

Here's the difference:

❌ NOT an argument:

"Social media has had a major impact on modern communication."

✅ ACTUAL argument:

"Social media has eroded our ability to have nuanced political conversations, making compromise impossible in modern discourse."

See the difference?

The first one is obviously true. Nobody would disagree. There's nothing to prove. It's just... a fact.

The second one is debatable. Someone could argue social media actually improves political discourse by giving marginalized voices a platform. Now you have something to prove.

If your thesis could fit into a Wikipedia introduction, it's not an argument.

The 5 Types of Fake Thesis Statements

🚫 Fake Thesis #1: The Obvious Statement

What it looks like:

"Climate change is a serious issue that affects many people."

Why it's not an argument:

Who would disagree with this?
There's nothing to prove
You're just stating a widely accepted fact

The test: If your thesis could be used in a textbook introduction without raising eyebrows, it's not arguable.

What an actual argument looks like:

"Climate policy will fail unless developed nations implement mandatory carbon taxes by 2030, even at the cost of short-term economic growth."

Now you have something to defend.

🚫 Fake Thesis #2: The Topic Announcement

What it looks like:

"This paper will examine the causes of World War I."

Why it's not an argument:

You're just announcing what you'll talk about
No position taken
Could be the title of a chapter, not a thesis

The test: Does your thesis contain the words "This paper/essay will..." or "I will discuss..."? That's a table of contents, not an argument.

What an actual argument looks like:

"World War I was inevitable by 1910 due to entangled alliances creating a domino effect that no single nation could prevent, even with different leadership decisions."

You're making a claim about causation that someone could disagree with.

🚫 Fake Thesis #3: The Question

What it looks like:

"What effect does social media have on teenage mental health?"

Why it's not an argument:

Questions don't make claims
You're asking, not arguing
Your paper should ANSWER a question, not BE a question

The test: If your thesis ends with a question mark, it's not a thesis.

What an actual argument looks like:

"Social media contributes to teenage anxiety primarily through performative identity construction, not screen time itself, meaning regulation should target algorithmic design rather than usage limits."

This answers the question AND makes a specific, debatable claim.

🚫 Fake Thesis #4: The List of Topics

What it looks like:

"Shakespeare's Hamlet deals with themes of revenge, madness, and mortality."

Why it's not an argument:

This is just a list
You're identifying elements, not making a claim about them
Anyone who read the play could say this

The test: If you're just listing things the text contains without arguing how they work together, it's not a thesis.

What an actual argument looks like:

"Hamlet's feigned madness is Shakespeare's critique of revenge culture itself—by the time Hamlet acts, his moral corruption mirrors those he seeks to punish, suggesting revenge destroys the avenger."

Now you're making a specific interpretive claim that requires textual evidence.

🚫 Fake Thesis #5: The Personal Opinion

What it looks like:

"I believe that college should be free for everyone because education is important."

Why it's not an argument:

"I believe" makes it sound like personal preference, not analytical claim
"Education is important" is vague and uncontroversial
No specific reasoning provided

The test: If you could replace your thesis with "I like X" or "I don't like Y," it's opinion, not argument.

What an actual argument looks like:

"Free college would reduce economic inequality more effectively than student loan forgiveness because it removes the barrier to entry rather than addressing consequences after debt accumulation."

Specific claim with comparative reasoning that can be supported with evidence.

Why Your Thesis Fails (Even When You Think It's Good)

Most students write thesis statements that fail one of these tests:

Test 1: The "So What?" Test

Read your thesis out loud. Now imagine your professor saying: "So what? Why does this matter?"

❌ Fails the test:

"F. Scott Fitzgerald uses symbolism in The Great Gatsby."

Professor's response: "Yes, obviously. Every novel uses symbolism. So what?"

✅ Passes the test:

"Fitzgerald's green light symbolism reveals the American Dream's fundamental contradiction: we pursue the future while romanticizing the past, making genuine progress impossible."

Now you've said something worth discussing.

Test 2: The "Who Cares?" Test

Why would someone read a 10-page paper about your thesis? What new insight are you offering?

❌ Fails the test:

"Technology has changed the way we communicate."

Who cares? Everyone knows this. Tell me something I don't know.

✅ Passes the test:

"Remote work technology increased productivity by 12% while decreasing worker satisfaction by 18%, suggesting efficiency gains come at the cost of human connection—a trade-off companies hide behind flexibility rhetoric."

Now I want to read your evidence because you're challenging a common narrative.

Test 3: The "Someone Could Disagree" Test

Could a reasonable, intelligent person look at the same evidence and reach a different conclusion?

❌ Fails the test:

"Smoking is bad for your health."

Nobody disagrees with this. There's no argument to be made.

✅ Passes the test:

"Smoking bans in public spaces are more effective at reducing smoking rates than taxation because social stigma influences behavior more powerfully than financial disincentive."

Someone could argue taxation works better. Now you have to prove your position.

Test 4: The "Requires Evidence" Test

Can you prove your thesis with specific examples, data, or analysis? Or is it just your feeling?

❌ Fails the test:

"Shakespeare is the best writer in history."

"Best" is subjective. How would you even prove this?

✅ Passes the test:

"Shakespeare's influence on modern English exceeds any other writer—over 1,700 common phrases originated in his plays, shaping how we conceptualize emotions, morality, and identity."

This makes a measurable claim you can support with linguistic evidence.

How to Turn Your Topic Into an Actual Argument

Here's the formula that works:

Step 1: Start with Your Topic

"Social media and political polarization"

This is not a thesis. It's a topic.

Step 2: Ask "What about it?"

"Social media increases political polarization."

Better, but still not arguable. This is widely accepted. You're stating the obvious.

Step 3: Ask "How?" or "Why?" or "What's the real cause?"

"Social media polarizes politics because algorithms prioritize engagement over accuracy."

Getting closer. But this is still pretty general. Everyone who studies this says the same thing.

Step 4: Add Specificity and Nuance

"Social media polarizes politics not because algorithms show partisan content, but because they reward performative outrage—incentivizing users to adopt more extreme positions than they actually hold to gain social validation."

Now you have a thesis. You're making a specific, debatable claim that:

✅ Someone could disagree with
✅ Requires evidence to support
✅ Offers fresh insight
✅ Answers "so what?"

Real Examples: Before and After

Example 1: History Essay

❌ WEAK (Not an argument):

"The Civil Rights Movement led to important changes in American society."

Problems:

Obviously true
No specific claim
Vague "important changes"
Could fit in a textbook

✅ STRONG (Actual argument):

"The Civil Rights Movement succeeded not because it changed white Americans' hearts, but because it made racism economically unsustainable—boycotts and protests disrupted commerce, forcing institutional change through financial pressure rather than moral persuasion."

Why this works:

Challenges common narrative (hearts and minds)
Makes specific causal claim
Debatable interpretation
Requires evidence to support

Example 2: Literature Essay

❌ WEAK (Not an argument):

"George Orwell's 1984 explores themes of totalitarianism and surveillance."

Problems:

Just identifying themes
Anyone who read the book knows this
No interpretive claim
Summary, not analysis

✅ STRONG (Actual argument):

"Orwell's 1984 argues that totalitarianism succeeds not through force but through language manipulation—by destroying words for freedom, the regime makes rebellion literally unthinkable, suggesting thought control precedes political control."

Why this works:

Specific interpretive claim
Explains HOW the novel makes its point
Arguable (someone could say it's about surveillance, not language)
Sophisticated analysis

Example 3: Science/Social Science Essay

❌ WEAK (Not an argument):

"This paper will examine the effects of sleep deprivation on academic performance."

Problems:

Just announcing topic
No claim made
Could be a research question, not a thesis
"Will examine" = no position taken

✅ STRONG (Actual argument):

"Sleep deprivation decreases academic performance not primarily through cognitive impairment, but through motivation collapse—exhausted students retain information but lack the executive function to prioritize studying, meaning time management interventions would be more effective than study technique training."

Why this works:

Challenges obvious explanation
Makes specific causal claim
Has practical implications
Invites disagreement and evidence

The 4 Perspectives Every Thesis Needs

A strong thesis statement addresses all four of these:

1. SIGNAL: Is your claim clear and specific?

Can someone understand exactly what you're arguing?
Or is it vague and general?

Weak: "Social media affects society." Strong: "Social media reduces empathy by replacing face-to-face conflict resolution with blocking and muting."

2. OPPORTUNITY: Does this advance the conversation?

Are you saying something new?
Or just repeating what everyone already knows?

Weak: "Shakespeare uses imagery." Strong: "Shakespeare's storm imagery in King Lear mirrors Lear's psychological breakdown, making madness a natural force beyond human control."

3. RISK: What's your counterargument?

What would someone who disagrees say?
If nobody would disagree, it's not an argument

Weak: "Pollution is bad for the environment." Strong: "Carbon taxes are more effective than renewable subsidies because they make pollution expensive rather than making alternatives cheap."

(Someone could argue subsidies work better—now you have to prove it.)

4. AFFECT: Why should anyone care?

What's at stake?
What changes if you're right?

(If you're right, it matters—it challenges how we think about success.)

Check Your Thesis Before You Write

Before you spend 10 hours writing your paper, test your thesis:

1. Read it out loud to someone who hasn't read your assignment.

Can they tell you what your argument is? Or do they ask clarifying questions?

If they're confused, your thesis isn't clear enough.

2. Ask yourself: "Could I write an entire paper arguing the OPPOSITE?"

If no, it's not debatable. Revise to make a claim someone could disagree with.

3. Remove your thesis from your intro paragraph.

Does the rest of your introduction lead logically to that specific claim? Or could it lead to five different claims?

If your intro could support multiple theses, your thesis isn't specific enough.

4. Look at your topic sentences.

Do they each defend part of your thesis? Or are they just explaining different aspects of a general topic?

If your body paragraphs don't build an argument FOR your thesis, your thesis isn't an argument.

Get Your Thesis Analyzed Before You Write

Not sure if your thesis statement is actually an argument?

Check it free with 4Angles →

Paste your thesis. See how it scores on:

SIGNAL (Is it clear and specific?)
OPPORTUNITY (Does it offer fresh insight?)
RISK (Is it debatable?)
AFFECT (Why does it matter?)

Get specific suggestions before you spend hours writing a paper around a weak thesis.

No signup required. Just instant analysis.

The Real Reason Your Thesis Fails

It's not that you don't understand your topic.

It's that you were never taught the difference between:

A topic (what you're writing about)
An observation (something true about the topic)
An argument (a debatable claim that requires proof)

Most students stop at observation. They write about what's there, not what it means.

Your professor wants the third one. They want you to make a claim, take a risk, stake out a position someone could challenge.

That's what academic writing is.

Is Your Thesis Statement Actually an Argument? (Most Aren't)

The Paper That Got a C

What Teachers Mean When They Say "Not an Argument"

The 5 Types of Fake Thesis Statements

🚫 Fake Thesis #1: The Obvious Statement

🚫 Fake Thesis #2: The Topic Announcement

🚫 Fake Thesis #3: The Question

🚫 Fake Thesis #4: The List of Topics

🚫 Fake Thesis #5: The Personal Opinion

Why Your Thesis Fails (Even When You Think It's Good)

Test 1: The "So What?" Test

Test 2: The "Who Cares?" Test

Test 3: The "Someone Could Disagree" Test

Test 4: The "Requires Evidence" Test

How to Turn Your Topic Into an Actual Argument

Step 1: Start with Your Topic

Step 2: Ask "What about it?"

Step 3: Ask "How?" or "Why?" or "What's the real cause?"

Step 4: Add Specificity and Nuance

Real Examples: Before and After

Example 1: History Essay

Example 2: Literature Essay

Example 3: Science/Social Science Essay

The 4 Perspectives Every Thesis Needs

1. SIGNAL: Is your claim clear and specific?

2. OPPORTUNITY: Does this advance the conversation?

3. RISK: What's your counterargument?

4. AFFECT: Why should anyone care?

Check Your Thesis Before You Write

Get Your Thesis Analyzed Before You Write

The Real Reason Your Thesis Fails

Related Reading

Ready to Analyze Your Message?

Is Your Thesis Statement Actually an Argument? (Most Aren't)

The Paper That Got a C

What Teachers Mean When They Say "Not an Argument"

The 5 Types of Fake Thesis Statements

🚫 Fake Thesis #1: The Obvious Statement

🚫 Fake Thesis #2: The Topic Announcement

🚫 Fake Thesis #3: The Question

🚫 Fake Thesis #4: The List of Topics

🚫 Fake Thesis #5: The Personal Opinion

Why Your Thesis Fails (Even When You Think It's Good)

Test 1: The "So What?" Test

Test 2: The "Who Cares?" Test

Test 3: The "Someone Could Disagree" Test

Test 4: The "Requires Evidence" Test

How to Turn Your Topic Into an Actual Argument

Step 1: Start with Your Topic

Step 2: Ask "What about it?"

Step 3: Ask "How?" or "Why?" or "What's the real cause?"

Step 4: Add Specificity and Nuance

Real Examples: Before and After

Example 1: History Essay

Example 2: Literature Essay

Example 3: Science/Social Science Essay

The 4 Perspectives Every Thesis Needs

1. SIGNAL: Is your claim clear and specific?

2. OPPORTUNITY: Does this advance the conversation?

3. RISK: What's your counterargument?

4. AFFECT: Why should anyone care?

Check Your Thesis Before You Write

Get Your Thesis Analyzed Before You Write

The Real Reason Your Thesis Fails

Related Reading

Ready to Analyze Your Message?