Week 8-1

What is an argument?

Claim What does the word "claim" mean to you?

A claim is:

• a statement
• that takes a position on an issue
• which the audience is not likely to accept as true.

Which of these things are claims?

• “Is vegetarianism healthy?”

• “Many Americans are vegetarians.”

• “Vegetarianism has its pros and cons.”

• “Some people think vegetarianism is good for you, but others worry that it is not.”

A Claim

Your job in college writing¹ is to make a claim about the question or issue you're writing about.

¹Like 90% of the time.

Support

When we talk about claims, the usual next step is “evidence.” But I’d like to use a slightly broader word: support. For our purposes, support will describe those statements:

• that the audience is likely to accept as true, and
• which is used to demonstrate the truth of a particular claim.

Which of these claims would my birth certificate support?

• I am a United States citizen.
• I was born in California.
• California is a great place to be from.
• I can legally drink in California.
• I can legally drive in California.
• I am eligible to run for the Senate in Maryland.

Your job in college writing¹ is to make a claim about the question or issue you're writing about, and support that claim with reasons and evidence your audience will accept.

¹Like 90% of the time.