Claims and Theses Ashley, Kourtney, McKayla, Ryan

The Claim versus The Topic

• • Topic - general subject of a writing Claim - an assertion or proposition; states arguments, main idea, or position

Activity!

• Evaluate the following; are these claims or not? If it's not a claim, rewrite it (auditorily) 1. People who read novels are more likely to attend sport events and movies than those who do not.

2. Charter schools are an alternative to public schools.

3. The terms global warming and climate change describe different perspectives on this complex issue.

4. Plagiarism is a serious problem in today's schools.

Types of Claims

1.Claims of Fact - claims supported by logical, factual argument and evidence 2.Claims of Value - set up criteria or standards, and base opinions on how well (or not well) the subject meets the criteria.

3.Claims of Policy - proposals of change

Claim Examples

• • • Ex: http://www.actabiomedica.it/data/2006/2_2006 /divisi.pdf (claim of fact) Ex: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar ticle?AID=/19770101/REVIEWS/701010315/1023 Ex: http://www.public.iastate.edu/~rhetoric/105H16 /copp/kew/kewcopp.html (link courtesy of Jon LeBaugh)

• • Using the previous activity, determine the type of claim of the two strong claims, and rewrite the weaker two to be strong claims and identify what type of claim they are

Activity!

Theses

• Thesis - previews the essay by encapsulating (covering) in clear, unambiguous language the main point the writer intends to make – Closed Thesis - condensed, limited, specific thesis; makes specific points – Open Thesis - general, wide ranged, broad thesis; makes NO specific points – Counterargument Thesis proposes opposing idea, then refutes it

Activity!

• Develop a thesis to address each of the following prompts; do one of all three kinds, open, closed, and counter.

1. Same-sex classrooms have gone in and out of favor in public education. Write an essay explaining why you support or oppose same-sex classrooms in grades 10-12.

2. Write an essay supporting, challenging, or qualifying English author E.M. Forster's position in the following quotation: "I hate the idea of causes, and if I had to choose between betraying my country and betraying my friend, I hope I should have the guts to betraymy country." 3. Today's world is full of conflicts and controversies. Choose a local or global issue, and write an essay that considers multiple viewpoints and proposes a solution or compromise

• Fin.