Question

I know I promised to go easy on the jargon, but I want to hit normative vs. empirical one more time but understanding the difference between the two is vital to crafting good thesis statements. For this discussion, write one normative and one empirical thesis statement. Then tell me what makes them normative and empirical. Why can’t you prove your normative statement? How would you try to prove your empirical statement?

Answer 1

Write one normative and one empirical thesis statement

In India there is no discrimination between man and women - Normative

In my workplace, I have witnessed much of man over women - Empirical

Then tell me what makes them normative and empirical

Normative statements are the statements based on ought or what should be the scene whereas the empirical statements are based on what has happened or happening. Normative statements include the perception or judgement whereas empirical statements based on facts and circumstances and is totally neutral statements and informative in nature.

Refer the first sentence which can’t be proved but an ought statement or a subjective statement which cannot be proved. - Normative

Whereas the second statement is informative and based on facts. - Empirical

Why can’t you prove your normative statement?

Because it is baseless. It poses questions and doesn’t have any ground behind based on which one can prove. It is based on judgements and what should be done thing rather a reality or actual or fact.  

How would you try to prove your empirical statement?

Empirical statement is something which is based on knowledge or experience. Which is not directly proven or can be admitted as an evidence in formal way. We need to add some scientific reason behind the occurrence of the same to prove it. When the empirical statements, all of them taken together, point out towards one conclusion, that can itself serve as a proof. If there is any ambiguity, it won’t be accepted.