Global Perspectives - Claims

Why isn't this sentence a claim :
Is nuclear power safe?

• Because it is not debatable.

• Because people may have different opinions.

• Because it is a question.

• Because it is too specific.

What is the meaning of sustainability?

• Sustainability is the presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance or thing that has harmful or poisonous effects.

• Sustainability is our society's ability to exist and develop without depleting all of the natural resources needed to live in the future.

• Sustainability is when people burn fossil fuels and convert land from forests to agriculture.

• Sustainability is the act of using too much of something, especially a natural resource, for example minerals, forests, coal, etc.

Select the correct type of claim.

Increased human fossil-fuel consumption over the past two centuries has increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

• Claim of fact

• Claim of value

• Claim of policy

Strong or weak claim?

Climate change could make armed conflict more likely, including wars over water.

• Strong claim

• Weak claim

Why isn't this a strong claim?

If humanity does not take dramatic steps to reduce fossil-fuel consumption, civilization may collapse.

• Because it uses the modal verb "may"

• Because it is too obvious

• Because it is an opinion

• Because it is not a question

Why is this a strong claim?

Students should ride their bicycles rather than being driven to school.

• Because it is a claim of fact

• Because it is arguable

• Because it is too general

• Because it is true

Turn this factual sentence into a claim of fact.

The temperature of the earth is rising, and extreme events are increasing in frequency.

The temperature of the earth is rising _____ ___ global warming.

Turn this factual sentence into a claim of value.

People who follow a vegetarian diet never eat meat, fish or poultry.

A vegetarian diet ___ _________ for the environment.

Select the word bank suited for claims of values.

• is better than
  is worse than
  is dangerous for
  is hurtful to
  is morally wrong

• is the greatest way to

  is improving

  should be implemented

  is beneficial

  is due to

• can

  would

  should

  ought to

  need to

  might

  may

Turn the issue into a claim of value.

Issue: Flooding in Hanoi

• Immediate action ought to be taken to fix the issue of flooding in Hanoi.

• Hanoi is not a sustainable city due to its flooding issue.

• This water pollution issue is driven by a serious infrastructure deficit.

• The flooding issue in Hanoi is dangerous for the population.