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Bad & Better Thesis Statements (con’t)

3. The uncontestable thesis.

A thesis must be arguable. And in order for it to be arguable, it must present a view that

someone might reasonably contest. Sometimes a thesis ultimately says, "we should be

good," or "bad things are bad." Such thesis statements are tautological or so universally

accepted that there is no need to prove the point.

Bad Thesis 1: Although we have the right to say what we want, we should avoid

hurting other people's feelings.

Bad Thesis 2: There are always alternatives to using racist speech.

Better Thesis 1: If we can accept that emotional injuries can be just as painful as

physical ones we should limit speech that may hurt people's feelings in ways

similar to the way we limit speech that may lead directly to bodily harm.

Better Thesis 2: The "fighting words" exception to free speech is not legitimate

because it wrongly considers speech as an action.

4. The "list essay" thesis.

A good argumentative thesis provides not only a position on an issue, but also suggests the

structure of the paper. The thesis should allow the reader to imagine and anticipate the flow

of the paper, in which a sequence of points logically prove the essay's main assertion. A

list essay provides no such structure, so that different points and paragraphs appear

arbitrary with no logical connection to one another.

Bad Thesis 1: There are many reasons we need to limit hate speech.

Bad Thesis 2: None of the arguments in favor of regulating pornography are

persuasive.

Better Thesis 1: Among the many reasons we need to limit hate speech the most

compelling ones all refer to our history of discrimination and prejudice, and it is,

ultimately, for the purpose of trying to repair our troubled racial society that we

need hate speech legislation.

Better Thesis 2: None of the arguments in favor of regulating pornography are

persuasive because they all base their points on the unverifiable and questionable

assumption that the producers of pornography necessarily harbor ill will

specifically to women.

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