Persuasive TextsClaims, Evidence, Warrants

Thesis

A thesis states/asserts your position (opinion) on a topic.

• Meant to be proven

• Contains your claims

• Found in the introductory paragraph

TOPIC + OPINION + CLAIMS =THESIS

Example: Year round school should be implemented in all school districts because students would be more

focused, would be safer and would be smarter.

Claims

• Reasons that help prove your thesis

• Support for your argument

• Opinions stated as factsArgument: Year round school should be

implemented in all school districts.

Claims:

• students would be more focused

• students would be safer

• students would be smarter

Evidence

• Proves your claims

• Are facts, examples, statistics, and details

Lawyers need evidence to prove the client is innocent.

You need evidence to prove your argument is valid.

Example: “Chicago has seen a 35% decrease in juvenile delinquency since implementing year round school.”

Warrants

• Explains the evidence

• Shows how the evidence proves the claim

Lawyers can’t just present the evidence, they must explain how it shows the client is innocent.

You must explain how your evidence supports your claim.

Example: Keeping students in the classroom and off the streets in the summer months will kids out of trouble.

Counter Argument

• The opposing argument

Example: Year round school is a bad idea because students need a long break away from the demands of academics and testing.

“Boxing: Countdown to Injury”

• Read the argumentative essay “Boxing: Countdown to Injury.”

• Identify the thesis in the introductory paragraph.

• Then find the claims, evidence, and warrants in each body paragraph of the argumentative essay “Boxing: Countdown to Injury.”

Introductory paragraph

A left hook smashes into the fighter’s jaw. A following right slams his head the opposite direction. An uppercut to the jaw snaps his head back, momentarily stopping the blood flow to his brain. The boxer drops, hitting the mat with a thud. His brain bounces off his skull for the second time in a matter of seconds. Is this what we should call a sport? Because of injuries, neurological damage, and ring deaths, the rules of professional boxing should be changed.

Answer

A left hook smashes into the fighter’s jaw. A following right slams his head the opposite direction. An uppercut to the jaw snaps his head back, momentarily stopping the blood flow to his brain. The boxer drops, hitting the mat with a thud. His brain bounces off his skull for the second time in a matter of seconds. Is this what we should call a sport? Because of injuries, neurological damage, and ring deaths, the rules of professional boxing should be changed.

The thesis statement is:

The overall position of the paper. It includes the three claims that will be used in each body paragraph to support your position.

First body paragraph

Boxing has always been a brutal sport. The ancient Greeks used gloves studded with metal spikes, which slashed the face and body and split skulls. Although gloves are no longer spiked, boxers today sustain injuries ranging from cuts and bruises to broken bones. It is not uncommon to see a boxer leave the ring with a cut on his face, an eye swollen shut, and a nose enlarged and bloody. Often, healing in is incomplete because these areas receive the same blows again and again in other matches. In fact, repeated blows almost cost Sugar Ray Leonard his sight when his retina detached in his left eye.

Answer

Claim: Boxing has always been a brutal sport.

Evidence: The ancient Greeks used gloves studded with metal spikes, which slashed the face and body and split skulls.

Warrant: Although gloves are no longer spiked, boxers today sustain injuries ranging from cuts and bruises to broken bones. It is not uncommon to see a boxer leave the ring with a cut on his face, an eye swollen shut, and a nose enlarged and bloody.

Second body paragraph

Besides superficial injuries, boxers suffer short-term neurological damage as a result of staggering blows to the head. A knockout punch, for example, is often delivered with such force that the brain smashes against the skull, tearing nerve fibers and blood vessels, resulting in a concussion. Even a blow to the neck can close the carotid artery, the main artery to the brain, whereby oxygen and blood to the brain are disrupted, resulting in dizziness and confusion. Later, the boxers often have no memory of the moments before or after a knockout blow.

Answer

Claim: boxers suffer short-term neurological damage as a result of staggering blows to the head

Evidence: A knockout punch, for example, is often delivered with such force that the brain smashes against the skull, tearing nerve fibers and blood vessels, resulting in a concussion. Even a blow to the neck can close the carotid artery, the main artery to the brain, whereby oxygen and blood to the brain are disrupted, resulting in dizziness and confusion.

Warrant: Later, the boxers often have no memory of the moments before or after a knockout blow.

Third body paragraph

In addition to short-term neurological damage, severe blows to the head can induce more serious injuries. For instance, Muhammad Ali now suffers from long- term neurological damage as a result of receiving repeated blows to the head. Evidence shows that Ali suffers from neurological damage caused by the blows that accelerated existing damage. As he aged, the boxer whom experts say was the "greatest of all" could not walk without the aid of a cane and could barely speak.

Answer

Claim: In addition to short-term neurological damage, severe blows to the head can induce more serious injuries.

Evidence: For instance, Muhammad Ali now suffers from long- term neurological damage as a result of receiving repeated blows to the head.

Warrant: Evidence shows that Ali suffers from neurological damage caused by the blows that accelerated existing damage. As he aged, the boxer whom experts say was the "greatest of all" could not walk without the aid of a cane and could barely speak.

Fourth body paragraph

Finally, the most serious outcome of continual beatings to the head is death. Ray Mancini retired from boxing after delivering such a crushing blow to the head of Duck-Kim that the end result of the match was death for Duck-Kim. The advent of gloves and protective headgear supposedly offers protection, but even a light punch can snap the boxer's head back explosively, causing severe injury or death.

Answer

Claim: Finally, the most serious outcome of continual beatings to the head is death.

Evidence: Ray Mancini retired from boxing after delivering such a crushing blow to the head of Duck-Kim that the end result of the match was death for Duck-Kim.

Warrant: The advent of gloves and protective headgear supposedly offers protection, but even a light punch can snap the boxer's head back explosively, causing severe injury or death.

Evaluating Arguments

• A strong argument has:

• Thesis Statement: A clear position/opinion on a topic, stated in one sentence, and containing claims.

• Claims: Reasons that help prove your thesis.

• Evidence: Facts, statistics, and/or details that prove your claims.

• Warrants: Explanation of how your evidence supports your claim.