Lang Understanding Argument Claims, Evidence, Reasoning

Argument: ● A position supported by mature reasoning and evidence ○ claim ○ Evidence ○ Reasoning Claim: ● ● ● Statement that is ARGUABLE Main piece of argument Claims convince, persuade, and prove arguments Types of Claims: Claims of Fact: ● ● Assert that something is TRUE or NOT TRUE ○ Arizona is stealing Nevada’s water. ○ The US has not shared enough vaccines with the international community.. Often depends on what is considered “factual” or how a word is defined. ○ A hot dog is not a sandwich. Claims of Value: ● ● Assert that something is good/bad, right/wrong, desirable/undesirable. ○ Pineapple is the tastiest pizza topping. ○ Stealing is always wrong. ○ Infinity War is a better movie than Endgame. Must explain CRITERIA for judgment. Claims of Policy: ● ● A proposal for change ○ The voting age should be lowered to 16. ○ All schools should provide mental health services. ○ My parents should eliminate my curfew. Claims of policy often include implied claims of fact (something is a problem) and implied claims of value (why the problem is bad) Examples: Claims of Fact Claims of Value Claims of Policy Left-handed people are at a disadvantage in our right-handed world. Pasta/noodles is the tastiest food. The CCSD grading system should be changed. Cereal is a type of soup. Lying is wrong. It is time to put an end to social media. Humans are fundamentally different from other animals. Essays and FRQs are harder than multiple choice. Let's order pizza. I am the same person as a year ago. The beauty of the mountain pales in comparison to the beauty of the ocean. #FreeBritney Evidence: ● facts, documentation or testimony used to support and strengthen a claim ○ Relevant: specifically applies to the claim ○ Accurate: quoting sources correctly without misrepresenting/taking out of context ○ Sufficient: enough documentation to support claim fully Example: Claim: The Toyota Avalon is the most dependable car of its size. Evidence: ● It has hand-tooled leather seats. ● A survey of consumers shows significantly fewer maintenance problems with the Toyota Avalon than other similar vehicles. ● Tina, a local mechanic, reports that very few customers bring this model in for repairs. Types of Evidence: ● ● First-Hand Evidence ○ Something you KNOW personally Second-Hand Evidence ○ Evidence accessed through research, reading, investigation First Hand Evidence: ● Personal Experience ○ Writer speaking as an insider ■ Example: I drive a Toyota Avalon and it’s never once broken down or needed a repair the whole time I’ve owned it! ■ Claim: The Toyota Avalon is the most dependable car of its size. ● Anecdotes ○ Stories about others you’ve observed or been told about. ■ Example: My grandpa picked my mom up from school each day for 15 years in his old Toyota Avalon; the seats were worn and the windshield a little cracked, but they always made it home safely. ■ Claim: The Toyota Avalon is the most dependable car of its size. ● Current Events ○ First-hand observation of events (reading, watching/listening, etc.) ■ Example: I saw a news report that a caravan of Toyota Avalons took off on a cross-country road trip from LA and arrived safely in Boston one week later. ■ Claim: The Toyota Avalon is the most dependable car of its size. Second-Hand Evidence: ● Historical Information ○ Verifiable facts ■ Example: Beginning in the late 1990s, many businesses purchase the Toyota Avalon for their company cars because, on average, they last more than 15 years. ■ Claim: The Toyota Avalon is the most dependable car of its size. ● Expert Opinion ○ “Expert”--someone who has published research on a topic or whose job/experience gives them specialized knowledge ■ Example: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration calls the Toyota Avalon a “sturdy vehicle that will reliably get you where you want to go.” ■ Claim: The Toyota Avalon is the most dependable car of its size. ● Quantitative Evidence ○ Evidence represented as numbers (statistics, surveys, polls, census information) ■ Example: Data from JD Power & Associates indicates that the Toyota Avalon had 18% fewer preventable maintenance problems in a 12-month period than similar-sized vehicles. ■ Claim: The Toyota Avalon is the most dependable car of its size. Types of Evidence Review: First-Hand Evidence ● ● ● Personal experience Anecdotes Current events Second-Hand Evidence ● ● ● Historical data Expert opinion Quantitative evidence Reasoning: ● ● ● Reason-giving Explaining HOW/WHY evidence proves a claim. Sometimes, reasoning is a general assumption that most people agree upon or believe to be true. If law enforcement wants to CLAIM that someone has illegal stuff inside their house, what do they need to do in order to enter the house and search for EVIDENCE? ● A WARRANT= a reason Warrants: ● Warrants link the claim and evidence together ● A good warrant is strong and logical. It shouldn’t make unreasonable explanations or leaps of logic. ● Sometimes warrants are implied and other times stated explicitly Examples: Sugary soda should be banned because it causes health problems: Evidence: sugary soda causes health problems Claim: sugary soda should be banned Warrant/reason: products that cause health problems should be banned You should practice the piano every day like my sister Sarah. She practices each day for one hour, and it has made her more disciplined. Evidence: Sarah practices the piano for one hour/day Claim: you should practice the piano every day Warrant/reason: practicing the piano regularly makes people more disciplined Argument Body Paragraphs: 1. Start with a topic sentence ( a claim from your Tchart) 2. Introduce first-hand evidence (personal experiences, anecdotes, current events, etc.). 3. Explain how the evidence proves the claim in your topic sentence(warrant). 4. Introduce MORE first-hand evidence 5. Explain how the evidence proves the claim in your topic sentence(warrant).