Mini Thesis — Build It, Attack It, Defend It
The young adult states a bold claim about something they care about, then builds the strongest possible argument in its favor AND the strongest possible counterargument. This is the intellectual triathlon: thesis construction, evidence marshalling, and steel-manning the opposition. Through the process, the young adult reveals the capacity to build a rigorous argument, to honestly represent opposing views, and to maintain intellectual honesty when their position is challenged — the core skills of academic thinking and public discourse.
Opens a guided voice session in TogetherTime.
What you'll need
Paper for outlining the argument structure. No other materials needed, though a phone for quick evidence lookups can strengthen the exercise. The young adult should pick a claim they genuinely believe — the exercise is less effective with a position they're assigned rather than one they hold. If they struggle to choose, prompt with: 'What's something you believe that most adults would push back on?' or 'What do you think your school gets wrong?'
How it works
- 1~45s
your child, state your thesis clearly in one sentence. Not a question, not a topic — a CLAIM. 'Social media is destroying democracy.' 'College is becoming obsolete.' 'AI will be the best thing that ever happened to education.' 'Capitalism requires fundamental reform.' Whatever it is, make it sharp. Now build the case. I want three supporting arguments — not just opinions, but REASONS. Evidence, logic, examples. Each argument should stand on its own AND reinforce the others. Think of it as building a three-legged stool: if one leg breaks, do the others hold? you, tell me the thesis, the three arguments, and the quality of the reasoning.
Watch for: Thesis construction — ability to form a clear, arguable claim and build a structured, multi-layered argument in its support
- 2~40s
Now the hardest part. your child, forget your thesis for a moment. You're switching sides. Build the STRONGEST possible case AGAINST your own thesis. Not a strawman — not the dumbest version of the counterargument. The SMARTEST version. What would the most intelligent, well-informed critic say? This is called steel-manning, and it's one of the most important intellectual skills in existence. If you can only argue for your position, you're an advocate. If you can argue BOTH sides with genuine force, you're a thinker. I want at least two strong counterarguments — arguments that would make a neutral observer pause. you, help if your child is going easy on themself. And tell me how honestly your child represents the opposing view.
Watch for: Evidence marshalling — ability to identify, organize, and deploy evidence for AND against a position, demonstrating genuine command of the subject
- 3~40s
Final round. your child, you've built it and you've attacked it. Now: what survives? Restate your thesis — but revised. Based on the counterarguments, is your original claim still exactly right, or does it need to be modified, narrowed, or nuanced? A thesis that survives genuine challenge unchanged is either very strong or you weren't honest enough in the challenge. A thesis that CHANGES in response to good counterarguments isn't a sign of weakness — it's a sign of intellectual integrity. The best thinkers change their minds publicly and explain why. State your revised position and explain what shifted and what held firm. you, tell me the revised thesis and whether it reflects genuine intellectual growth from the original.
Watch for: Intellectual honesty — willingness to revise a position in response to strong counterarguments while maintaining the courage to hold convictions that survive challenge