Persuasive thesis statements usually have several important characteristics.

1. Persuasive thesis statements clearly state the behavior or belief that they want the reader to adopt after reading the essay. And to reflect their persuasive purpose, these types of thesis statements often include words and phrases like should, must, ought to, and have to. For example, read the following thesis statements:

· Every healthy American should become an organ donor.

This university’s administration must figure out a way to provide more parking for students.

· The residents of this community ought to oppose the construction of a new Walmart.

Each of the previous statements clearly states the change in belief or behavior that the writer is advocating.

2. Persuasive thesis statements are also assertive. They do not include tentative or hedging words and expressions like “l believe that” or “maybe you should.” They take a stand, and they confidently ask the reader to accept that stand as true and valid.

3. Persuasive thesis statements often include the agent of the action. In other words, they state exactly who should make or bring about this change. In the previous statements, healthy Americans, the university’s administration, and the residents of a certain community are the ones being asked to alter either a belief or a behavior.

4. Persuasive thesis statements ask the reader to make changes that are logical and reasonable. Again, a consideration of your audience will guide your composition of your thesis statement. Although you might want them to make a very big change, you must consider whether you should initially argue for that big change or for some intermediate, shorter-term change that will, you hope, ultimately lead to the bigger change. For instance, will readers who believe the American tax system is currently just fine think it is reasonable for you to ask them to support eliminating the current system altogether and creating a completely new one from scratch? Probably not. No matter how eloquent and well-reasoned your argument is, you likely will not be able to convince them, so you might have to adjust your thesis statement to argue