This power point covers the topic claims.

1. UNDERSTANDING THE
CLAIM

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. CLAIM OF FACT
• Something is, was, or will be.
• Example: Global warming is a threat that must be
addressed.

5. CLAIM OF VALUE
• Something is good or bad, desirable or undesirable.
• Example: Hunting of animals is a barbaric practice.

6. 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• Example: Obamacare should be repealed because is it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.

7. ARGUMENTATIVE BURDENS
• Each person in an argument has distinct
responsibilities known as burdens.
• Burden of Proof
• Burden of Presumption
• Burden of Rebuttal

8. 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

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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.