Stasis Theory: Your Secret Weapon for Argument Writing

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When students say, “I don’t know what to argue,” stasis theory is the fix. Stasis gives you four key questions to help you generate a claim, position, or thesis.

1. Fact – What happened? Is it true?

2. Definition – What do we call it?

3. Quality – Is it good or bad? Just or unjust?

4. Policy – What should we do about it?

Want to write a killer argument? Start by identifying the stasis point your issue is stuck in.

Example: If you’re writing about TikTok bans, are you arguing that:

• TikTok is harmful (Fact)?

• TikTok counts as a national security risk (Definition)?

• It’s unjust to ban it (Quality)?

• We should regulate, not ban, the platform (Policy)?

Each question leads to a different kind of argument. Knowing where your disagreement lives helps you write with purpose.