Qualify the thesis appropriately.

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In addition to being arguable and clear, an argument thesis must make appropriate qualifications that suit your writing situation. If you are confident that your case is so strong that readers will accept your argument without question, state your thesis emphatically and unconditionally. If, however, you expect readers to challenge your assumptions or conclusions, you must qualify your statement. Qualifying a thesis makes it more likely that readers will take it seriously. Expressions like probably, very likely, apparently, and it seems all serve to qualify a thesis.

EXERCISE 19.1

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Write an assertion of opinion that states your position on one of the following controversial issues:

  • Should English be the official language of the United States and the only language used in local, state, and federal governments’ oral and written communications?
  • Should teenagers be required to get their parents’ permission to obtain birth control information and contraceptives?
  • Should high schools or colleges require students to perform community service as a condition for graduation?
  • Should marriage between same-sex couples be legal?

Constructing a persuasive argument on any of these issues would obviously require careful deliberation and research. For this exercise, however, all you need to do is construct an arguable, clear, and appropriately qualified thesis.

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EXERCISE 19.2

Find the thesis in one of the argument essays in Chapters 6–10. Then decide whether the thesis meets the three requirements: that it be arguable, clear, and appropriately qualified.

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EXERCISE 19.3

If you have written or are currently working on one of the argument assignments in Chapters 6–10, consider whether your essay thesis is arguable, clear, and appropriately qualified. If you believe it does not meet these requirements, revise it accordingly.

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