Types of Claims and Evidence Mr. Eble English Adapted from Chapter 3 of The Language of Composition by Shea, Scanlon, and Aufses

What’s a claim? A claim is an assertion or a proposal that states the argument’s main idea of position. Claims must be arguable. An arguable claim: Single-sex classrooms are ineffective because they do not prepare students for the realities of the workplace. Not an arguable claim: Many schools have single-sex classrooms. Not an arguable claim: Effectiveness of single-sex schools.

Claims of Fact Claims of fact assert that something is true or not true. They often pivot on what exactly is “factual”; facts become arguable when they are questioned, when they raise controversy, when they challenge people’s beliefs. Very often, so-called facts are a matter of interpretation. Example: Not a claim of fact: Zimbabwe is in Africa. (easily verifiable: Look on a map!) Claim of fact: Zimbabwe has an unstable government. (What does “unstable” mean?)

Claims of Value Claims of value argue that something is good or bad, right or wrong, desirable or undesirable. To develop an argument from a claim of value, you must establish specific criteria or standards and then show to what extent the subject meets your criteria. Example: Captain Phillips is an Oscar-worthy film because it engages the audience in an edge-of-your-seat thrill ride. The most common type of claim. Other examples: The food in the cafeteria tastes lousy. Andy Dalton is a sub-par quarterback who crumples under pressure in big games.

Claims of Policy Claims of policy occur when you propose a change. Generally begins with a definition of the problem (a claim of fact), explains why it is a problem (claim of value), and then explains the change that needs to happen. May call for an action or a change in attitude or behavior. Examples: People should eat more fish than meat because all kinds of seafood contain more brain-friendly nutrients than beef, chicken and pork. Obey your thirst—Drink Sprite!

Types of Evidence First-Hand Evidence: Something you know, whether from personal experience, anecdotes you’ve heard from others, observations, or your general knowledge of events. Pros: Personal experiences can add a human element to your argument and appeal to the audience’s emotions—strong motivators for any claim. If you have insider knowledge, you add much to the argument with authority. Cons: Don’t work well if the writer doesn’t have much knowledge as an insider. People often make hasty generalizations based on one piece of personal evidence.

Types of Evidence Second-Hand evidence is evidence that is accessed through research, reading, and investigation. It includes factual and historical information, expert opinion, and quantitative data. Helps you appeal to reason and logic.

Second-Hand Evidence Historical Information Expert Opinion Provides background, context to current debates. Chomsky does this well in “They Take Our Jobs!” by looking at the past and its effect on the present. Also shows your authority as a writer: You’ve done your homework and found past events that relate to your current situation! Expert Opinion An expert is someone who has published research on a topic or whose job or experience gives him/her specialized knowledge. When using this piece of evidence, you must provide credentials of the expert. Otherwise, you run the risk of appealing to false authority—citing someone who has no expertise as an expert. EXAMPLE: Tiger Woods being used as a spokesperson for Tag Heuer watches…

Second-Hand Evidence Quantitative Evidence Things that can be represented in numbers: Statistics, surveys, polls, census information. Can be persuasive with its appeal to reason and logic. Doesn’t just need to be dollar figures or percentages—can be trends… Be careful when using such information for a few reasons: Just because many people like / do something, that fact does not make a claim justified (“Aw, mom—everyone at school smokes crack, so you should let me do it, too”) Statistics are like bikinis: They show a lot, but they hide the most important parts of an issue.

PRACTICE: Reading a Text for Claim / Evidence We’ll read Chapter ____ of 20 Myths together. As a class: We’ll think aloud about what claim she’s making. Then, we’ll analyze her evidence as we read.

PRACTICE: MAKING EVIDENCE-BASED CLAIMS Using your reading of “They Take Our Jobs!” and 20 other myths about immigration, make a claim of fact about immigration value about the summer reading book policy about immigration Include supporting evidence for each. Write these on your DyKnow slide. Be sure to write your partner’s name on the slide, too.

Remember… Your claims need to be Your evidence needs to be arguable explicit or implicit supported by evidence Your evidence needs to be relevant accurate sufficient