Claim•Also called the “thesis” or “main point.”

•The “centerpiece” of the essay.

•Answers the question “What do I want readers to understand, believe, or do after they read my essay that they may not understand, believe, or do before they read my essay.

What a claim does•Controls: a writer includes ONLY information relevant (not just related to the claim).

•Obligates: the writer must provide reasons and evidence to support the claim.

•Predicts: it allows readers to know where they are going in this essay.

Features of a good claim•It is clearly worded and focused.

•It is a statement of judgment, not a topic or subject description.

•It is arguable.

•It is workable—you know enough about the subject to support the claim.

•It should matter to you AND your audience.

Whether or not college students should have to abide by a dress code.

Was attacking Iraq a smart decision in the war on terror?

California residents are also residents of the United States.

Should the Social Security system be reworked?

Cosmetic surgery for pets (e.g. tail cropping, debarking, ear clipping, etc.) should be outlawed.

The attitudes of children in urban areas.

Sample claims•US energy policy should improve.

•US energy policy should provide incentives for non-polluting, sustainable power development.

•The Purple Rose is a better restaurant than Perko’s.

•The Purple Rose is a better restaurant than Café 955.

•Violent television shows are not good for kids to watch.

•Violent television causes children to behave violently.

College can be a nerve-wracking yet rewarding experience.

College is a good place to be.

College is a safe place to take on intellectual challenges.

Whether or not it is a good idea to attend college.

Attending college can have both good and bad consequences.

The college should change the way it allocates financial aid.

In order to distribute limited funds more equitably, students should receive aid only as long as they are attending and

passing their classes.

The Language of Claims Matters

John Kerry is an arrogant bastard.

John Kerry is arrogant.

John Kerry’s perceived arrogance may put off rural Americans.

Viruses are spreading all over the internet and that’s not a good thing, which is why we should do

something about it like create laws.

Because computer viruses have the potential to cripple the online economy, the US government should enact

harsh prison penalties for convicted virus creators.

Rewrite the following to improve focus and clarity

The idea of paying people to act like members of your family is a good thing sort of, I guess, for some people, but it could be abused and may desensitize people, but

still I think it could be good although I’d never personally myself use it.

In my opinion, college is not a very fun place to be but it should be and so to make it such a place the college

needs to create more fun things for students.

OJ Simpson is a murderer.

George W. Bush is a murderer.

George W. Bush murders the English language.

The bureaucracy of College of the Redwoods murders morale.

George W. Bush is the best president America has ever had.

George W. Bush is a phenomenal president.

George W. Bush is a good president.

George W. Bush is a surprisingly good president.

George W. Bush has exceeded the expectations of many Americans.

In the aftermath of 9/11, George W. Bush proved he possesses the qualities of an effective president.

George W. Bush may be remembered as one of the better presidents America has had.

The Audience for a Claim should Affect the Language of the Claim

Consider the audience assumptions built into the following claim:

Abortion is a sin.

How might the language of the claim change for an audience of

academicschildrenatheists

A claim must be arguable. Indicate whether the following claims are arguable and explain the reasons for your answer.

It contains contradictions and inconsistent reasoning that undermine the strength of the appeals to values.

I like the essay “College Life vs. My Moral Code.”

“College Life vs. My Moral Code” is an essay written by Elisha hack and published in The New York Times.

I think the essay “College Life vs. My Moral Code” is a bad essay.

“College Life vs. My Moral Code” by Elisha Hack offers effective appeals to values but lacks important specific evidence to bolster the

appeals.

Moments of silence

Editor -- Thursday evening at the UC-USC men's basketball game, we were asked to stand for a moment of silence in respect and memorial to the young woman on Cal's women's team, Alisa Lewis, who tragically and unexpectedly died of bacterial meningitis earlier in the week. The total silence was both poignant and fitting. Would it not have been equally appropriate for the president of the United States to lead a moment of silence in honor of those in our country's military who have lost their lives in Iraq, both during and after the declaration that the war was over? Can anyone fail to understand why this did not take place?

JOAN MATHERLos Altos from San Francisco Chronicle, 1/26/04

Bush's spending isn't leadershipJan. 27, 2004 12:00 AM

If I made $25,000 a year and ran up excessive debts, you would call me fiscally irresponsible.

So why is it that President Bush can run up incredible debts and you call him a leader?

Nancy Golden, Phoenix