Claim/Data/WarrantClaiming with purpose

Creating a claim

• A claim (or topic sentence) should be something that is arguable and interesting. This is different from a “hook”. It should never be VAGUE or TOO BROAD.

NO! “It is interesting that TCA students are different from students at other schools” (opinion; vague; non-arguable)

YES! “Due to the rigorous expectations of a classical education, TCA students excel academically compared to other students”

Claims usually a claim will contain an answer to the

question “why” or “how do you know” within it.

Claiming with literature

In a CDW paragraph or an essay, you want to try and include the author’s full name and the title you’re working with. It can be as simple as tacking on “In Homer’s The Odyssey,” onto the front of your claim

Ex: “In Homer’s The Odyssey, the author demonstrates the danger of hubris.”

Claims are . . .

1) Analytical, but never evaluative unless specifically prompted. In other words, I’m not asking for a book report rating. Do not tell how great the author is at something.

What to avoid – Examples:

“Homer is an interesting writer.”

“In The Odyssey, Homer does a great job describing important things.”

Words like “unique”, “interesting” and “important” – or phrases like “big idea”, “huge concept”, etc. – are usually too vague and do not belong in academic writing.

Do not to “flatter” the author – “In all of Classic literature, Homer is superior and excellent for all time.”

While this is nice thing to say, unless you have read all of Classic literature it’s not a claim you can “prove” with the text. Nor does it really set up your “argument.”

Claiming with literature• When it comes to making a claim or argument about literature, moving from the “what” (plot, author, title – the “basics”) to the “how” (what style/technique) and the “why” (significance, theme, “message” to the reader)

• Let’s call it making sure your claim states PURPOSE. It shouldn’t just identify what you’re talking about – it should give some clue on why the author or you are writing about that subject

Statement/fact, which is hard to dispute:

“In The Odyssey, by Homer, the author writes about a man’s journey.”

While this is true, it only addresses the “what.” A thesis, or “claim,” addresses the WHY.

A more arguable claim:

“In The Odyssey, Homer demonstrates Odysseus’ development from proud and arrogant to compassionate hero.”

OR

“Homer, in The Odyssey, uses the metaphor of a long journey to show the challenges of life.”

Claims with purpose

If you get stuck trying to make a claim with purpose, try the following format:

Author, in Title, (does THIS with the text, with a character, with a symbol) in order to (use a strong verb-- show the reader something, emphasize something, make a point about something, display something)

“Dr. Seuss, in Green Eggs and Ham, uses the character of Sam-I-Am to show that trying new things can be a valuable experience.”

“In The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien uses Bilbo Baggins to demonstrate that great courage can come from the most unexpected sources.”

CDW Power Paragraph Model: Claim (Topic Sentence)Data: Example with quotation* Warrants: Commentary/Analysis*Warrants: Commentary/Analysis*Data: Example with quotation* Warrants: Commentary/Analysis*Warrants: Commentary/Analysis*Conclusion (Tie back to claim)*

(*may be more than one sentence)

Body Paragraph

Homer demonstrates Odysseus’ cunning in the encounter with the Cyclops.

As he tells the Phaeacians, Odysseus is “known to the world / for every kind

of craft”; Odysseus considers himself an intelligent man (Homer 9.21-22).

His forethought in bringing strong wine and in telling Polyphemus that his

name is “nobody” proves his cunning (9.410). Had Odysseus revealed his

real name, after he and his men had stabbed out the Cyclops’ eye, the

other Cyclopes on the island would have come running to Polyphemus’ aid.

Even though Odysseus does reveal his name because of his pride, Homer

still shows that Odysseus is crafty because of his forethought in the

encounter with Polyphemus. Odysseus’ meeting with the Cyclops reveals

his wily and quick mind.

The Quotations• A work of literary analysis depends on a close reading of the text.

Therefore, your ideas should always stem from and be supported by a careful use and analysis of quotations. Every paragraph in your essay, except the introduction and conclusion, should have at least two quotations, and the whole paper should have a minimum of six quotations.

• Remember the following principles that apply to all quotations used in essays:

• • always frame quotations (that is, introduce them with your own words; a quotation should never stand alone)

• • briefly explain the context of a quotation before giving it • • always cite quotations (using internal citations)• • always comment upon quotations (never insert

quotations without discussing them in your essay; use warrants).

The Format• Your essay should be formatted according to MLA

style:• Font—Times New Roman, size 12, throughout• Spacing—Double-spaced throughout; no extra

spaces anywhere• Citations—end of the sentence in (Book.line#) • Heading—four lines: Name, Teacher’s Name,

Class, Date (# Month Year)• Header—last name and page number on the top

right of each page, .5” from the top• Work(s) Cited—properly formatted, after the last

page of text• Margins—one inch on all sides

How to Cite The Odyssey:• When Homer's Odysseus comes to the hall of Circe, he finds his men

"mild / in her soft spell, fed on her drug of evil" (10.209-11).• • Inside your citation you should have (Book.line #-#).

• Put Homer in the first citation (Homer 1.1-4) and then include only the book and line numbers afterwards (2.3-4). (if it is your only source)

CDW Practice Paragraph• Write a CDW paragraph using the following claim:

In The Odyssey, Homer demonstrates that pride leads to a downfall.

• Due: