UNDERSTANDING THE CLAIM

DEFINITION AND PURPOSE

• A claim is a statement worded against the status quo that is the focus of an argument.

• A claim is not a question.• Your are either for or against the

statement.

• A claim is against the states quo.• The claim has to be worded against

the current policy.

• The claim is the focus of the argument. • It is the conclusion the arguer is

trying to convince his or her audience to believe.

TYPES OF CLAIMS

• There are three types of claims: • Claim of Fact• Claim of Value• Claim of Policy

• Each type of claim have a unique purpose and explores a different argumentative topic.

CLAIM OF FACT

• Something is, was, or will be.

• Example: Global warming is a threat that must be addressed.

CLAIM OF VALUE

• Something is good or bad, desirable or undesirable.

• Example: Hunting of animals is a barbaric practice.

CLAIM OF POLICY

• Something should or ought to be done.

• Example: Obamacare should be repealed because is it adding to the U.S. deficit and debt.

ARGUMENTATIVE BURDENS

• Each person in an argument has distinct responsibilities known as burdens.

• Burden of Proof

• Burden of Presumption

• Burden of Rebuttal

BURDEN OF PROOF

• He argues in the favor of the claim.• providing “good and sufficient” reasons to accept

the claim.

• “He who asserts, must prove.” - Aristotle

BURDEN OF PRESUMPTION

• Providing reason to maintain the status quo.• Reject the claim.• Presented second in an argument.• This side has the obligation to argue for the

current system.

BURDEN OF REBUTTAL

• The obligation of both side to respond to one another. • Silence equals consent. If you don’t respond you

are implying the other side is right.

ARGUMENTATIVE BURDENS(RESPONSIBILITIES OF BOTH SIDES)

• Affirmative side (agreeing with the claim)

• Burden of proof• Burden of rebuttal

• Negative side (disagreeing with the claim)

• Burden of presumption• Burden of rebuttal

CONCLUSION

• Now that we understand arguing with the use of claims we can argue in a civil manner and get our point across correctly and more efficiently.• Claims have helped society to progress. Claims

have empowered people to argue against the states quo and better our world through important arguments in a mannerly excepted fashion. • Once we have stated our claim it is clear and

simple what we are arguing about therefore arguments will end with greater and more specific results.