Claim and Premise

Claims

The claim clearly presents the author's position, or stance, on the topic.

What does an effective claim do?

• A reader should have no trouble determining what the author is arguing for or against.

• A claim usually appears in the introduction of the argument and is restated and readdressed in the conclusion.

• There should be plenty of evidence to support a claim.

Multiple Choice

An effective claim is clear and specific and should not sound like an emotional or personal opinion.

Which of these is an effective claim?

• Video games are a ridiculous waste of time and should never be allowed.

• Video games should be played only when all schoolwork for the day has been completed.

More examples of effective claims

• Creating a bike path through the woods will interfere with the animals and plants in the area.

• "As your class president, I will have more school meetings and encourage better student-teacher communication."

Ineffective claim: Video games are a ridiculous waste of time and should never be allowed.

• Nonspecific and unclear

• “ridiculous waste of time” makes it sound like an opinion

Effective claim:

Video games should be played only when all schoolwork for the day has been completed.

• More formal and less judgmental

• Narrower claim is easier to argue

Make sure your claim is arguable!

No one would argue that committing a crime should have consequences, but people start to disagree when it gets more specific. What punishments should we give for each crime? And who should decide on the punishment? If you're having trouble finding opposing viewpoints, make your claim more specific.

Multiple Choice

Which of these claims is arguable?

• Our school should train volunteer parent monitors to increase student safety.

• Basic safety is something that every student in our school deserves.

Quiz time!

We will answer 5 questions about the information we just reviewed.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements is the MOST effective claim?

• Should students read The Diary of Anne Frank?

• The Diary of Anne Frank is the diary of a girl who is hiding from the Nazis during World War Two.

• Some students may enjoy reading The Diary of Anne Frank.

• The Diary of Anne Frank should be required reading for all students.

The Diary of Anne Frank should be required reading for all students.

Reason: The author presents a clear position.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements is the LEAST effective claim?

• Gordon Korman's books may or may not be the best novels of all time.

• Gordon Korman is one of the best writers ever.

• Gordon Korman's books are so much fun for kids to read.

• Restart is the greatest book ever written.

Gordon Korman's books may or may not be the best novels of all time.

Reason: This is not a claim; the author of this claim does not take a side.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following claims needs to be narrowed for a short argumentative essay?

• All schools should teach students to play chess.

• Schools across the country are experiencing low graduation rates. Action must be taken.

• Our school needs funding in order to provide band uniforms.

• If you spend a lot of time each day sitting at a desk, there are simple steps you can take so that you still get enough exercise.

Schools across the country are experiencing low graduation rates. Action must be taken.

Reason: This claim is too broad for a short essay. Looking at education across the United States is a huge topic and “action” could mean any of hundreds of solutions.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements is an arguable claim?

• Nutritious food should be available to people throughout the world as a basic human necessity.

• Many studies show that the existence of the bald eagle has been threatened because of the use of pesticides.

• A species is considered endangered when too many members are lost or if the conditions in which they live make it difficult for them to survive.

• Smartphones make people smarter.

Smartphones make people smarter.

Reason: This claim is arguable because there would be many differing opinions on the subject.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following claims is most likely to have sufficient evidence?

• Many people have been abducted by alien beings from other planets.

• In the future many of us will be living on Mars.

• Gene therapies are being developed as better treatment for many genetic ailments. Older treatments should be phased out when gene therapy is available.

• To cure a headache, lick a tiny piece of paper, and stick it to your forehead for 15 minutes.

Gene therapies are being developed as better treatment for many genetic ailments. Older treatments should be phased out when gene therapy is available.

This claim will have a large amount of evidence available.

Do it yourself! Head back to Schoology and find the Argument Essay Project in the folder for Monday, 1/25/2020. Decide your stance on the issue you've been researching, then write the claim that you plan to defend on the 2nd slide. Do not submit, as we will continue working on these slides for several days.