Which statement best identifies a weakness of a topic-only thesis?

• A. It is simply a broad topic that lacks a clear stance
• B. It asserts a debatable claim with direction
• C. It provides extensive evidence
• D. It addresses audience needs

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that a thesis should state a clear, debatable claim with direction, not just name a topic. A topic-only thesis stops at the subject and doesn’t take a position or tell the reader what claim you’ll defend. Because of that, it leaves the reader without a roadmap for the argument or the points you’ll develop. A stronger thesis, by contrast, makes a claim people could argue about and signals the path of your reasoning, which helps organize the essay and persuade the audience. Evidence and consideration of audience matter for supporting and presenting the argument, but they don’t fix the core issue of lacking a stance. The other statements describe aspects of a strong, well-focused thesis or the goals of writing, not a weakness of a topic-only thesis.