Debate: Claims

Debate Triangle

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REASONING

Evidence

Claims• Each claim is a statement within the

argument that the arguer needs accepted. These statements are given to logically lead the audience to the debater’s conclusion.

• Think of claims as the structural framework of your argument.

Claims…but claims don’t stand alone in bringing the audience to the conclusion. Each claim needs to be accepted as both relevant and true to create an effective argument – to prove the conclusion true.

A true claim is one which is proven accurate through evidence and reasoning.

A relevant claim is one which leads logically to the conclusion, relating directly to it.

Claims

Only occasional claims do not need evidence to be accepted as true. These claims are called prima facie, or, (true) at first sight.

Examples…

Claims• An argument with a conclusion that follows

logically from its claims is a valid argument.

• An argument with a claim that is not relevant (even just one) is deemed an invalid argument, and immediately loses its persuasiveness.

Claims• An argument built of all claims that are

accepted as relevant and true (i.e. the argument is already valid) is a sound argument.

• An argument with a claim that is not accepted as true is deemed unsound argument and it no longer proves the conclusion true.

Meaning…Valid: The conclusion follows logically from its claims.

Sound: All claims are true and arrive logically at the conclusion.

Create a new argument of your own…

…Now exchange arguments with a neighbor and assess for validity and soundness.

There are three types of claims:

• Claims of Fact

• Claims of Value

• Claims of Policy

Factual Claims

• First, before we look at a definition, it is important to note that there is a difference between a “fact” and a “claim of fact.” • Remember, a claim is an opinion …

and therefore debatable.

while, a Fact is …

• 1. something that actually exists; reality; truth (ex: There is a U.S. flag in this classroom.)

• 2. something known to exist or to have happened (ex: space travel is now a fact.)

• 3. a truth known by actual experience or observation; something known to be true (ex: Scientists gather facts about plant growth. )

And thus, not open for debate.

Factual Claims

Claims of Fact make inferences* about past, present or future conditions or relationships.

• *Inferencea. The act or process of deriving logical conclusions from

premises known or assumed to be true.b. The act of reasoning from factual knowledge or evidence.

There are 3 types of Factual Claims:

• Claim of Historical Fact

• Claim of Predictive Fact

• Relational Claim of Fact

Claim of Historical Fact

Makes some sort of claim about the past

For example:

• The Earth has historically experienced global temperature fluctuations.

Claim of Predictive Fact

Makes a claim about trends or relationships in the future.

For example:

• The Earth will continue to become warmer.

• People will adapt to a warmer climate.

Relational Claim

Attempts to establish some kind of relationship in the present.

For example:

• Greenhouse gases are the cause for the Earth’s global warming.

• Travelling by bus combats global warming.

Value Claims

Value claims suggest the worth or merit of an idea, object or practice, or suggest that something is morally right or wrong.

For example:

• It is wrong to drive a high-emissions vehicle.• The Earth is too beautiful to lose to global

warming.• Opponents of global warming are good people.

Policy Claims

Policy claims call for a specific course of action through through policy – rules, laws, conduct, etc.

*This might mean passing, implementing, removing, or modifying an existing policy.

For example:

• Washington State must use only electricity produced from wind power by 2021.

• Electric cars will be given their own lane on all Interstate Highways.

Don’t forget…

Claims are not just what you use to make up your argument, your conclusion is itself a claim – your main claim.

That means that a given argument is one of fact, value, or policy, depending on its conclusion – what you are arguing for.