Chapter 9: Understanding Chapter 9: Understanding ClaimsClaims

By Adriana CuevasBy Adriana Cuevas

What is a Claim?What is a Claim?• A claim is always a STATEMENT.A claim is always a STATEMENT.

““Any single statement of controversy advanced Any single statement of controversy advanced for the for the purpose of argument.” (p.136)purpose of argument.” (p.136)

The Seven Characteristics of a ClaimThe Seven Characteristics of a Claim

1.1. Should be phrased as statements, not Should be phrased as statements, not questions.questions.

2.2. Should be phrased equally for both sides. Should be phrased equally for both sides.

3.3. Should be phrased as specific as Should be phrased as specific as possible.possible.

4.4. Claims must be phrased against the Claims must be phrased against the status quo.status quo.

The Seven Characteristics of a The Seven Characteristics of a Claim Cont.Claim Cont.

5.5. The burdens The burdens should be clear to should be clear to both sides.both sides.

6.6. Both sides should Both sides should debate the same debate the same claim.claim.

7.7. Should promote a Should promote a pro/con pro/con argumentative argumentative environment.environment.

There are three types of claims:There are three types of claims:

• Fact: Something that is, was or will be.Fact: Something that is, was or will be.

• Value: If something is good or bad.Value: If something is good or bad.

• Policy: If something should or should Policy: If something should or should not be.not be.

The Purpose of a Claim:The Purpose of a Claim:

• The foundation of an The foundation of an argument.argument.

• The focus of the The focus of the argument.argument.

• Represents the starting Represents the starting and ending points and ending points

• Has two sides: pro and Has two sides: pro and concon

• Both sides have the Both sides have the responsibilities known responsibilities known as burdens.as burdens.

Types of Burdens:Types of Burdens:

• Burden of Proof: Reasons why the status quo Burden of Proof: Reasons why the status quo must be replaced by the claim being advocated. must be replaced by the claim being advocated.

• Burden of Presumption: The defense of the status Burden of Presumption: The defense of the status quo, why it should remain intact.quo, why it should remain intact.

• Burden of Rebuttal: The obligation to respond to Burden of Rebuttal: The obligation to respond to the argument.the argument.

failure to respond indicates compliance.failure to respond indicates compliance.

Argumentative BurdensArgumentative Burdens

Negative SideNegative Side

● ● Burden of Burden of Presumption: Why Presumption: Why things should stay the things should stay the way they are. way they are.

● ● Burden of Rebuttal: Burden of Rebuttal: Obligation to respond Obligation to respond to the argument. to the argument.

Affirmative SideAffirmative Side

● ● Burden of Proof: Why status Burden of Proof: Why status quo should be changed.quo should be changed.

●●Burden of Rebuttal: Obligation Burden of Rebuttal: Obligation to respond to the argument.to respond to the argument.

Types of Debate EnvironmentsTypes of Debate Environments

1.1. Scholarly: Emphasizes Scholarly: Emphasizes factual claims. Is meant factual claims. Is meant to discover what is, how to discover what is, how and why it is. and why it is.

2.2. Religious: Which religion Religious: Which religion is best. is best.

3.3. Political: Calls for specific Political: Calls for specific action to be taken to action to be taken to deal with problems in the deal with problems in the status quo.status quo.

4.4. Business: What can be Business: What can be done to better the done to better the overall well being of the overall well being of the business. business.

Types of Debate Environments Cont.Types of Debate Environments Cont.

5.5. Legal Debate: Whether Legal Debate: Whether something is legal or something is legal or illegal and whether illegal and whether someone is guilty or someone is guilty or innocent. innocent.

6.6. Educational: Occur in Educational: Occur in high schools and high schools and colleges. Can be colleges. Can be centered around debates centered around debates of claims of value and/or of claims of value and/or policy.policy.

7.7. Social: The least Social: The least unstructured, deals with unstructured, deals with personal values. personal values.