English Composition › Section J · The position argument › Topic J.1
Position arguments and crafting a thesis
A position argument takes a side on a question that thoughtful people disagree about, and it lives or dies by its thesis. Learning to turn a broad topic into a sharp, arguable claim is the single most useful skill in argument writing.
In this topic
- Taking a position
- What a position argument includes
- Choosing a debatable issue
- Topic versus thesis
- Four tests of a strong thesis
- Weak theses and how to spot them
- The because clause and thesis frames
- From working thesis to final thesis
- Worked example: from topic to thesis
- Worked example: testing three candidates
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Key takeaways
This topic is part of Wuanberri Pro. Checking your access…