English Composition 101: Argumentation - Types of Claims Fact Value Policy Categorizing the nature of the argument

What It Is

Claims are the central arguments in a piece of writing that establish the writer's position on a topic. A claim can be a fact (a verifiable statement), a value (a subjective judgment), or a policy (a proposed action). For example, in an essay arguing that college tuition should be free, the claim might be: "College tuition should be free because it would increase access to higher education for low-income students." This claim matters because it helps writers develop a clear and persuasive argument that engages their audience.

Core Principles

• Claim: A statement that takes a stand on a topic, often in the form of a sentence or phrase.
• Fact claim: A statement that can be verified through evidence, such as statistics or expert opinions.
  • Example: "The average student debt in the US is over $30,000." (correct)
  • Error: "College tuition is too high." (incorrect, lacks evidence)
• Value claim: A statement that expresses a subjective judgment or opinion.
  • Example: "College education is essential for success in today's job market." (correct)
  • Error: "College is the best way to get a good job." (incorrect, lacks evidence)
• Policy claim: A statement that proposes a specific action or solution.
  • Example: "The government should provide free college tuition to all citizens." (correct)
  • Error: "We should make college free." (incorrect, lacks specificity)
• Thesis statement: A sentence that combines a claim with a roadmap for the rest of the essay.
  • Example: "While some argue that college tuition is too high, I believe that free college tuition would increase access to higher education for low-income students and benefit society as a whole."
• Evidence: Facts, statistics, expert opinions, or personal experiences that support a claim.
  • Example: "According to a study by the National Center for Education Statistics, 60% of students who attend college graduate with debt."
• Counterargument: A statement that acknowledges and responds to opposing views.
  • Example: "Some might argue that free college tuition would be too expensive, but I believe that the benefits to society outweigh the costs."
• Tone: The writer's attitude or voice in the text.
  • Example: "College education is a vital part of a successful career." (formal tone)
  • Error: "College is soooo important for your future!" (informal tone)
• Transitions: Words or phrases that connect ideas between sentences or paragraphs.
  • Example: "However," "in addition," "nevertheless"
• Citation: The process of crediting sources in the text.
  • Example: MLA: (Smith 23)
  • Example: APA: (Smith, 2020, p. 23)
• MLA formatting: A style guide for citing sources in the humanities.
  • Example: Lastname, Firstname. Title of Source. Publisher, Year of Publication.
• APA formatting: A style guide for citing sources in the social sciences.
  • Example: Lastname, F. M. (Year). Title of source. Publisher.

Common Writing Errors

Error: "College tuition is too high." Why it fails: This statement lacks evidence and is too vague. Correction: "According to a study by the National Center for Education Statistics, 60% of students who attend college graduate with debt, making college tuition a significant financial burden for many students."

Error: "We should make college free." Why it fails: This statement lacks specificity and fails to address potential counterarguments. Correction: "The government should provide free college tuition to all citizens, as it would increase access to higher education for low-income students and benefit society as a whole."

Error: "College education is the best way to get a good job." Why it fails: This statement lacks evidence and is too subjective. Correction: "According to a study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 70% of jobs require a college degree, making college education a valuable investment for many students."

Quick Application

Scenario 1: You are arguing that college tuition should be free. Write a thesis statement.

Model answer: "While some argue that free college tuition would be too expensive, I believe that providing free college tuition to all citizens would increase access to higher education for low-income students and benefit society as a whole."

Explanation: This thesis statement combines a claim (free college tuition) with a roadmap (increasing access to higher education for low-income students and benefiting society).

Scenario 2: You are writing an essay arguing that social media has a negative impact on mental health. Write a fact claim.

Model answer: "According to a study by the American Psychological Association, 60% of teenagers experience anxiety or depression due to social media use."

Explanation: This fact claim provides evidence to support the argument that social media has a negative impact on mental health.

Scenario 3: You are writing an essay arguing that climate change is a pressing issue. Write a value claim.

Model answer: "Climate change is a moral imperative that requires immediate action, as it threatens the very survival of our planet."

Explanation: This value claim expresses a subjective judgment or opinion about the importance of addressing climate change.

Last?Minute Revision

Punctuation traps: * Use commas to separate items in a list, but not to separate clauses in a sentence. * Use semicolons to separate independent clauses that are closely related. * Use colons to introduce a list or a quotation.

Citation details: * Use MLA or APA formatting to cite sources in the text. * Include the author's last name, first name, title of source, publisher, and year of publication. * Use in-text citations to credit sources in the text.

Transition words: * Use transition words to connect ideas between sentences or paragraphs. * Examples: "however," "in addition," "nevertheless"

Tone: * Use a formal tone in academic writing. * Avoid using contractions, slang, or overly casual language.

Counterarguments: * Acknowledge and respond to opposing views in the text. * Use evidence to support your argument and counterarguments.

Evidence: * Use facts, statistics, expert opinions, or personal experiences to support your argument. * Cite sources in the text to credit evidence.

MLA formatting: * Use MLA formatting to cite sources in the humanities. * Include the author's last name, first name, title of source, publisher, and year of publication.

APA formatting: * Use APA formatting to cite sources in the social sciences. * Include the author's last name, first initial, title of source, publisher, and year of publication.