A claim is a statement that forms the basis of an argument. There are three types of claims: fact claims about what is/was/will be, value claims about what is good/bad, and policy claims about what should/should not be done. For a claim to be valid, it must meet seven characteristics - it should be a statement rather than question, phrased equally for both sides, specific, against the status quo, with clear burdens for both sides, allowing for a pro/con debate. Both sides of a claim have burdens of proof, presumption, and rebuttal. Different types of debates include scholarly, religious, political, business, legal, educational, and social.