Which is the best example of a thesis statement for an argumentative essay about zoos and animal welfare?
1) although many people feel that keeping animals captive in zoos is cruel, zoos are necessary for animal conservation and research.
2) zoos have been around for thousands of years, and each year they draw millions of people to see the variety of animals they house.
3) many animals die prematurely in zoos because they are exposed to infectious diseases.
4) animals can be bred at zoos to increase their population and to combat extinction.

The correct answer is A. Although many people feel that keeping animals captive in zoos is cruel, zoos are necessary for animal conservation and research.

Explanation:

In essays, the thesis statement is the main statement or claim that guides this type of academical text. This means the thesis states the topic of an essay and the author's position about that topic. Additionally, for a thesis statement to be considered as strong or appropriate for argumentative essays it needs to express a position and not a fact and provide some reason that supports this position. Also, thesis statements need to be debatable which means the thesis statement needs to express a position that can be proven as valid through supporting details such as statistics, facts or research studies. Considering this, the best example of a thesis statement about zoos and animal welfare is "Although many people feel that keeping animals captive in zoos is cruel, zoos are necessary for animal conservation and research" because this statement describes a clear position the author has about zoos, provides some reasons or focus for developing the topic "necessary for animal conservation and research" and in general terms is a statement that is debatable which means the author will need to use evidence to develop the thesis during the argumentative essay.