Whether you’re writing a 2,000-word essay, a 10,000-word dissertation, or a full doctoral thesis, one thing remains constant: your work is judged on the strength of its argument.

Academic markers, supervisors, and examiners are not simply assessing how much you know, but how well you can make an argument, support it, and sustain it over time.
This is where many students struggle. They read widely, take detailed notes, and include plenty of sources, yet still receive feedback such as “argument unclear” or “too descriptive”. Understanding what makes a strong argument — and how to build one effectively in longer forms of writing — is key to moving beyond average marks.

So let’s get practical: what actually makes an argument strong, how do you build it, and how do you keep it coherent across longer academic projects? Read on to learn more.

Making an Argument: What Does it Mean?

In academic writing, to make an argument means to:

A. take a position in response to a question or problem
B. support that position with evidence
C. explain your reasoning clearly enough that the reader can follow (and be persuaded)

A key point to keep in mind here: arguments are not the same as opinions. An opinion is “I think X.” An argument is “X is the best explanation because this, that, and this — and here’s my evidence and reasoning that show you why.”

In dissertations and theses, you often don’t state the entire argument in one neat sentence and move on. You may need to lay foundations first: define terms, establish context, review the literature, and justify methods. But even then, every part should contribute to the core direction of your work.

The 3 Parts of an Argument

Although arguments vary across disciplines and levels of study, strong arguments consistently contain three core parts. Understanding these three parts of an argument makes it much easier to diagnose weaknesses in your own writing.

  • A Clear Claim

    The claim is the position you are advancing in response to the task. It should be specific, focused, and open to challenge. If a reader could easily agree with it without reading the rest of your work, the claim is probably too broad or too obvious.

  • Reasoning

    Reasoning explains why your claim holds. It is the logical connection between your claim and your evidence. Many weak arguments fail at this stage, not because they lack sources, but because the reasoning is assumed rather than clearly explained.

  • Evidence

    Evidence supports your reasoning. This may include academic sources, data, primary texts, or case studies, depending on the subject. Evidence only strengthens an argument when it is relevant and clearly integrated into your explanation.

Most weak academic writing falls apart at step three. Students provide claims and evidence but forget to do the thinking on the page. Your reader shouldn’t have to guess why a quotation matters or how a study proves your point.

What Makes a Strong Argument?

So, what makes a strong argument in academic writing? A strong argument is:

  • Clear: the reader knows what you’re claiming
  • Relevant: the claim directly answers the question or advances the research aim
  • Supported: evidence is credible and well-chosen
  • Explained: reasoning is explicit (not implied)
  • Developed: points build logically rather than sitting side-by-side

And here’s the part students often miss: what makes a strong argument in writing is not only having good ideas, but structuring them so they accumulate and make sense. A strong argument feels like it’s going somewhere. A weak argument feels like it’s circling.

The Characteristics of a Strong Argument

Solid arguments are actually easier to spot when you know what to look for:

  • Claims are precise, not vague
  • Paragraphs follow a purposeful sequence
  • Sources are not simply quoted but analysed and evaluated
  • You acknowledge other viewpoints and explain why yours is more convincing (or where the limits are)
  • The argument doesn’t randomly shift halfway through

These qualities obviously matter in essays and short research papers, but they’re also absolutely crucial in long-form writing such as dissertations and theses, where the work must remain coherent across many pages and multiple chapters.

For a focused essay writing approach see our detailed guide specifically on building strong arguments for your essays.

Weak Argument vs Strong Argument

How can you tell if your argument is strong or weak? Let’s make this tangible. Understanding the difference between a strong argument and a weak one can help you evaluate your own work more effectively.

What Weak Arguments Often Do

  • Summarise what sources say without taking a stance
  • Make big claims without enough support
  • Include evidence without explaining it
  • Move between points without transitions
  • Drift away from the question (especially in long chapters)

What Strong Arguments Do Differently

  • Use sources strategically (not as a reading log)
  • Show the reader how each point connects
  • Make clear why evidence matters
  • Build a line of reasoning that develops over time

A dissertation can have excellent research and still be marked down if the argument is fragmented. A thesis can be impressive and still feel unconvincing if the chapters don’t clearly support the central claim.

How to Build an Argument that Actually Holds Together

Building an argument is not something you do after you’ve written a draft. It starts with planning. The simplest way to think about it: every section should answer two questions:

What am I claiming here?
How does this move the overall argument forward?

If you can’t answer the second question, the section may be interesting but not necessary.

Construct an Argument Before You Draft

To construct an argument, sketch the foundation, a structure for your work:

What is your central claim?
What sub-claims do you need to prove it?
In what order should those sub-claims appear to feel logical?

This is where many students get lost in long projects: they plan topics (e.g., “Chapter 2: Literature Review”) rather than claims (e.g., “Chapter 2 shows why the current literature fails to account for X, which justifies my approach”).

How to Make an Argument Clear (not just “implied”)

A common student trap is thinking the argument is obvious because it’s obvious to them. Unfortunately, markers can’t read your mind. So, how to make an argument clearer?

Put the claim early in the paragraph (often the first or second sentence). Use signposting phrases that show direction (“This suggests…”, “Therefore…”, “However…”). Finally, follow evidence with explanation (don’t let quotations sit alone).

And yes, language matters. Useful words for strong arguments might be “demonstrates”, “establishes”, “underscores”, “indicates”, or “supports the view that”. Although keep in mind that the point isn’t to sound fancy but to make your reasoning clearer and more explicit.

How to Tell if an Argument is Strong or Weak

If you’re unsure whether your writing contains strong arguments, try this checklist — it’s also a good way to revise. To work out how to tell if an argument is strong or weak, ask:

Can I summarise my main argument in two sentences?
Does every chapter clearly connect to that argument?
Does each paragraph contain a claim, evidence, and reasoning?
Have I explained why my evidence supports my point?
Do I acknowledge credible alternatives (and deal with them fairly)?
Do my headings reflect claims rather than just topics?

Did you answer “no” to several? Then it means you need more explicit linking and tighter reasoning.

Example of a Strong Argument

Understanding theory is one thing, but many students only really “get” argument once they see a concrete example. Below is the same topic, “To what extent do literary texts reflect the social conditions of their time?”, handled first as a weak argument, then as a strong one, followed by a brief explanation of why the second works.

Example of a Weak Argument

Literary texts often reflect the society in which they were written. Many novels show social problems that existed at the time. For example, some authors write about class inequality and social injustice. This suggests that literature is influenced by social conditions.

Example of a Strong Argument

Literary texts reflect social conditions in a selective way rather than simply recording them. Although many novels include issues such as class inequality, these issues are shaped through narrative choices, such as which characters are given sympathy and how their actions are judged. As a result, social conditions are not just presented to the reader but interpreted, often encouraging particular moral responses. This suggests that literature reflects society by framing social issues, not by reproducing them directly.

This paragraph is effective because it contains all 3 parts of an argument without sounding forced.

The claim is clear and specific, but not overstated. The evidence is implied rather than listed, which is appropriate at this stage. And the reasoning explains why the point matters and links back to the question.

Most importantly, the argument develops logically. Each sentence builds on the previous one, so the reader can follow the line of thought without effort.

FAQs About Presenting Strong Arguments

How many arguments should a dissertation or thesis have?

Usually one overarching argument supported by several sub-arguments. Think of it as a main claim with supporting claims that build toward it rather than separate mini-essays stitched together.

What’s the fastest way to strengthen a weak argument?

Improve your reasoning. After every piece of evidence, add a sentence that begins with “This matters because…” or “This shows that…”. You’ll be surprised how quickly your writing becomes more analytical.

Can I still have a strong argument if the topic is complicated?

Yes. Complexity doesn’t necessarily weaken your arguments. Strong writing can acknowledge uncertainty, limitations, or competing interpretations while still defending a clear position.

Why do literature reviews often feel descriptive?

Because students treat them like summaries of sources. A strong literature review is argumentative: it shows what the field agrees on, where it conflicts, what’s missing, and why that gap matters for your project.

What if I’m scared of sounding “too confident” while presenting a strong argument?

Academic confidence is never arrogance. However, make sure that you use careful phrasing (“suggests”, “indicates”, “is likely”) while still making your claim explicit.

Final Thoughts

At every academic level, strong marks come from strong arguments. If you can master the 3 parts of an argument, understand the characteristics of a strong argument, and focus on building an argument that develops logically across paragraphs and chapters, your writing becomes clearer, more persuasive, and far more enjoyable to read.

Whether you’re writing an essay, a dissertation, or a thesis, the goal is the same: don’t just present information — construct an argument that proves something.

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