Claims Reasons and Evidence Claims A claim is

Claims, Reasons, and Evidence

Claims A claim is the writer’s position on the issue Wolves should be reintroduced into Utah. Wolves should not be allowed to return to Utah.

Categories of Claims Fact/Definition Claims Cause and Effect Claims Value Claims Solution or Policy Claims

Fact/Definition These claims argue about what the definition of something is or whether something really exists as settled fact. What some people refer to as global warming is actually nothing more than normal, longterm cycles of climate change.

Cause and Effect These claims argue that one person, thing, or event caused another thing or event to occur. The popularity of SUV's in America has caused pollution to increase.

Value These are claims made of what something is worth, whether we value it or not, how we would rate or categorize something. Global warming is the most pressing challenge facing the world today.

Solutions/Policies These are claims that argue for or against a certain solution or policy approach to a problem Instead of drilling for oil in Alaska we should be focusing on ways to reduce oil consumption, such as researching renewable energy sources.

What Kind of Claims Are These? Using a cell phone causes brain tumors. Cause and Effect There are serious flaws in our nation’s gun control laws. Fact/Definition Plagiarism is morally wrong. Value The federal government should impose national standards for education. Solutions/Policies

Claims should be supported with reasons: Wolves should be reintroduced into Utah because the ecosystem needs an apex predator. because they are originally a native species.

Wolves should not be allowed to return to Utah because they cause damage to flocks and herds and can be dangerous to human beings. because we have other predators like cougar, bears, and human hunters that keep deer populations controlled.

Reasons are explanations of the claim’s position As a class find as many reasons as you can to back up this statement: “Women’s fashion and style magazines (such as Glamour or Seventeen) are harmful influences on teenage girls. ” (You can start your statement with because, therefore, so, consequently, or thus)

Evidence What types of evidence can you use to back up your claims?

Evaluating Evidence

Use the S. T. A. R. Method Sufficiency Is there enough evidence? Typicality Is the data representative of what’s out there? Accuracy Is the information accurate and up-to-date? Relevance Is it on-topic? Is the information relevant to the claim?