How to write a more complex one! Claims How to write a more complex one!

Claim? Twinkies are delicious.

Is this Better? Twinkies taste better than other snack cakes because of their texture, their creamy filling, and their golden appearance. Why does Mrs. Ochoa not like this (besides the fact that she hates Twinkies)??

Claims should be focused and arguable

What’s wrong? Pollution is bad for the environment.

Claim? The governor is a bad man.

Claims should answer: What? So what? Who cares? This is the basic statement – what you are CLAIMING to be true So what? Who cares? This is the significance of your claim. What’s important about it? Why does it matter?

Better? The governor is riddled with emotional issues. Even though he’s a leader who seems to provide safety, he has disturbing motives, has sought vengeance on innocent people, and launched an attack on the prison, ending in numerous deaths.

Quiz Time! Read the following claims on the topic of “success” – Are these any good?

1. People have to work for their opportunities.

2. There are many ways people are successful.

3. In order to be successful in life, people must battle through their own individual adversities with hard work to gain a realistic sense of accomplishment.

4. In a society filled with unearned trophies, grades, and handouts, a generation of entitled youth is being set up to fail.

A claim is where you clearly state your position on the topic and give a reason for your stance. Claims are debatable!

Ready to practice?

Why is it so easy to conform? Think about this: Why is it so easy to conform?

Let’s watch Question the herd

Let’s practice! Is conformity good or bad? With your table create a CLAIM statement for the following question: Is conformity good or bad? When finished write your claim on the board.

OR Conformity is good because it brings a society together. Conformity has beneficial attributes that create a functional society. Conformity can be used as a survival tactic, allows a person to be wrong as a group and not on their own, and creates a culture that is united. This allows society to stand strong as a whole.

What is evidence? Facts, statistics, expert opinions (authorities on the subject), anecdotes from text. (NOTE: try staying away from personal stories when writing academic papers – that means no “I, me, my” stuff) Evidence can be quoted (word for word) or paraphrased…but all always need to be cited. You should set up your evidence. You need to transition your reader. You shouldn’t begin a paragraph with a quote from a source. Try setting up the evidence with your words. You always support the evidence. That’s called warrant.

Ready to practice?

Look for evidence to support your claim in the following sources

Let’s watch Now LET’S READ! Conformity and Social Proof Now LET’S READ! Read the article “13 Pros and Cons of Conformity in Society”

Let’s practice With your table find one piece of EVIDENCE that supports your CLAIM. When finished write it on the board under your claim.

Once you have your evidence, you need to warrant it. To effectively do this try doing the following: INERPRET the evidence. What is it saying? EXPRESS your thoughts on the evidence. What do you think? (Remember don’t use “I, me, my” – objective voice) CONNECT the evidence back to your claim. How does it prove your point?

Introduction with Claim Statement  Hook:     Claim:  Body Paragraph: Evidence and Warrant  Set Up Evidence:    Source Evidence (with Citation):  Warrant:  Interpret evidence in YOUR words  Give your thoughts:  Connect back to CLAIM – Why/How does this prove your point? 

This is the time to fix it (if it needs fixin’)! Check it, yo! Look at your “No Man Is an Island” claim: Is it original or does it simply restate the question/prompt? Is it arguable or is it just making an obvious statement? Does it answer the “what?” and “so what?” questions? Can you find credible evidence to support it (versus just your opinion)? This is the time to fix it (if it needs fixin’)!

This is the time to fix it (if it needs fixin’)! Check it, yo! Look at your “No Man Is an Island” evidence: Does it support the claim? Is it warranted (your words interpreting it, expresses your thoughts, connects back to claim)? Is it properly cited? This is the time to fix it (if it needs fixin’)!

Check it, yo! _____ MLA correct? _____ Title? _____ More than ONE paragraph? _____ CLEAR claim statement? _____ Claim focuses on ONE side? _____ Claim is about the relevance of Donne’s philosophy in modern times? _____ No “I”, “me”, “my”, “you”? _____ Text evidence from the poem?

Look at your rubric….give yourself a score. Standard: W.11-12.1 Look at your rubric….give yourself a score. 4 Claim is original, arguable, and clearly takes a side, it is supported with relevant evidence that is seamlessly organized using background information and transitions with proper citations, warrant clearly explains evidence and makes connections back to claim all in a formal and objective voice 3 Claim is clear, original, and arguable, it is supported with evidence and proper citations, but may lack detailed background or transitions, warrant explains evidence and connects back to claim all in a formal and objective voice 2 Claim is simple, yet original and arguable, it takes a side but may be weak, uses evidence but may lack proper citations, includes minimal to no background and transitions, warrant is weak, lacking in formal and objective voice 1 Claim is simple, restates the question/topic, doesn’t take a clear side, evidence is lacking set-up and proper citations, warrant is limited, restates evidence and doesn’t connect back to claim, lacking in formal and objective voice

Let’s revise! You are going to revise your “No Man Is an Island” response. Challenge #1: Be sure to have a complex claim. Challenge #2: You were supposed to include one piece of evidence from Donne’s poem. Now find a second source (2nd piece of evidence) to incorporate. Challenge #3: Warrant each piece of evidence.