Lesson 5: Claims of Facts, Policy, and Values

Question 1

• A single statement
• The topic of an argument
• Not a question
• Phrased against the status quo

Answer 1

Claim

Question 2

The central argument or thesis statement of the text. It is what the writer tries to prove in the text by providing details, explanations, and other types of evidence.

Answer 2

Claim

Question 3

Is a statement of something that has existed (past), exists (present) or will exist (future)

Answer 3

claim of fact

Question 4

makes an assertion about something that can be proved or disproved with factual evidence.

Answer 4

claim of fact

Question 5

is based on preference such as likes / dislikes (good or bad)

Answer 5

claim of value

Question 6

argues that something is good or bad, or that one thing is better than another thing.

Answer 6

claim of value

Question 7

Is a statement that indicates that an action must be taken in specific policies.

Answer 7

claim of policy

Question 8

argues that certain conditions should exist, or that something should or should not be done, in order to solve a problem

Answer 8

claim of policy

Question 9

characteristics of good claims

Answer 9

argumentative and debatable; specific and focused; interesting and engaging; and logical

Question 10

Is a statement that present an ideas as true of false. It is something that has
existed (past), exists (presented) or will exist (future) which could also be verified
using actual evidence.

Answer 10

claim of fact

Question 11

Is a statement that present ideas as good or bad, right or wrong, better or worse.
These claims are often influenced by morals, beliefs, and preferences.

Answer 11

claim of value

Question 12

Is a statement present ideas as solutions to problems, usually involving groups,
organization or society in general. It is a statement that contains what should or
should not be done. The key word is the verb “should”, “ought”, and “must”.

Answer 12

claim of policy

Question 13

 It is a claim that asserts some empirical truth.
 It is something that can be determined by careful observation of past,
present, or future.
 Generally, the truth of the assertion will be determined by events. But
the speaker will offer information or explanations that predict or
characterizes the events.
 Claims of facts are those we think about rightly as being true or false. Of
course, sometimes we cannot say something as true or false, but we have
to say “How likely is that true?” But the reasons we give are the reasons
we believe the statement is true or false.
 It is used to support through the use of factual evidence that is sufficient, reliable and appropriate.
 Argument usually turns on strength of evidence presented as reason for
arguer’s belief in the claim.
 It must be proven absolutely true and the statement gives room for discussion.

Answer 13

claim of fact

Question 14

It is a claim that asserts a judgment to some sort
 It is a claim based on preference such as likes and dislikes. Thus, it
deals with goals with things we find attractive.
 Speakers provide reasoning for their judgment but ultimately, it is assent
to the reasons rather than comparison to fact that determines the
agreement to the claim.
 You feel for the argument by judgment or value has to be different than
that of fact.
 Claim of value is disagreement over values that are “wrong” in the sense
that they are inaccurate.
 Argument usually turns on whether the underlying value of the claim is
accepted as a public good.
 Look for key words that are matter of judgment rather than fact: good,
well, kind, useful, desirable, etc.
 Value claims are arguable statements concerning the relative merits of
something which is measured subjectively
 What makes a value claim arguable is that different people may disagree
on the criteria used to evaluate something.
 Often, claim of value is comparative.

Answer 14

claim of value

Question 15

It is a claim that asserts that an action should be taken.
 It suggests a solution to a problem that has been defined or described by
an argument.
 It argues that certain conditions should exist. As the name suggests, it
advocates adoption of policies or courses of action because problems
have arisen that call for solution.
 As with value claim, claim of policy often requires you to build upon fact
and value claim. You may need to establish with a claim of fact that there
is a problem needing a solution, for instance, and then use a claim of
value to argue the rightness of solving the problem.
 When identifying a claim of policy, look for key words “should”, “ought”
and “must”. They may not always be present, but if they are, actions are
usually called for.

Answer 15

claim of policy

Question 16

keywords of claim of policy

Answer 16

should, ought, must