1. (the heart of your essay)
Statement
Thesis
(the heart of your essay)

2. The Thesis Statement Guides your writing
Helps your readers understand what you essay is about.
So…
Clearly state your topic.
Suggest what evidence you might provide.
Tell how you will organize your argument.
REMEMBER: Your essay is providing a logical chain of reasons
that will get your reader to change his or her thinking on an issue of some importance.
If they already agree with you, there is no argument.

3. The argumentative essay is YOUR OPINION ON AN ISSUE THAT YOU CARE ABOUT.
Take a stand.
Be passionate about an issue. Go ahead and argue in a powerful but polite way.
ought to
must
Try using words such as
should
As much as possible, use third person pronouns:
he, him, himself
she, her, her they, them, themselves
it, it, itself }

4. It is not necessary to say I (usually).
I think that more mobile policing would reduce traffic accidents.
 More mobile policing would reduce traffic accidents.
The reader knows that this is your opinion – you don’t have to state it.
I believe that women are equal in ability to any man.
 Women are equal in ability to any man.
I want to tell you about my opinion on nuclear power.
This is especially bad – just say it.
Nuclear power is dangerous and unnecessary.

5. State the topic and what you are going to propose.
Nuclear energy is dangerous and unnecessary and should only be used after (1) every effort to conserve and maximize energy has been made, (2) renewables such as wind, solar, and tide have been fully exploited, and (3) non-renewables such as oil and gas have been exhausted.
Governments everywhere must ensure that free and fair elections are held regularly in order to provide people with leadership that represents the interests of average people.

6. Women in every country ought to have the same access to education and employment opportunities that men have.
While often necessary to force governments to change, military people should not control democratic governments.
The American University of Sharjah should improve student housing, allow students more choice in their classes, and provide more student parking.

7. The composition of each government should reflect the make-up of the country by having proportional representation for each gender, age, and religion.
Young adults (between the ages of 19 and 25) ought to be free to choose their educational majors, careers, and future spouses.

8. Now do a little research
Now do a little research. See if your view is based on fact or needs to be changed slightly.
You must start with a thesis statement
HOWEVER, you should feel free to go back and change it if your point of view changes as a result of your research and thinking about the topic.
You should be developing your thinking as you prepare to write and write . This is a good thing.
Don’t be afraid to change your mind.
When you have finished your essay, go back and make sure that your thesis statement really is clear and that it directs the reader in the direction of your thoughts. Ask yourself if your thesis statement is supported by what you have said in your essay.

9. If your thesis statement and your essay don’t line up, you have two choices:
Re-write your thesis statement to match what your essay is proposing.
Re-write your essay to make it match up to what you originally proposed.

10. Are the following statements good thesis statements for argumentative essays?
Engineering is an excellent career choice for men but not for women.
Architecture is an interesting career.
Because smoking is legal, AUS should provide smoking rooms across the campus.
The UAE has developed rapidly over the past fifty years.
We must protect our children from the harmful influences of television and the internet.
There are many reasons why Iran should and should not have nuclear weapons.
The government has an obligation to block any content on the internet that it deems offensive or harmful to its citizens.
The A-Class Mercedes Benz is a stylish, comfortable car that is sure to be popular.
Ownership of guns by the average citizen is completely unnecessary.
Alternative energy sources such as wind and solar power have some good and some bad points.
Students from elementary to high school ought to wear school uniforms.
YES NO
YES NO
YES NO
YES NO
YES NO
YES