Constructing a Strong Argument Lessons on Essay Construction

Evidence-DrivenThesis Statements These statements list ideas/topics: “I like my mom because she is nice, smart, and caring.” OR “Great songs have a good beat, are memorable, and break conventions.”

Problems…. You haven’t argued anything You’ve only given examples (evidence should be in your paper, not in your thesis statements)

Argument-Driven Thesis Statements Your focus becomes arguing your point. “Music, at its root, is meant to inspire action; therefore, before a song can be considered the greatest song of all time one must consider the manner in which it inspires its audience.” “Although there are many songs that can get you to tap your foot and sing along, only a song that transforms the manner in which you see the world can be timeless and therefore great.”

Advantages. . . You have made a statement that somebody can argue with. You aren’t telling people something they already know -- you are challenging your reader. You have a clear guiding framework upon which you can build your argument via evidence.

Let’s Break it Down What makes a song great? How does your song fit into that framework?

What do you need to know about your song (the time it was written, the songwriter’s story, etc) for you to formulate a stronger argument?