Writing center tutor said my thesis is too broad?

Your thesis is too broad because it attempts to cover an entire medium rather than a specific mechanism, consequence, or demographic within that medium. To fix this, you must identify the exact causal link or specific subset you can defend in 1,500 words, rather than trying to summarize the whole topic. The most effective way to narrow your scope is to apply the "So What?" test to your current draft. If your thesis sounds like "Social media negatively affects teenage mental health," ask yourself: "So what? Which specific feature, behavior, or outcome am I focusing on?" You need to move from the general category to the specific mechanism. For instance, instead of blaming the platform itself, focus on a particular function like algorithmic recommendation feeds or the pressure of curated image presentation. This shift allows you to argue a specific cause-and-effect relationship rather than a vague correlation. Consider a student who initially wrote, "Social media creates anxiety in high schoolers." Their tutor helped them realize they could only discuss one aspect of that anxiety. The student narrowed the thesis to, "The algorithmic amplification of peer comparison on visual-centric platforms significantly increases body image insecurity among female high school students." This version is defensible because it limits the scope to a specific demographic, a specific platform feature, and a specific type of insecurity. It transforms a massive sociological debate into a manageable literary or rhetorical argument. By doing this, you are not losing your main point; you are sharpening it. Your main point was always about the negative impact of social media, but now you are proving that impact through a clear, logical channel. To verify if your new thesis is specific enough, try to outline your three main body paragraphs. If you can clearly identify three distinct pieces of evidence or rhetorical strategies that directly support the narrowed claim without needing to explain the entire history of social media, you are on the right track. If you find yourself writing "and also" or "in addition" to include unrelated aspects of social media, your thesis is still too wide. You should be able to explain your argument to a stranger in one sentence without them asking, "But which part of social media?" This precision is what AP readers look for in argumentative essays. It demonstrates critical thinking and control over your material. You have enough time before Friday to make this adjustment. Focus on the specific mechanism that drives your argument, and your essay will feel much more focused and persuasive.