Week 03-M

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.”

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

1Like 90% of the time.

Reading Roundtable 2 Philosophies of Justice

  • 2: Retribution
  • 3: Rehabilitation
  • 4: Deterrence
  • 1: Restoration

In your groups, you have 15 minutes to prepare a short "presentation" for the class. In that presentation, you'll make a claim about why your philosophy is the most just, and support that claim using examples--from the reading, from the video last week, from real life, whatever. You'll have 15 minutes to prepare a 3-5 minute presentation. (Make sure to figure out who's going to talk about what.)

1 2 3 4
Restoration Retribution Rehabilitation Deterrence

Lab Activity Invisible Writing

  • Open the assignment on Canvas
  • Turn off your screen
  • Type till I tell you to stop about the question on the projector.
  • Why do you think people commit crimes? What do you think about criminals?
  • Have you ever committed a crime? Have you ever been a victim of a crime? How did it feel?
  • Which is more important: what happens to an individual criminal, or what's best for society?
  • Which of these philosophies of justice makes the most sense to you? Why?
  • Which of these philosophies of justice makes the least sense to you? Why?