English

• A claim should be argumentative and debatable
• A claim should be specific and focused
• A claim should be interesting and engaging
• A claim should be logical and result from reasonable weighing of support provided
• A claim is a statement the advocate believes in or is in the process of evaluating
• It is your assertion or opinion on something
• There are 3 types of claims: Claims of Fact, Value, and Policy
• A claim must mention your topic and state your stand on the mentioned topic
• It must be what you want to prove in the essay
• A claim of Fact states that the condition existed, is existing, or will exist based on factual information for support
• It is supported by verifiable facts or data such as statistics or testimonies
• Markers for Claims of Fact: Generally, Usually, As a rule, Probably
• Claims of Fact must be specific as to time, place, people involved, and situation
• Examples of Claims of Fact:

  • Excessive use of gadgets has caused the steady decline in the study habits of children and teenagers
  • Teens who engage in promiscuous, unprotected sex will develop STDs, become pregnant, and/or contract AIDS
• Claims of Value involve taste or preference in art, literature, music, film, food, etc.
• Markers for Claims of Value: "it is better to...", "it is unethical that...", "it is more beautiful than..."
• Examples of Claims of Value:

  • Euthanasia is immoral
  • Animal testing is the worst way to test medical products
• Claims of Policy argue that specific plans or courses of action should be instituted as solutions to problems
• Markers for Claims of Policy: should, ought to, must, or any other strong verbs
• Example of a Claim of Policy: For individuals showing signals of stroke: Call 911 right away when you observe signals of a stroke