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How to Write an Effective Claim for an Essay

Often, people use claim statements and thesis statements interchangeably. And they are not wrong because a thesis statement is a type of a claim. In most cases, essays contain further claims other than the thesis statement, depending on the topic in question. Nevertheless, claims overlap the line between fact and opinion. A strong claim leads to a powerful essay that always scores the best marks.

A good claim is debatable either for or against and must be sufficiently specific so that you explore all the aspects and angles of a given topic.

Yet even with this knowledge, people find themselves confused when asked to formulate a claim for an essay. Failure to structure an argument the right way makes it difficult to persuade an audience. Claims help structure your argument using reasoning and evidence to support your stance.

Given the confusion that sometimes surrounds claims and claim statements, we have put together this guide to take you through the process of writing claims in five steps, using examples and illustrations where necessary for you to master the art of writing claims in an essay.

What is a claim in an essay?

A claim statement is the main point or a debatable statement in the essay that asserts your argument . When you write an essay, you do it to convince or inform the reader about something. What you are trying to convince the reader about is what is referred to as a claim.

The main point or argument in an essay is its most important part. This is because it quickly informs the reader about the objective of the essay, its direction, and its scope.

It is important to note that an opinion is not a claim and cannot be used as the main argument when writing an essay. The easiest way to know if your essay's main argument is a good claim is to ask yourself if it is specific, focused, detailed, relevant, and debatable. If your answer to these questions is yes, you most probably have a good claim.

A claim is usually substantiated with evidence, research, testimony, and academic reasoning. It addresses the -so what?- question the implications of why your audience should care anyway. Unlike a subjective opinion, a claim is always objective.

In a nutshell, a claim:

Refers to the main argument of an essay
Defines the goals, scope, and direction of a paper
It is supported by facts, evidence, argumentation, statistics, telling details, and quotations.
It is specific, nuanced, detailed, complex, and focused.
It is the starting point for your thesis and allows readers to think critically about the topic.
Persuades, argues, and proves a point to the reader.

Types of claims with examples

With the definition of claims in mind, let's explore the different types of claims you can use when writing a paper on any topic.

1. Factual claims

Factual claims are arguments or statements that state facts. Any statement that is a fact is a factual claim. Factual claims are usually easy to support with evidence.

When writing a research essay, a claim of fact or definition defines the fact as you see it and provides evidence to back the claim.

Examples of factual claims that are easy to support:

The United States is the world's biggest economy.
New York is the home of the United Nations.
Donald Trump was the 45 th President of the USA.
The invention of computing technology has transformed every sector of the global economy.

2. Value claims

Value claims or claims of value are arguments that include a judgment. They are primarily opinion-based. A typical value claim will judge something or someone using terms such as good/bad, right/wrong, moral/immoral, and fair/unfair. A value claim is usually followed by explaining the value claim or argument to provide context.

Examples of value claims:

Online dating is
It is right for the West to sanction private individuals for Russian government actions.
It is unfair for some businesses to be exempted from tax.
Emotional health is as important as physical and mental health.

3. Definitional claims

Definitional claims are arguments defining something as one thing or the other. For example, a good value claim will define or describe something or someone as a particular thing and then provide an explanation why.

An excellent example of a definitional claim:

Hunting is not a sport because it does not include regular competition.

4. Cause and effect claims

Cause and effect claims are arguments that are very logical in structure. A typical cause-and-effect claim argues that one thing causes something else. For a cause-and-effect claim to be successfully proven, you must show clearly how the cause leads to the effect.

An excellent example of a cause-and-effect claim:

Wars in the Middle East caused Europe's biggest refugee crisis.

5. Descriptive claims

Descriptive claims are arguments that describe or state things. The work of proving a descriptive claim is usually quite simple and straightforward.

Here are good examples of descriptive claims:

Peter weighs 220 pounds.
He is the world marathon record holder.
The house has three master en suite bedrooms.

6. Argumentative claims

All argumentative essays have an argumentative claim at the core. An argumentative claim is an argument that is clear, focused, specific, and debatable. The thing that makes argumentative claims argumentative is the fact that they are debatable. In other words, the claims usually have two clear sides. The side you have picked should be clear in the claim so the audience can read your essay to understand why you picked that side.

Here are good examples of argumentative claims:

In light of reduced and erratic rainfalls, farmers in East Africa are increasingly abandoning agriculture for city life.
Running provides both mental and physical health benefits.
Increasing cases of cyberbullying can be prevented by banning anonymous social media accounts.
Yoga improves physical, mental, and emotional strength.
School uniforms help promote inclusive environments where students can interact without barriers.
College students should learn new languages and skills to help them gain skills to take them through life.
Concrete is by far the best building material for commercial houses.
Owning a home is better compared to renting.
Children under 12 should not be posted on social media by their parents.
Generation Z should be taught about financial literacy.
Cooking at home is healthier and cheaper compared to fast food.

7. Exploratory claims

Exploratory claims are very different from argumentative claims. The reason why is that they are written to explore all the different opinions or sides of a debate. No exploratory claim will focus on one position.

A typical exploratory claim will include information about the subject to be written about, the different positions or debates about the subject, and the writer's thoughts about the subject.

Here is an example of an exploratory claim:

Marijuana was recently legalized for recreational use in New York, leading to a heated debate online on the benefits and drawbacks of the drug. It is essential to look at both sides of the debate to make a fair conclusion on the matter.

8. Assertive claims

Assertive claims are strong arguments or statements. The use of an assertive statement is to explain the thesis a bit or show the importance of the thesis. Without an assertive claim, it becomes challenging to hook the reader to try and read the rest of your essay.

Here is an excellent example of an assertive claim:

Online driving courses are not as good as physical ones because they minimize hands-on or one-on-one training experience.

9. Policy claims

Policy claims are also known as solution claims. A characteristic policy claim will state a problem and then its solution.

Examples of policy claims:

Western European countries are over-dependent on Russian oil and gas and, therefore, should try to be more energy-independent.
Non-violent drug users who are caught should be rehabilitated instead of being incarcerated.

Where to use Claims when writing

As we have already discussed, academic writing has different types of claims. You can use these claims when writing different kinds of papers. Here are some types of writing that use claims:

Argumentative essay. Claims in argumentative essays are used to support the central argument or the thesis. In this type of essay, you must focus on a controversial or debatable issue and present evidence to support your thesis statement. Your claims help to fortify the thesis in your argumentative essay.
Literary analysis essays. In a literary analysis essay, you can make a claim about the literary work in question and then offer evidence to support the claim.
Persuasive essays. Like the argumentative essay, you can use a claim in a persuasive essay. In this case, you will use evidence-based information to support your claim.
Research papers. You can use evidence to support or refute the hypothesis, a type of claim.
Persuasive speeches. Although presented orally, persuasive speeches entail providing claims and then using evidence to support the claims.
Persuasive memos. You can write a persuasive memo to convince the audience about a claim you support with evidence.
Compare and contrast essays . You can use claims when comparing two items or subjects.

You can also use claims when writing professional papers such as reports, letters, memos, or social media posts.

Related Article: Writing good analytical essays for better grades.

Features of a reasonable claim

Below are the features of a good claim:

1. A good claim is a statement and not a question

A good claim is usually a statement and not a question. The purpose of making a claim is to present a debate and the writer's position on the debate. Using a question, there is no way to present a debate and clarify your position.

2. A good claim challenges the status quo

The purpose of writing essays is to improve the existing body of knowledge. Simply writing another essay supporting the current beliefs, behaviors, rules, or policies does not enhance the body of knowledge. This is why it is vital to make your claim challenge the status quo so that you can write about something new that everyone doesn't already agree with.

An excellent example of a claim that challenges that status quo is that "The United States should shut down all its nuclear power plants in the next year to eliminate the chance of a disaster happening."

This statement challenges the status quo: nuclear power plants are needed in the USA for the foreseeable future to provide much-needed power.

3. A good claim is unbiased

Claims should always be put to provide an opportunity to defend or support either position. Phrasing a claim in a way that leaves no room for the audience to think that an alternative position can exist is not right. It removes objectivity and makes a claim look biased and unwise.

4. A good claim is particular

Broad claims do not provide any insight. This is because they are easy to agree with. They are also easy to prove. In contrast, specific claims narrow the focus and improve argumentation. So, to write a good essay, it is vital to make your claim specific and detailed so that whatever you write is focused and provides good insight.

5. A good claim promotes an argumentative essay

Make a claim that is easy to agree with. Your essay will not be engaging because it will be a description or a story. In contrast, you create an argumentative environment when you make a claim supporting one of two sides. In other words, you create a situation where you provide evidence to support or defend the side of the argument you have picked.

Claim vs. Claim Statement

A claim is an argument. When writing an academic paper (essay, speech, or research), you will have your main claim (main argument). In addition, you will have your sub-claims or supporting arguments throughout your paper or essay.

An essay's central claim or argument is the claim statement. It is also referred to as the thesis statement. In brief, the main difference between a claim and a claim statement is that the former is just an argument while the latter is the main argument.

The requirements for writing a claim and a claim statement are very similar. However, sub-claims or supporting arguments in the body paragraphs do not need to be debatable. In contrast, a good claim statement should always be detailed and debatable.

Claim vs. Thesis Statement vs. Counterclaim

Steps to writing the best claim in an essay.

A claim is an argument. It is pretty easy to write an argument in an essay. The most straightforward essay will include the main claim or argument in the introduction , a supporting argument beginning each body paragraph, and a conclusion.

The most important part when writing an essay is usually the main claim or argument. It is also referred to as the claim statement. A good claim statement will help you to write a good essay. A lousy claim statement will make it challenging to write a good essay.

Follow the steps below to learn how to write a good claim statement.

1. Pick a topic and find out more information about it

The first thing you need to do when writing a claim statement is to pick a topic. Even if you can choose any topic, select one that interests you and can research and write an entire essay.

Once you choose the topic, find out more information about it. This will help you narrow the topic, find something interesting to write about, and make arguments. You also develop many aspects of the topic and choose one to help you write your claim.

As an example, suppose you are writing about climate change. Then, you can focus on global warming as a subject and present why it is a top cause of climate change.

2. Phrase the exciting topic as a question

Once you find something interesting about a topic, you should frame the topic as a question. As you frame the question, ensure you answer it with your thesis.

The easiest way to write a question is to imagine you are a professor asking your students to write an easy essay on the topic. This will help you to phrase the topic as a question quickly. The question will help you to come up with the claim statement and to write a good essay.

For example, suppose your research on a topic leads you to want to write about the harmful effects of Instagram on teenage girls. In that case, you could phrase this topic as a question. For example, one way you can phrase this topic as a question is, "What are the harmful effects of Instagram on teenage girls?"

Phrasing the topic this way makes it easy to write the claim and thesis statements.

3. Define the objective of your essay

To write a good essay, you need to set the objective. The objective of your essay will determine what type of claim statement you write. For example, suppose your objective is to convince the audience that something is good or bad. In that case, you must decide after phrasing your essay topic as a question.

4. Take a position on the issue

After deciding your essay's objective, you need to take a position on the topic now. This position or claim will be your essay's main claim or claim statement. In addition, it will inform what your supporting arguments will be.

At this stage, you should rephrase your question into a claim statement (the question you constructed in step 2). Our example question was, "What are the harmful effects of Instagram on teenage girls?"

To rephrase this question into a claim statement, state how you would answer it in detail. For example, one way you could do this is, "This paper looks at the harmful effects of Instagram on girls under 18 years of age in the USA."

This statement makes it clear what your essay will be all about. It is focused, detailed, and debatable.

5. Develop sub-claims

After creating the claim statement, you need to write an outline to help you write your essay. Your claim statement will inform the outline.

And the most critical parts of the outline will be the sub-claims. The sub-claims are the supporting arguments you will use in your essay. They are the arguments that support your main argument.

If you are writing a typical 5-paragraph essay with an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion " the three body paragraphs will include a sub-claim at the beginning. The sub-claim will be an argument that supports your main position.

Following the five steps above, you can quickly develop a good essay with all the necessary claims and sub-claims. If, for any reason, you feel like it will be challenging for you to develop a good claim statement and sub-claims, contact us for help with your essay. We have professional essay tutors ready to help you write any essay before you hit the deadline.

Dos and don'ts when writing A claim in an Essay

You now know everything important about claims. You know all the major types of claims and how to write an eye-catching claim statement. In this section, you will learn all the critical dos and don'ts when writing any kind of claim.

Choose a good topic. It is important to choose a good topic if you are permitted to. A good topic is interesting, has lots of facts and data, and is easy to take a stand on.
Have fun. If essays are stressing you up, maybe you should re-evaluate your major or minor. Whatever topic you choose, you should have fun learning more about it and taking a stand. If you do this, your genuine passion will be evident to the reader.
Take a position. It is important to take a position when writing about a topic. Writing about something without supporting or defending a position will not help you. You need to embrace a position and stick to it.
Narrow your focus. It is crucial to narrow the focus of your writing to a particular thing or group. If your claim is too broad, it will not be compelling, and your essay won't be very informative.
Avoid using first-person when writing a claim statement. Using the first-person perspective will make your argument subjective and not very objective.
Avoid using emotional appeal. When writing, ensure that you appeal to facts and data. So don't appeal to emotions; that will water down your arguments.
Lose focus. Cluttering your claim with other ideas will make it challenging to support. It will also make your writing less understandable and less robust.

Final Remarks

Consider a claim as the branches and the thesis statement as the trunk that holds your paper together. It can be a compound or short sentence that asserts your position on an issue or topic.

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How to Write an Effective Claim (with Examples)

Formulating a claim for your essay can be difficult even if you are already a masterful debater — especially if you are not quite sure what a claim is, and how it may differ from a counterclaim or thesis statement. This guide will make it easy to decide on your claim!

Essay Claim Basics

In essay writing, a claim can most succinctly be defined as "a debatable statement" — which the writer then defends with supporting evidence and rhetoric. It is easy to confuse a claim and a thesis statement, because the thesis is indeed a type of claim as well. Essays can contain further claims that orbit the topic of the thesis statement, however.

Claims straddle the line between opinion and fact. If you're hoping to make a strong claim that seamlessly fits into a powerful essay, you will need to make sure that your claim ticks the right boxes:

Your claim can debated — solid arguments can be made both in favor and against. Therefore, statements such as "I live in Queens" or "Joe Biden is the President" are not claims. In an argumentative essay, "the death penalty should be abolished" is an example of a claim. Even scientific papers make claims, such as "Keyboards contain more germs than toilet seats", which can be tested. These are called hypotheses.
You will state your claim as a matter of fact. "Many people oppose the death penalty, and with good reason" is not a good claim, but "the death penalty is no longer an appropriate punishment in modern America" can be.
Your claim is sufficiently specific to allow you to explore all aspects that you intend to tackle. "The Victorian era was Britain's darkest era" give you more bite than you can comfortably chew. "Fast food should be taxed to reduce obesity rates" is more specific.

Types of Claim (With Examples!)

Claims are debatable statements, but there are numerous different types. If you have specifically been asked to present a claim in an essay, you may be able to choose what kind of claim you would like to work with.

1. Claim of Fact or Definition

In research essays, a claim of fact or definition is one that defines a fact, as you see it, and proceeds to lay out the evidence in favor of the claim. Here are some examples to show you how it works:

Plant species are becoming extinct at a faster rate than animal species, yet the plight of plants has been overlooked.
Amazon's Alexa has revolutionized many people's daily lives — but this appliance also makes us vulnerable to new forms of hacking.
Commercial air travel transformed the way in which we do business.

2. Claim of Cause & Effect

In a claim of cause and effect, you argue that one thing causes another, such as:

Internet gaming has a widespread negative effect on students' grades.
Lax enforcement of preventative measures against Covid has enabled the pandemic to continue for much longer than it need have.
Playing jigsaw puzzles leads to novel cognitive connections that help senior citizens stay sharp.

3. Claim of Value

Claims of value are more heavily opinion-based than other types of claims. If you are making a claim of value, you will usually want to compare two things. For example:

George W Bush was a better President than George W H Bush.
Emotional health is just as important as physical health.
Stephen King is the best horror writer of al time.

4. Claim of Solution or Policy

Claims of solution or policy state a position on a proposed course of action. In high school and college essays, they typically focus on something that should be done, or something that should no longer be done. Examples might include:

Depressed patients should always be offered talk therapy before they receive a prescription for antidepressants.
The United States should not accept refugees from Afghanistan.
First-time offenders should be given lighter sentences.

Claim vs. Counterclaim vs. Thesis Statement

If you've been told to make an essay claim, you may be confused about the differences between a claim, counterclaim, and thesis statement. That's understandable, because some people believe that there's no difference between a claim and a thesis statement.

There are important distinctions between these three concepts, however, and if you want to write a killer essay, it's important to be aware of them:

A thesis statement is the very foundation of your essay — everything else rests on it. The thesis statement should contain no more than one or two sentences, and summarize the heart of your argument. "Regular exercise has consistently been shown to increase productivity in the workplace. Therefore, employers should offer office workers, who would otherwise be largely sedentary, opportunities to work out."
A claim is a statement you can defend with arguments and evidence. A thesis statement is a type of claim, but you'll want to include other claims that fit neatly into the subject matter as well. For instance, "Employers should establish gyms for employees."
A counterclaim is a statement that contradicts, refutes, or opposes a claim. Why would you want to argue against yourself? You can do so to show that arguments that oppose the claim are weak. For instance, "Many employers would balk at the idea of facilitating costly exercise classes or providing a gym space — employees can work out in their own time, after all. Why should the boss pay for workers to engage in recreational activities at work? Recent studies have shown, however, that workplaces that have incorporated aerobics classes enjoy 120% increase in productivity, showing that this step serves the bottom line."

Together, a thesis statement, claims, and some well-placed counterclaims make up the threads of your story, leading to a coherent essay that is interesting to read.

How to Write an Effective Claim

Now that you've seen some examples, you are well on your way to writing an effective claim for your essay. Need some extra tips? We've got you covered.

First things first — how do you start a claim in an essay? Your claim sentence or sentences should be written in the active voice, starting with the subject, so that your readers can immediately understand what you are talking about.

They'll be formulated as an "[Subject] should be [proposed action], because [argument]. You can stay with this general structure while making different word choices, however, such as:

It is about time that
We have an obligation to
Is the only logical choice
It is imperative that

Once you have formulated a claim, you will want to see if you can hook your readers with an interesting or provocative statement that can really get them thinking. You will want to break your argument down into sections. This will lead you to sub-claims. If your claim is your main argument, your sub-claims are smaller arguments that work to support it. They will typically appear naturally once you contemplate the subject deeply — just brainstorm, and as you research, keep considering why your claim is true. The reasons you come up with will sprout sub-claims.

Still not sure what to write? Take a look at these examples of strong claim statements:

A lack of work experience has proven to be the main barrier to finding satisfying employment, so businesses should be incentivized to hire recent graduates.
The rise in uncertified "emotional support animals" directly causes suffering for people suffering from severe pet dander allergies. Such pets must be outlawed in public places to alleviate the very real harm allergy patients now experience on a daily basis.
Emerging private space exploration ventures may be exciting, but they greatly increase CO2 emissions. At a time when the planet is in crisis, private space exploration should be banned.

Additional Tips in Writing a Claim the Right Way

You now know what you need to include in a claim paragraph to leave a strong impression. Understanding what not to do is equally important, however.

Take a stand — if you're writing an argumentative essay, it is perfectly OK to take a controversial opinion, and no matter what you write, it is bound to have the potential to offend someone . Don't sit on the fence. Even when you're defending a position you disagree with, embrace it wholeheartedly.
Narrow your claim down. The more specific you can get, the more compelling your argument can be, and the more depth you can add to each aspect of your argument.
Have fun! You want your essay to be interesting to read, and any genuine passion you have will be apparent.
Choose the right subject — one about which you can find a lot of data and facts.

What should you avoid in writing a claim, you wonder? Don't:

Use any first-person statements. The claim is about your ideas, not about you.
Base your claim on emotional appeal. You can work some pathos in, but don't make feelings your center.
Clutter your claim with too many separate ideas, which will make the rest of your essay harder to read, less powerful, and unwieldy for you to develop.

How do you use a claim?

When you're writing your essay, you can think of the thesis statement as the spine. The claims you make are, then, your "ribs", so to speak. If you prefer a different analogy, the thesis is your trunk, and the claims branches. You use them to build a strong final product that shows you have considered all aspects of your argument, and can back them up with evidence and logic.

What is a good way to start a claim?

You can start with a shocking fact, objective data from a reliable source, or even an anecdote — or, if you prefer, you can simply offer your argument without bells and whistles.

Can a claim be in a paragraph or is it a single sentence only?

Claims are almost always limited to a single sentence. It can be a long compound sentence, though! The claim does not have to remain all alone in the paragraph. You can immediately surround it with rhetorical punches or further facts.

What are some examples of argumentative claims?

So, you want to learn to argue like a pro? Watching speeches politicians make is a great way to look out for claims, and court transcripts and academic debates are two other places you can look for great argumentative claims.

Is there a claim generator you can use?

Yes! Some claim generators are free to use, while others require a subscription. These tools can be interesting to play with, and can serve as inspiration. However, it's always best to tweak your final claim to fit your needs.

Bone of Contention - Meaning, Usage and Origin
I Beg to Differ - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Chewing the Fat - Meaning, Usage and Origin
All that Glitters is Not Gold - Meaning, Origin and Usage
Ginning Up - Meaning, Usage and Origin
Chime In - Meaning, Origin and Usage

Developing Strong Thesis Statements

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The thesis statement or main claim must be debatable

An argumentative or persuasive piece of writing must begin with a debatable thesis or claim. In other words, the thesis must be something that people could reasonably have differing opinions on. If your thesis is something that is generally agreed upon or accepted as fact then there is no reason to try to persuade people.

Example of a non-debatable thesis statement:

This thesis statement is not debatable. First, the word pollution implies that something is bad or negative in some way. Furthermore, all studies agree that pollution is a problem; they simply disagree on the impact it will have or the scope of the problem. No one could reasonably argue that pollution is unambiguously good.

Example of a debatable thesis statement:

This is an example of a debatable thesis because reasonable people could disagree with it. Some people might think that this is how we should spend the nation's money. Others might feel that we should be spending more money on education. Still others could argue that corporations, not the government, should be paying to limit pollution.

Another example of a debatable thesis statement:

In this example there is also room for disagreement between rational individuals. Some citizens might think focusing on recycling programs rather than private automobiles is the most effective strategy.

The thesis needs to be narrow

Although the scope of your paper might seem overwhelming at the start, generally the narrower the thesis the more effective your argument will be. Your thesis or claim must be supported by evidence. The broader your claim is, the more evidence you will need to convince readers that your position is right.

Example of a thesis that is too broad:

There are several reasons this statement is too broad to argue. First, what is included in the category "drugs"? Is the author talking about illegal drug use, recreational drug use (which might include alcohol and cigarettes), or all uses of medication in general? Second, in what ways are drugs detrimental? Is drug use causing deaths (and is the author equating deaths from overdoses and deaths from drug related violence)? Is drug use changing the moral climate or causing the economy to decline? Finally, what does the author mean by "society"? Is the author referring only to America or to the global population? Does the author make any distinction between the effects on children and adults? There are just too many questions that the claim leaves open. The author could not cover all of the topics listed above, yet the generality of the claim leaves all of these possibilities open to debate.

Example of a narrow or focused thesis:

In this example the topic of drugs has been narrowed down to illegal drugs and the detriment has been narrowed down to gang violence. This is a much more manageable topic.

We could narrow each debatable thesis from the previous examples in the following way:

Narrowed debatable thesis 1:

This thesis narrows the scope of the argument by specifying not just the amount of money used but also how the money could actually help to control pollution.

Narrowed debatable thesis 2:

This thesis narrows the scope of the argument by specifying not just what the focus of a national anti-pollution campaign should be but also why this is the appropriate focus.

Qualifiers such as " typically ," " generally ," " usually ," or " on average " also help to limit the scope of your claim by allowing for the almost inevitable exception to the rule.

Types of claims

Claims typically fall into one of four categories. Thinking about how you want to approach your topic, or, in other words, what type of claim you want to make, is one way to focus your thesis on one particular aspect of your broader topic.

Claims of fact or definition: These claims argue about what the definition of something is or whether something is a settled fact. Example:

Claims of cause and effect: These claims argue that one person, thing, or event caused another thing or event to occur. Example:

Claims about value: These are claims made of what something is worth, whether we value it or not, how we would rate or categorize something. Example:

Claims about solutions or policies: These are claims that argue for or against a certain solution or policy approach to a problem. Example:

Which type of claim is right for your argument? Which type of thesis or claim you use for your argument will depend on your position and knowledge of the topic, your audience, and the context of your paper. You might want to think about where you imagine your audience to be on this topic and pinpoint where you think the biggest difference in viewpoints might be. Even if you start with one type of claim you probably will be using several within the paper. Regardless of the type of claim you choose to utilize it is key to identify the controversy or debate you are addressing and to define your position early on in the paper.

What Is a Claim in an Essay? Unpacking the Core Element with Writing Tips

Picture yourself as a captain steering your ship, a.k.a. your essay, across a wild ocean of ideas. Your secret weapon? The claim. It’s not just some fancy statement – it’s the backbone of your essay, the big point you’re itching to make and stand by.

Getting the hang of crafting a killer claim is like hitting the jackpot for any essay writer. It sets the mood, points the way, and basically makes or breaks your essay. So, let’s dive deep into what makes a claim tick.

What’s a Claim, Anyway?

Think of a claim as your essay’s thesis or main argument. It’s way more than an opinion. It’s a bold, assertive statement that lays down the foundation of your argument. Depending on your essay’s vibe, claims can come in different flavors:

Factual claims ─ The straight-up truths, like “The Earth does its dance around the Sun.”
Definitional claims ─ The “what’s what” of things, like “Genetically modified munchies can totally be called organic.”
Cause and effect claims ─ The “this led to that” stuff, like “Scrolling through Insta all day shoots up anxiety in teens.”
Value claims ─ Your judgment call, like “Free speech is the lifeblood of democracy, no question.”
Policy claims ─ The “let’s shake things up” kind, like “Making buses free could clear up city smog.”

Figuring out your type of claim is like choosing the right gear before setting off on an essay adventure.

Building a Rock-Solid Claim

A solid claim is like a good cup of coffee – clear, strong, specific, and just what you need:

Clear as day ─ It’s got to be easy to get, no beating around the bush.
Open for debate ─ A tasty claim gets people talking, not just nodding along.
Specific ─ It zeros in on your essay’s heart, with no wandering off.
Relevant ─ It’s got to jive with your essay’s main jam.

Cooking Up a Strong Claim

Crafting a top-notch claim? It’s like making a masterpiece. Start broad, then get down to the nitty-gritty:

Brainstorm central ─ Kick off by throwing ideas around. Ask questions, scribble thoughts, and play with different angles.
Idea filter ─ Sift through your thoughts, and pick the ones that have that zing of debate.
Wordplay ─ Your choice of words and tone is key. Be bold, but keep it in line with your essay’s style .
Learning by example ─ Check out strong and weak claims to see what makes or breaks them.

Rooting Your Claim with Evidence

Your claim needs roots, like a tree. That’s your evidence – the stuff that makes your claim stand up tall:

Back it up ─ Throw in facts, stats, expert say-so, and real-life tales to beef up your claim.
Keep It balanced ─ Your evidence should be like a good sidekick – supportive but not stealing the spotlight.
Counterpunch ─ Tackle the naysayers head-on. It shows you’ve done your homework and you’re not afraid of a little debate.

Claims in Different Essay Worlds

Your claim shifts gears depending on your essay type:

Analytical essays ─ Here, you’re dissecting stuff like books or historical events to dig out hidden treasures.
Argumentative essays ─ You’re taking a stand on a hot-button issue, backed by evidence that packs a punch.
Expository essays ─ You’re the explainer, shining a light on concepts, often with a “here’s the 411” vibe.

Watch Out for These Slip-Ups

Even seasoned essay sailors can hit rough waters:

Overgeneralizing ─ Steers clear of claims that are too broad. Specific is terrific.
Evidence MIA ─ Don’t leave your claims hanging without backup. That’s just asking for trouble.
Going in circles ─ Don’t use your claim to prove your claim. That’s like saying, “It’s true because I say so.”

Fine-tuning Your Claim Crafting a Claim Can Be a Trial-and-error Deal

Draft city ─ Play around with different versions. Mix and match perspectives and wording.
Revise for impact ─ Get feedback, then tweak and polish your claim until it shines.
Open ears ─ Good feedback can turn a decent claim into a showstopper. Embrace it.

The Bottom Line

A well-crafted claim is like the heart of your essay, pumping life and direction into your arguments. Getting good at building strong claims is a game-changer for essay writing. Practice, pay attention to the details, and you’ll be churning out claims that grip your readers and don’t let go. And hey, if you hit a wall, remember there’s help out there – like custom essay writing services – ready to give you a leg up. Keep at it, and you’ll be the master of claims in no time!

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DESCRIPTION argumentative statements of claim and counterclaim examples
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Are you wondering, "What is a claim in writing?" When you make an argument in writing and back it up with supporting evidence, you are making a claim. Claims are very common in research papers and certain types of essays.

Making Claims in Writing

Making a claim in your writing allows you to present the main idea of the document in the form of an argument that you will support with evidence throughout the document. A claim statement is a type of thesis statement in which you present the main idea of what you are writing in the form of an argument. Think of claims like a thesis statement in the form of an argument.

Claims are matters of opinion, but they are stated as if they are facts and backed up with evidence.
Any time you make a debatable statement in writing that is backed up with facts and/or other types of evidence, you are using a claim.

Statement vs. Claim Example

Argumentative claims don't have to be complex, but they do have to be more than just a fact-based statement that is obviously true. Instead, claims should be statements that are up for debate. As a writer, your goal is to effectively argue in favor of your claim. Review the examples below to develop a better understanding of what is a claim in an essay.

statement - If you open an essay by stating, "I own a cell phone," this is not an example of a claim in writing. Assuming that you do, in fact, own a cell phone, this is just a statement of fact. It is not something that is arguable.
claim - If you open by stating, "Every middle school student should have their own cell phone," this is a claim. This is not something that everyone agrees upon. Your paper will need to focus on supporting this claim with evidence.

Types of Writing That Use Claims

Claims are common in different types of writing, including documents created for school assignments or in the professional world.

argumentative essays - These essays focus on an issue that is controversial, presenting evidence that backs up the writer's claim.
research papers - Academic research papers are designed specifically to provide evidence to confirm or refute the writer's hypothesis , which is a type of claim.
literary analysis - When engaged in literary analysis, writers make a claim about a literary work, then provide evidence from it to support their claim.
persuasive essays - Persuasive essays are a type of argumentative essay. They use fact-based information as evidence to back up a writer's claim.
persuasive speeches - Persuasive speeches are presented orally, but many start with an outline focused on providing evidence for a primary claim.
persuasive memos - Persuasive memos are often designed to convince readers to believe or act on a claim backed up by evidence.

What Is Evidence in Writing?

In order to back up a claim in writing, you will need to provide evidence. Evidence is information that provides proof of or support for an idea. Your claim statement should be a logical conclusion that you reached as a result of reviewing and understanding valid, reliable evidence. Rather than expecting readers to simply believe that your claim is true, you'll need to provide them with evidence they can consider to reach their own conclusion.

There are many types of evidence:

direct observation of a phenomenon or occurrence
primary research, such as an experiment or content analysis
synthesis of secondary research, such as a literature review
information gathered from investigative interviews
facts, statistics or other data
expert opinions
examples of past behavior

It's important to be aware that the fact you can find evidence in favor of your claim does not necessarily mean that your claim is a factual statement. There is also just as much evidence against a claim as there is evidence for them. The idea of making a claim in writing is to present a logical, fact-based argument for the claim that you are making.

Argumentative Claim Examples

Review a few examples of argumentative claims to help clarify what is a claim in writing. These examples can help you identify claims when reading works of writing, as well as provide you with inspiration when you need to write a claim statement.

College students today should focus on learning skills that will qualify them to work effectively in a virtual environment.
School uniforms help promote an inclusive educational environment for all students, regardless of socioeconomic status.
In light of the severity of recent hurricanes, living near the coast is becoming increasingly hazardous.
Yoga provides both physical and mental health benefits.
Concrete is the best building material for residential structures.
Children under the age of 12 should not be allowed to have social media profiles.
Spending more than an hour per day on housework is a waste of time.
People who get at least 10,000 steps per day are healthier than those who don't.
Eating too many carbohydrates is the primary reason some people are overweight.
Dining in restaurants is actually more economical for individuals or couples than cooking at home.

Note that the statements above are not commonly accepted facts. You may agree with some of these, but chances are that you don't agree with all of them. Each example above is a matter of opinion. If you write about any of these, you will need to back up with evidence in an effort to prove your point. Readers will decide whether or not they agree with your argument base on how effectively you make your point, as well as their own knowledge and/or opinion about the topic.

What to Include in a Claim Paragraph

An argumentative claim will generally appear in the first paragraph of a document. The claim statement is usually paired with a hook to form the introductory paragraph of an essay or other document. The hook is designed to capture reader interest so they will want to learn more, while the claim statement lets them know what point will be argued in the paper.

What Is a Counterclaim in Writing?

When someone presents an alternative argument to your claim, that is a counterclaim. Another word for a counterclaim is a rebuttal. When someone presents a counterclaim, they are making a claim of their own. It will be up to them to state their counterclaim, then seek to back it up with evidence (just as you did when making the initial claim).

claim - making an argument and backing it up with evidence
counterclaim - presenting a rebuttal to a claim and backing it up with evidence

Debates involve claims (arguments) and counterclaims (rebuttals). When people participate in a debate, they prepare arguments for their claims and deliver strong rebuttals to the claims of their opponents.

Explore Argumentation and Debate

Now that you know what a claim is in writing, consider taking a deeper dive into how this communication strategy can be used in writing and face-to-face communication. Start by exploring key ways the terms argument and debate differ . From there, investigate how examples of rhetoric can be used as a tool to persuade and motivate.

While Sandel argues that pursuing perfection through genetic engineering would decrease our sense of humility, he claims that the sense of solidarity we would lose is also important.

This thesis summarizes several points in Sandel’s argument, but it does not make a claim about how we should understand his argument. A reader who read Sandel’s argument would not also need to read an essay based on this descriptive thesis.

Broad thesis (arguable, but difficult to support with evidence)

Michael Sandel’s arguments about genetic engineering do not take into consideration all the relevant issues.

This is an arguable claim because it would be possible to argue against it by saying that Michael Sandel’s arguments do take all of the relevant issues into consideration. But the claim is too broad. Because the thesis does not specify which “issues” it is focused on—or why it matters if they are considered—readers won’t know what the rest of the essay will argue, and the writer won’t know what to focus on. If there is a particular issue that Sandel does not address, then a more specific version of the thesis would include that issue—hand an explanation of why it is important.

Arguable thesis with analytical claim

While Sandel argues persuasively that our instinct to “remake” (54) ourselves into something ever more perfect is a problem, his belief that we can always draw a line between what is medically necessary and what makes us simply “better than well” (51) is less convincing.

This is an arguable analytical claim. To argue for this claim, the essay writer will need to show how evidence from the article itself points to this interpretation. It’s also a reasonable scope for a thesis because it can be supported with evidence available in the text and is neither too broad nor too narrow.

Arguable thesis with normative claim

Given Sandel’s argument against genetic enhancement, we should not allow parents to decide on using Human Growth Hormone for their children.

This thesis tells us what we should do about a particular issue discussed in Sandel’s article, but it does not tell us how we should understand Sandel’s argument.

Questions to ask about your thesis

Is the thesis truly arguable? Does it speak to a genuine dilemma in the source, or would most readers automatically agree with it?
Is the thesis too obvious? Again, would most or all readers agree with it without needing to see your argument?
Is the thesis complex enough to require a whole essay's worth of argument?
Is the thesis supportable with evidence from the text rather than with generalizations or outside research?
Would anyone want to read a paper in which this thesis was developed? That is, can you explain what this paper is adding to our understanding of a problem, question, or topic?
picture_as_pdf Thesis

Nathaniel Tower

Juggling writing and life

Understanding Claims in Writing and How to Craft Effective Ones

Last Updated on July 7, 2023 by Nathaniel Tower

In the realm of academic and persuasive writing, a claim holds significant importance. A claim serves as the central assertion or argument made by a writer to support their position or viewpoint. It is the backbone of an essay or any piece of writing, providing a clear focus and direction for the reader. Crafting a strong claim requires careful thought, analysis, and supporting evidence. In this article, we will delve into the concept of claims in writing and explore effective strategies for constructing compelling and persuasive claims.

What is a Claim?

A claim is a declarative statement that expresses the writer’s position or viewpoint on a particular subject. It is often referred to as a thesis statement or central argument. A well-crafted claim should be concise, specific, and debatable. It presents an opinion or interpretation that can be supported or challenged through logical reasoning and evidence.

Claims can take various forms, including factual claims that present verifiable information, value claims that express opinions about what is good or bad, and policy claims that propose specific courses of action. Regardless of the type, a claim should be formulated in a way that engages the reader and compels them to consider the writer’s perspective.

How to Write an Effective Claim

Revise and Refine : Once you have drafted your claim, review and revise it to ensure clarity and effectiveness. Check for any logical fallacies, inconsistencies, or weak points in your argument. Seek feedback from peers or instructors to gain different perspectives and improve your claim.

What is a counterclaim in writing?

In writing, a counterclaim refers to a rebuttal or opposing argument presented by the writer to challenge or refute the main claim or thesis statement. It serves as a counterargument that acknowledges the opposing viewpoint and attempts to undermine its credibility or validity. A counterclaim adds depth and complexity to an argument by considering different perspectives and engaging in a more comprehensive analysis of the topic.

When constructing a counterclaim, it is essential to present a strong and logical argument that challenges the original claim. This entails conducting thorough research, gathering evidence, and providing convincing reasoning to support the counterargument. By doing so, the writer demonstrates their ability to critically evaluate multiple viewpoints and engage in a balanced discussion.

A well-crafted counterclaim should address the opposing side’s key points, highlight any weaknesses or fallacies in their argument, and provide a compelling alternative perspective. It is crucial to maintain a respectful tone and avoid personal attacks or derogatory language while presenting the counterclaim. Instead, focus on presenting a coherent and evidence-based argument that can effectively challenge the original claim.

In addition to presenting the counterclaim, it is essential to refute the opposing viewpoint by offering counter-evidence or providing a different interpretation of the existing evidence. This helps strengthen the writer’s position and credibility by demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the topic and a willingness to engage with alternative perspectives.

By including a counterclaim in their writing, the author not only acknowledges the complexity of the issue but also shows a commitment to intellectual rigor and fairness. It encourages readers to consider multiple viewpoints, critically evaluate arguments, and arrive at a well-informed conclusion. In academic writing, including counterclaims demonstrates the writer’s ability to engage in scholarly discourse and contributes to the overall quality and credibility of the work.

Conclusion

Crafting a strong claim is essential for writing compelling and persuasive pieces. A well-constructed claim provides a clear focus and direction, engages the reader, and supports the writer’s position or viewpoint. By understanding the purpose of your writing, conducting thorough research, formulating a clear claim, providing evidence, and considering counterarguments, you can create a robust claim that strengthens your overall argument. Remember to revise and refine your claim to ensure its effectiveness. With a well-crafted claim, you can captivate your audience and present a convincing argument in your writing.

What Is a Claim in an Essay? Read This Before Writing

What is a claim in an essay?

In this article, you’ll find the essay claim definition, characteristics, types, and examples. Let’s learn where to use claims and how to write them.

Get ready for up-to-date and practical information only!

What Is a Claim in Writing?

A claim is the core argument defining an essay’s goal and direction. (1) It’s assertive, debatable, and supported by evidence. Also, it is complex, specific, and detailed.

Also known as a thesis, a claim is a little different from statements and opinions. Keep reading to reveal the nuances.

Claims vs. statements vs. opinions

Where to use claims.

To answer the “What is claim in writing?”, it’s critical to understand that this definition isn’t only for high school or college essays. Below are the types of writing with claims:

Argumentative articles. Consider a controversial issue, proving it with evidence throughout your paper.
Literary analysis. Build a claim about a book , and use evidence from it to support your claim.
Research papers. Present a hypothesis and provide evidence to confirm or refute it.
Speeches. State a claim and persuade the audience that you’re right.
Persuasive essays and memos. State a thesis and use fact-based evidence to back it up..

What can you use as evidence in essays?

Facts and other data from relevant and respectful resources (no Wikipedia or other sources like this)
Primary research
Secondary research (science magazines’ articles, literature reviews, etc.)
Personal observation
Expert quotes (opinions)
Info from expert interviews

How to Write a Claim in Essays

Two points to consider when making a claim in a college paper:

First, remember that a claim may have counterarguments. You’ll need to respond to them to make your argument stronger. Use transition words like “despite,” “yet,” “although,” and others to show those counterclaims.

Second, good claims are more complex than simple “I’m right” statements. Be ready to explain your claim, answering the “So what?” question.

And now, to details:

Types of claims in an essay (2)

Writing a claim: details to consider.

What makes a good claim? Three characteristics (3):

It’s assertive. (You have a strong position about a topic.)
It’s specific. (Your assertion is as precise as possible.)
It’s provable. (You can prove your position with evidence.)

When writing a claim, avoid generalizations, questions, and cliches. Also, don’t state the obvious.

Poor claim: Pollution is bad for the environment.
Good claim: At least 25% of the federal budget should be spent upgrading businesses to clean technologies and researching renewable energy sources to control or cut pollution.

How to start a claim in an essay?

Answer the essay prompt. Use an active voice when writing a claim for readers to understand your point. Here is the basic formula:

When writing, avoid:

First-person statements
Emotional appeal
Cluttering your claim with several ideas; focus on one instead

How long should a claim be in an essay?

1-2 sentences. A claim is your essay’s thesis: Write it in the first paragraph (intro), presenting a topic and your position about it.

Examples of Claims

Below are a few claim examples depending on the type. I asked our expert writers to provide some for you to better understand how to write it.

Feel free to use them for inspiration, or don’t hesitate to “steal” if they appear relevant to your essay topic. Also, remember that you can always ask our writers to assist with a claim for your papers.

Final Words

Now that you know what is a claim in an essay, I hope you don’t find it super challenging to write anymore. It’s like writing a thesis statement; make it assertive, specific, and provable.

If you still have questions or doubts, ask Writing-Help writers for support. They’ll help you build an A-worthy claim for an essay.

References:

https://www.pvcc.edu/files/making_a_claim.pdf
https://lsa.umich.edu/content/dam/sweetland-assets/sweetland-documents/teachingresources/TeachingArgumentation/Supplement2_%20SixCommonTypesofClaim.pdf
https://students.tippie.uiowa.edu/sites/students.tippie.uiowa.edu/files/2022-05/effective_claims.pdf
Essay samples
Essay writing
Writing tips

162 Creating Evidence-Based Claims

When we think about boiling down argumentation in composition to its most essential form, two key elements will usually pop up: claims and evidence. Your claim is similar to your thesis in that it can be your central argument and position, it can be the main idea/s present within your writing, it can reveal why you think your topic is interesting or important, what you think your topic reveals about something, and why you think your topic matters not only to yourself but to your audience. Your claim taps into what you are attempting to argue and/or what you’re going to be analyzing and exploring.

Evidence is naturally connected to a claim because your evidence is used to support, flesh out, and uphold that stance. Now most students might see this as quite obvious, but there are so many different layers to why and how evidence can be helpful and needed in what you create in a composition course.

Evidence establishes your credibility, it shows that you are not alone in having these thoughts about the topic you’re discussing or writing about, and thus lends credibility and legitimacy to the thing you are trying to prove/explore. Taking examples from a variety of sources helps to highlight the research and observations you engaged in showing off your newfound expertise, showing an academic approach, and showing that you spent time with your topic. Within that space, evidence usually isn’t just an off-the-cuff research response. Rather it comes from you learning and thinking about your topic and gaining information through different avenues, so that you have some authority to discuss what you’re talking about. It helps show an engagement with the ongoing conversation surrounding your topic; the other voices who have come before you to say something important about what you are discussing.

Evidence helps you move from having a casual opinion on something to a more actualized and layered consideration and understanding of a topic. That layering ties into the fact that evidence helps support more fully what you’re discussing, it can provide pertinent examples, provide specific and contextual details, and shows your audience exactly what you mean and why. It helps curb generalization and vagueness. When we think about avoiding generalization and adding detail and examples to our writing, evidence can help out with that. If you say “This is a widespread issue that needs to be fixed,” evidence can provide examples of what you mean when you say it’s a problem, and why is it an issue that should be stopped. You can give your readers tangible examples of what you mean, and give specific and contextual details to help flesh out what you are talking about. Evidence can help to answer for both you and your audience:

What has made your topic become what it is?
What was it like in the past as compared to what it is now? What led to that point?
The big So What Question: Why is it interesting? Why should anyone care? Why is this information important? Why does it matter?
What do the data, the facts, the statistics, and the information reveal or imply about the topic? What are the consequences of these implications?
How is this idea related to my thesis? What connections exist between them? Does it support my thesis? If so, how does it do that?
What examples do I have that illustrate this point?
What are the conversations that others have about my topic, about my claim, about my point of view?

Evidence is also related to the three rhetorical appeals of ethos, logos, and pathos. If you’ll recall, ethos is based on character and authority, pathos is based on emotion, belief, and values, and logos is based on making a clear and reasonable case. You can utilize all these appeals in your writing and one of the best ways to do so is by finding research that taps into those descriptions.

But don’t forget about feelings in your evidence, both your own and your audience’s. What type of bodily reaction will your research elicit? Do you want your audience to feel and see your credibility or the credibility of your evidence? Do you want your audience to see and recognize and follow your line of thinking by providing them with content and evidence that is rational, sensible, and logically based? Do you want them to feel a certain emotion…sadness, anger, frustration, joy, or amusement? Do you want to call your audience into action? Do you want them to feel like they learned something?

Connectedly, How do you feel about your own engagement with evidence? What thoughts or feelings did you have when reading or listening to or watching your pieces of research? It can sometimes be highly effective for yourself and your audience to identify and understand the situation, feelings, or activities being described and depicted. Our senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and intuition can be sources of information and evidence and help us to convince, connect with, and inform our audiences.

Contextualizing your Evidence:

After you introduce evidence into your writing, you must say why and how this evidence supports your argument. In other words, you have to explain the significance of the evidence and its function in your paper. What turns “a fact or piece of information into evidence is the connection it has with a larger claim or argument: evidence is always evidence for or against something, and you have to make that link clear” (“Evidence”).

Try incorporating analytical, “writerly” cue words such as reveals, implies, highlights, shows, symbolizes, proves, illustrates, signifies, epitomizes, illuminates, etc. For example:

The arguments presented in this article reveal that…
This research study proves that…
This example illustrates the problem with…

Moreover, utilize terminology such as interesting, significant, controversial, strange, revealing, imperative, vital, enlightening, curious, thought-provoking, etc. This will help you analyze your articles beyond just summarizing them. This will also help you in trying to explain why your evidence matters and/or help to prove your claim/s. For example:

These statistics and arguments are imperative in understanding this topic because…
This point is interesting because it reveals how…
This stance might be considered controversial because…
This story helps to illuminate the reality of…

Practice Activity

Let’s dive into a more specific example by looking at three sections of a student’s Profile of a Place essay (the bolded sections help highlight the claim and the piece of evidence that supports/proves that claim)

The Old Main Building at Texas Woman’s University (TWU), originally called The Girls Industrial College, was the first building constructed on the campus. It was built in 1903, and for many years, it was the only building that was used for educational purposes (Smith). It was founded in order for women to access a variety of programs that were not offered before the building was built, s o the Old Main Building played an important role in the availability of higher education for women in the North Texas area. As claimed by the Denton County Historical Markers, the first classes on campus began on September 23, 1903, including 186 students and 14 faculty members (“The First Building of Texas Woman’s University”). Although in the present there are other buildings meeting the educational programs and needs previously provided in the Old Main Building, it feels great to look back at how so many students have been successful learning within the walls of this very old building.

Upon entering the building, the next aspect I noticed was the Women’s Leadership Hall, which is located on the first floor and truly shows the significance of women earning their access to higher education. There is a poster of Minnie Fisher Cunningham present when you enter through the main entrance. She was one of the women who fought for women’s right to vote. She first worked as a pharmacist but realized that the men were getting paid twice as much as she was. Cunningham knew she had to fight for the rights of women (“Texas Originals”). It is so inspirational to see a poster of her as a reminder that we need to be doing our best to help ourselves as well as for the good of others surrounding us.

I feel proud to be a part of TWU, especially after going into this first building on campus. As pioneers, it helps us to be more confident and to believe that someday we might be pioneers in the fields we decide to work in. I walked around the building, to ask how the students who utilize this building on a daily basis interact with this space and to see how they felt about studying here. One of the students whom I spoke with, who is majoring in fashion design, described them being here as feeling “empowered” (Tammy). Another student I interviewed said that “coming here makes me feel more proud” (Mirali). Being a part of this community and being able to learn at the first building at TWU provides a “strong” connection (Tammy) to our roots and the history of women earning rights for equality.

Observations to Consider:

Notice how when the student makes a claim, for example: How the “Women’s Leadership Hall…truly shows the significance of women earning their access to higher education. They then prove and explore that claim with evidence: the presentation of the poster and story of Minnie Fisher.
Notice how when the student needs to provide contextual, helpful background information they do so with evidence. For example, setting up how the Old Main Building was the first building constructed on the campus and providing specific dates, “1903,” specific details how many students and faculty members there were, and context: “for many years, it was the only building that was used for educational purposes,”
Notice how the student calls forth how the building makes them and others feel, which helps to prove their overall claim of how important and integral the Old Main Building is for TWU and learning. For example, the claim is that the building helps pioneers “be more confident and to believe that someday we might be pioneers in the fields we decide to work in.” They then prove that claim with student interviews showing how the building makes them feel “empowered” and “proud.”

Questions to Consider:

How does the student use outside sources, observations, and interviews to help enhance and support their claims?
Do you think these pieces of evidence help flesh out and prove the points on display? Why or why not?

Helpful Video to Watch:

How To Write An Essay: Evidence and Citation

A Note on Sources as Evidence:

For the most part, evidence is usually acquired through research and acquiring and consuming the writings, creations, words, data, and information of others to

Professional, academic sources are those that have been deemed to have authority on the subject that they are talking about. You need to make sure your outside sources are credible and that the person who authored/created them is credible as well. That the person or persons or organization that created the source is a professional in the subject that they are writing about, has done the research themselves, uses and quote and properly cite other outside sources, relies on logic and facts and statistics and analysis and critical thinking, and carries a professional and open-minded tone. That tone includes acknowledging one’s bias, or even admitting that their position isn’t the end all be all and that uncertainty and grey areas can exist. Library databases are usually seen as the most valid way of finding credible information due to the fact that in order to be published in academic journals you have to have proper credentials and the information that is being presented has been through a rigorous screening and revision process. Many instructors only want their students to use database sources because they deem it the only way to really find valid sources. However, there are many different ways to find authoritative sources that move beyond using library databases (though it is always a nice place to start or come back to). These include accredited newspapers, magazines, professional organizations, some TedTalks, some podcasts, interviewing people who are either an expert on your topic or are directly impacted and involved in it, some YouTube or video resources, some documentaries, academics, and experts blogging, etc. But again, you should never take anything you read (even from legitimate news sources) at face value and must always be willing to look at your sources analytically and investigative-ally.

Here is a breakdown of scholarly vs popular sources:

Popular and Scholarly Sources: The Information Cycle

You usually want to avoid invalid or “unprofessional” sources. Those are sources that are written or presented by unprofessional, reactionary, untrained, unaccredited people/organizations. Sources that are clearly biased, simply provide speculation, are delivered via clickbait, etc. This can come in the form of biased news media companies, opinion-based only news media companies, blogs, dodgy, random list-like websites, random Facebook pop-ups, hyperbolic or salacious headline-grabbing articles, Tumblr or Reddit posts or Twitter threads that come from amateurs, influencers, etc.

Here is a breakdown of primary and secondary sources:

Quoting vs. paraphrasing.

You have to remember that every time you use outside information (your evidence), or an idea/fact/anecdote that you found on the internet or your other sources, you need to cite that in some way whether it be an in-text citation, integrating authorial information in the sentence, or embedding hyperlinks or footnotes.

That means that even if you are not directly quoting and you just use the spirit or the wording or the idea of the source, you still have to cite it.

Paraphrasing means that you are not directly quoting something you are putting a source in your own words. This does not mean that you simply change a few words of a sentence and put a synonym in its place. It means you are analyzing and interpreting and reporting what the author/outside source is saying in a completely different way that is unique to your style of writing and thought processes. It is you being able to understand what you have read and communicate that knowledge to a reader or audience or person.

It is also important to remember that it is not appropriate to quote an entire paragraph. If you quote, say, 8 sentences in a row of a source, you are taking authority away from your writing and relying too heavily on other authors to do the talking for you. This is your essay, not the authors of your research essay. Therefore, you have to do most of the writing. You have to be the one that constructs your essay and you have to be the one to prove your points. Quotes are meant to enhance your argument/essay, not do it for you. Quotes are meant to either serve as a means for you to bounce off the ideas of the people you are citing and/or serve as eloquent examples to do what you are trying to say and prove or even refute. This is important to keep in mind when you paraphrase as well. Your essay should not be just one long paraphrase of another source.

Here are 6 Steps to Effective Paraphrasing as suggested by Purdue Owl:

Reread the original passage until you understand its full meaning.
Set the original aside, and write your paraphrase on a notecard.
Jot down a few words below your paraphrase to remind you later how you envision using this material. At the top of the note card, write a key word or phrase to indicate the subject of your paraphrase.
Check your rendition with the original to make sure that your version accurately expresses all the essential information in a new form.
Use quotation marks to identify any unique term or phraseology you have borrowed exactly from the source.
Record the source (including the page) on your note card so that you can credit it easily if you decide to incorporate the material into your paper.

To Conclude:

Using evidence and research within your writing helps establish your credibility and build support and fleshed-out reasoning for your claims
You need to make sure that this evidence is well-researched and from professional and authoritative sources
You will integrate and contextualize your evidence in both a citational and analytical way.

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Developing Strong Claims

After having analyzed evidence, a writer can produce a strong claim about the evidence for his or her readers. In other words, the point of analysis is to produce strong claims . But what makes a claim strong?

A strong claim is:

debatable: is not a fact but can be right or wrong; potential counterarguments exist.
derived from and supported by analysis of relevant evidence.
specific: uses key terms and strong verbs to offer a viewpoint on narrowly defined subjects.
insightful: offers new, unexpected, or not-obvious ways of seeing or understanding a subject; it goes beyond obvious or common interpretations.

Using the criteria for a strong claim, review the following and identify which of the sentences you think makes a strong claim and why.

Which of the two following claims are stronger? Why do you think that is a strong claim and that the other is a weak claim?

Claim 1: I don’t get why people like this movie; it’s bad.
Claim 2: Although the movie is memorable because of its unique plot, it does not succeed as a horror film because there are too few moments that produce terror in viewers.

Of these sentences, which do you think is the strongest claim? Why? Why are the other sentences not strong claims?

Claim 1: Crime rates have increased in recent years.
Claim 2: Violence on television is responsible for increased crime.
Claim 3: Increased crime rates in recent years are a serious cause for alarm.
Claim 4: Although many have argued that the argument is oversimplified, new data suggests that violence on television is responsible for increased crime.
Claim 1: World War II was an extremely violent war and may have been the most violent war in history.
Claim 2: It was my study of World War II that led me to reevaluate my conception of violence.
Claim 3: Despite its violence, World War II was a just war.
Claim 4: Violence can be justified only by a callous balancing of violence against violence—I can murder you, only if you planned to murder others.
Claim 5: Violence can be justified.

Of these sentences, which do you think is the strongest claim? Are any of the sentences claims?

Claim 1: I combated the stereotypes in part by trying to disprove them.
Claim 2: I was keenly aware of the unflattering mythologies that attach to Asian Americans: the we are indelibly foreign, exotic, math and science geeks, numbers people rather than people, followers and not leaders, physically frail, but devious and sneaky, unknowable and potentially treacherous.
Claim 3: The irony is that in working so duteously to defy stereotype, I became a slave to it. For to act self-consciously against Asian “tendencies” is not to break loose from the cage of myth and legend; it is to turn the very key that locks you inside.
Claim 4: There was a time when assimilation did not quite strictly mean whitening.
Claim 5: To be sure, something is lost in any migration, whether from place to place or from class to class. But something is gained as well.

Writing About Literature Copyright © by Rachael Benavidez and Kimberley Garcia is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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What Is a Claim in an Essay: Definition, Types, & Examples

Icon Calendar 18 May 2024
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Essays are important academic papers that students use to present and express their thoughts. A quality essay revolves around a central claim or thesis statement, which expresses the writer’s thoughts toward a topic, problem, or research question. The term “claim” refers to an assertion that convinces, argues, demonstrates, and suggestively implies something to a reader who agrees with or disputes it using available evidence, knowledge, or experience. These assertions differ from general statements in that others may approve or disagree with arguments. Good assertions should be clear, concise, distinct, affirmative, and easy to prove. The right step in writing a claim in an essay includes exploring the topic, asking critical questions, determining the goal of writing, and taking a unique standpoint. These phases must focus on assertions to align them with the existing knowledge and evidence for justification.

General Aspects of Writing a Claim in an Essay

Providing a claim in an essay is the main argument that determines its complexity, effectiveness, and quality. This guideline focuses on how to write a claim in an essay and contains concise examples that people should follow to create outstanding academic papers. Anyone reading this article can understand the role of an argument in defining an essay’s direction, scope, and purpose. In different types of essays , authors must use evidence, quotations, arguments, expert opinions, statistics, and details to affirm their claims. A good argumentative statement should be specific, which helps to focus on a single idea. General assertions may make an entire essay vague and boring to readers. A good essay should contain a thesis statement as a central claim. However, each body paragraph should have supporting claims related to the thesis statement. Because all types of essays are important in communicating useful information to readers, one must make specific, believable, and justifiable assertions.

What Is a Claim in an Essay: Definition, Types, & Examples

Definition of What Is a Claim and Its Meaning

A claim is an assertion that convinces, argues, demonstrates, and suggests something to a reader who agrees with or disputes it based on available knowledge and understanding. Claims are useful in an essay since they define its scope and direction. In writing an argumentative essay, students use their thoughts to make claims and support them using evidence. The nature of the main assertions determines if the targeted audience can read through, agree, or disagree with the main message of an essay. In turn, a claim statement refers to a written sentence that reflects someone’s opinion. As a result, after choosing their essay topics, authors make argumentative statements to mean expressing their thoughts regarding a subject under discussion.

Claim vs. Statement

The main difference between a claim and a statement is the levels of agreeableness. For example, a claim means a debatable statement regarding a specific issue. Although readers may not disagree with statements, they can have diverse opinions regarding an argumentative claim. On the other hand, a statement may represent facts that are not debatable. An example of a general statement is: “The first African American president of the United States was Barack Obama.” One cannot dispute this statement because it represents a fact. However, an example of a claim is: “The election of Barack Obama as the American President marked the end of racism based on skin color.” In summary, some people may disagree with this argument under existing cases of racial discrimination against African Americans during and after President Obama’s tenure.

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Types of Claims

Writers can use various types of claims to make their essays more convincing. This section explains different types of assertions when writing a claim in an essay.

Cause and Effect . This claim contains information about two or more phenomena regarding their origin and effect.
Argumentative . Results from reasoning and reflects people’s opinion toward a subject. However, writers must use evidence to support any argumentative claim.
Fact . The factual statement is useful in arguing out the truth or falsity of some assertions. One must use facts to justify the correctness or invalidity of any statement.
Definition . This claim asserts that something is the case without providing evidence. Moreover, assertions accurately describe an object, event, or situation.
Solution . This assertion provides an answer to an existing problem or question of interest and responds directly to an inquiry or an existing doubt.
V alue . The value argument is a statement about what people should regard as worthwhile. Such claims should show different policies, things, beliefs, and facts that humans regard as more valuable than others.
Comparative . The comparative claim refers to an assertion that relates different objects or things to reveal their differences or similarities. Comparisons are necessary for showing the diversity of objects to enable readers to make informed choices depending on their needs.
Importance . This claim reveals the significance of a statement, information, object, or even opinion. An assertion of importance should convince the audience that an item is better than other similar things.

4 Easy Steps for Writing a Strong Claim for an Argumentative Essay

Developing a claim for an argumentative essay should contend for a certain interpretation or understanding debate topics. For example, students must understand a specific subject and take a position to justify it. However, the main assertion may contradict popular opinions regarding the subject. In turn, one must provide justifiable evidence to affirm any position taken. The following are the necessary steps that students should take to write a suitable claim for an argumentative essay.

Step 1: Exploring a Specific Topic

The first step in writing a claim for an argumentative essay is to explore sensitive or controversial debate topics. In this case, one must do preliminary research on the selected or assigned topic to develop concrete ideas for possible arguments. The information gathered should allow writers to support and justify a specific position. For example, if the topic concerns global warming, one may gather evidence to justify why cutting down trees is a major cause of heat waves experienced in different parts of the world.

Step 2: Asking Questions

The second step of making a claim in an essay should involve narrowing it down to a specific subject by asking critical questions regarding the evidence gathered. This stage is necessary to enable authors to determine the quality of the information obtained on the subject. Interrogating the evidence allows one to determine if the selected side of the argument is valid and convincing. As a result, examining the topic may lead to identifying possible counterclaims and valid opposite arguments.

Step 3: Determining an Essay’s Goal

Reviewing the assignment briefing to understand the primary goal of the argument is an important step in developing a strong claim. In this stage, writers should develop a deeper understanding of the primary goal of making a good argument. The resulting insights are necessary to focus the essay’s scope and develop a claim that challenges the target readers’ opinions. Besides, reviewing the goals is essential in refuting what one assumes to be true. On the other hand, reviewing the essay’s goals is important in combining related and relevant ideas. Even if argumentative essays focus on multiple issues, quality papers should address a central theme guided by a clear thesis statement. In turn, writers must connect related ideas to make refutable claims demonstrating a clear stand on the main subject.

Step 4: Taking a Unique Standpoint

The fourth step should involve a unique standpoint to make a refutable argument. Most students need to start stating arguable facts followed by straightforward claims. A quality essay should contain a unique argument that convinces the audience to develop an alternative thought on the subject. Moreover, students should critically evaluate the obtained evidence and deduce a unique position to argue about. As a result, all sides taken should rebut popular beliefs and truths and affirm a distinctive position.

Types of Essays, Use of Claims, and Difference

Different academic articles should have unique claims. In this case, students should identify the type of essay to make a suitable assertion, including a hook. The most common types of academic work encountered during academic studies include a research paper, an argumentative essay, a persuasive speech, a literary analysis, a persuasive essay, a rhetorical analysis, and a memo. This section contains information on the type of assertions one should make when writing these papers.

Research Paper . Claims used in this work should provide insights into specific research topics by informing readers more about the main idea or argument. Assertions used in research papers should lead to a greater understanding of the subject instead of presenting different viewpoints.
Argumentative Essay . Central claims used in this paper should take a clearly defined stance on a subject to allow writers to build an evidence-based case to support all positions. The most unique feature of argumentative claims is that they should be questionable.
Persuasive Speech . Students should present convincing opinions, ideas, or assertions. Such claims are useful in swaying or influencing people’s beliefs, attitudes, values, or behaviors.
Literary Analysis . Possible assertions used in literary analysis papers should affirm a certain position as truthful. Writers can make factual or judgmental claims to express their point of view, interpretation, evaluation, or critical assessment of a literary work.
Persuasive Essay . Claims used in this type of paper should convince the audience to accept a certain point of view. A persuasive assertion should openly communicate the central theme or idea presented in an essay and affirm its credibility.
Rhetorical Analysis . The claim used in rhetorical analysis should reflect the evidence or appeals used in a piece of work to convince readers. One should mention the rhetorical devices and appeals used in the specific work under evaluation.
Memo . The primary purpose of writing a memorandum is to inform a group of professionals about a specific problem, solution, event, or situation relevant to their institution. The claim used in a memo should state the proposed solution to a problem and important points on the identified course of action.

Types of Evidence for Writing Claims

Expert Opinions . Professionals in various areas of specialists give opinions regarding issues that contain credible information. Such views are important in shaping claims for an essay focusing on current issues.
Interviews . Researchers gather first-hand evidence by interviewing participants affected by a problem under investigation. Analysis of obtained views and opinions of participants should inform the formation of a central claim in an essay.
Direct Observation . Scholars may observe how humans behave in their natural settings without informing them. The findings may lead to the development of convincing claims regarding social behaviors.
Examples of Past Experience . Examples from past incidents allow people to gain unique insights regarding real-life issues. One may use the information to develop an argumentative claim for an essay.
Primary Research . Through primary research, students obtain first-hand evidence and knowledge, contributing to understanding real-life issues. The conclusion drawn from such studies is good for developing credible assertions for research papers.
Synthesis of Secondary Research . Scholars present their research findings in journal articles and reports. One can draw evidence from secondary sources to develop a claim for argumentative or persuasive essays on specific issues or topics of interest.
Facts, Statistics, or Other Data . Historical facts, statistics obtained from primary research, and other forms of credible sources are crucial in justifying an assumption, a hypothesis, or a theory under analysis. Critical evaluation of these reliable sources of information can lead to claims for memos, persuasive speeches, and various types of essays.

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Topic Examples for Making Claims in an Essay

Research Paper Topics

Excessive Use of Social Media Platforms Enhances Academic Performance Among Teenagers
Children From Divorced Families Demonstrate Greater Psychological Resilience
Low Salaries Are the Primary Cause of Corruption in Modern Societies

Argumentative Essay Topics

Impacts of Technology on Society
The Ethical Implications of Gene Editing: A Paradigm Shift in Medicine
Roles of Parental Attachment in Child Development
Balancing School Curriculum: Is Art Education as Important as Science?
Pros and Cons of Self-Driving Vehicles: Evaluating Safety and Efficiency
It Is Ethical for Doctors to Modify Unborn Fetuses to Meet Their Parents’ Desires Genetically
The Government Should Ban Social Media Platforms That Collect Users’ Data Without Consent
Abortion Is a Fundamental Right for Women

Persuasive Speech Topics

Reimagining the Role of Technology in Enhancing Sports Performance
Martin Luther King’s Speech “I Have a Dream” Changed People’s Lives
Doctors Should Embrace Art and Music Therapy to Enhance the Healing Process
Students Should Learn an Instrument in School to Boost Their Creativity
Introverts Make Great Leaders Than Extroverts

Literary Analysis Essay Topics

Great Gatsby Essay: The American Dream, Pursuit, and Corruption
Gender Roles in “The Great Gatsby”
Flower Symbolism in “A Rose for Emily”
Endurance in “The Old Man and the Sea”

Persuasive Essay Topics

Childhood Vaccinations and Their Importance in Society
Local Governments Should Regulate Gambling and Betting
Teenagers Should Be Allowed to Acquire Driving Licenses
Poverty Lowers Academic Achievement

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

Rhetorical Analysis of Martin Luther King’s “Letter From a Birmingham Jail”
Problems in Education and Ken Robinson’s “Do Schools Kill Creativity”
Analysis Essay of Volodymyr Zelensky’s Speech “I Call for You to Do More”
Evaluating the Speech Writing Power in President Obama’s Inaugural Speech
Analyzing the Ise of Rhetorical Devices in Harry Porter

Memo Topics

Explaining Human Resource Policy Change
Company Budget Cuts
Summary of the 2023 Action Plan

Examples of Claims for Essays

Abortion is a fundamental right for women – Although some scholars argue that abortion is unethical because it terminates the life of an innocent fetus, women have a fundamental right to make decisions regarding their bodies, especially when they face terminal health risks.
Children from divorced families demonstrate greater psychological resilience – Because kids experience social and economic challenges, they develop greater psychological resilience as a coping mechanism.
Doctors should embrace art and music therapy to enhance the healing process – Doctors should include a method as an intervention to lower stress among admitted patients and enhance recovery because art and music create a soothing effect to enhance psychological well-being.
Gender roles in “The Great Gatsby” – The novel “The Great Gatsby” reflects on opposing values of social models through different female characters who become objectified by men.
Poverty lowers academic achievement – Because parents from low-income families cannot afford quality education, academic achievement among their children remains lower than those from middle- or high-income backgrounds.
Evaluating the rhetorical devices in Harry Porter – J. K. Rowling used literary devices, such as irony, symbolism, contrasting characters, pathos, and ethos, to present the theme of death.
Explaining human resource policy change – The board of directors agreed that employees must take their scheduled annual leave without fail to promote psychological resilience.

What to Include in a Claim Paragraph

A claim paragraph should contain adequate information to explain the focus of an essay or research paper. One should include an attention-getter or start with a quote to attract readers’ attention to go through the information provided. The passage should contain background information about the topic presented in the paper to provide the target audience with a glimpse of the main ideas. Other important details include the main argument of the essay’s thesis statement.

Thesis Statement as a Claim in an Essay

A central claim may serve as a thesis statement in an essay. Academic papers should have an introduction with an argumentative thesis statement, which serves as a central claim. In this case, the main assertions should be last sentences of a college essay introduction, which provide the paper’s overview and focus when used as a thesis statement.

A hypothesis in a research paper represents a statement that requires testing for validation. Such a claim represents an unvalidated relationship between independent and dependent variables. Researchers state their assumptions or predictions about what their research results will confirm. This statement represents a tentative answer to the research question. In this case, hypotheses do not represent claims because they indicate unjustified answers that may be correct or wrong.

The results from a research paper refer to the confirmed and justified findings. Scholars use available evidence, theories, and results to test and affirm hypotheses. In turn, conclusions made become the findings in specific research work. Besides, these results may take a form of claims since they represent a justifiable or debatable position on a topic of interest.

Body Paragraphs

A typical paragraph should have a topic sentence or claim, supporting evidence, and explanations. For example, any claim in an essay should begin with a statement followed by supporting evidence. One must provide a clear explanation linking the evidence to the assertion. In turn, justifications provided should link all claims to a central thesis statement.

What Is a Counter Claim and Its Meaning for an Essay

A counterclaim refers to a statement that refutes a central argument in an essay. Different scholars have unique views regarding a specific topic. Such opposing thoughts reveal an alternative way of understanding the subject. For instance, opposers in a debate make counterclaims to contest the motion, while proposers make assertions and rebuttals to counter opposing statements. In this case, rebuttals are unique counterclaims that allow debaters to justify their arguments.

20 Tips to Write a Good Claim in an Essay

Claims used in essays should be clear and easy to prove. Basically, one should choose a statement that is easy to justify using available evidence. Because assertions convey the main points in a paper or paragraph, writers should include a strong supporting statement. Besides, any claim should have a definitive and affirmative tone.

10 Things to Do When Making a Claim:

Choose a justifiable claim.
Use simple terms.
Cover a decisive tone.
Maintain a positive tone.
Take a single-issue stand.
Define a narrow and clear scope in logical order.
Create a unique approach to the topic.
Describe the issue clearly.
Follow active voice.
Include a short statement.

10 Things Not to Do:

Selecting a broad scope.
Implementing negative language.
Including complex vocabulary.
Writing first-person statements.
Basing claims on emotional appeal.
Cluttering arguments with multiple ideas.
Presenting wordy sentences with multiple fill-up words.
Using passive voice.
Placing claims in illogical order.
Covering ambiguous statements that are hard to prove.

Summing Up of What Is a Strong Claim in an Essay

Claims are important in an essay since they reflect the writer’s perspective.
All arguments should be clear and justifiable statements about a topic.
A central assertion must provide the accurate scope of an essay.
Some types of claims include cause and effect, argumentative, fact, definition, solution, value, comparative, and importance assertions.
Claim paragraphs are important in outlining the scope of an essay.
Good claims should be clear, specific, justifiable, and presented in a simple, assertive, and distinctive tone.

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What is a claim in writing, claim of fact, claim of value, claim of policy, types of writing with claims, examples of claims in writing, what is the difference between claims, opinions and facts, why do we use claims in writing, what is a counterclaim in writing, faqs on claim in writing, we also recommend.

When it comes to writing, making a claim is a crucial aspect of building a strong argument. But what exactly is a claim? Essentially, a claim is a statement that asserts a particular point or position on a specific topic. Claims serve as the foundation for persuasive writing and are essential for effectively making your case to your audience.

Understanding the different types of claims and how to effectively use them can greatly enhance the persuasiveness of your writing. Whether you are writing an essay, a research paper, or a persuasive speech, knowing how to craft strong claims is key to convincing your audience of your point of view.

In this article, we will explore the definition of a claim in writing, the various types of claims you can make, and provide examples to help you better understand how claims function in different contexts. By mastering the art of making compelling claims, you can elevate the quality of your writing and make a more convincing argument every time.

A claim in writing is the core argument defining an essay’s goal and direction. It’s assertive, debatable, and supported by evidence. Also, it is complex, specific, and detailed.

Think of a claim as a specific, debatable statement you, the writer, intend to prove or support. It’s the central argument in your essay, the core message of your blog post , and the foundation of your persuasive pitch. Unlike opinions, which are subjective beliefs without the burden of proof, claims demand justification. They’re the battle cry, the call to action, inviting your reader to join you on a quest for understanding and agreement.

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What Are The Types Of Claims In Writing?

There are three types of claims: claims of fact, claims of value, and claims of policy . Each type of claim focuses on a different aspect of a topic. To best participate in an argument, it is beneficial to understand the type of claim that is being argued.

A claim of fact declares the existence, current presence, or future occurrence of something measurable. The core issue within a factual claim revolves around the reasonableness of the stated fact. To put it differently, a claim of fact engages in a discussion about the accuracy or inaccuracy, validity or invalidity, truth or falsehood of the statement. When making such assertions, our reasoning typically progresses from the known to the unknown. Claims of fact also center on examining cause-and-effect relationships.

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A claim of value makes qualitative assessments of people, things, and events in one’s surroundings on a good-to-bad continuum. You have made a valuable claim if you formulate an opinion that says something is good, terrible, or superior to another. Claims of worth include things like “Indian food is the best food of all,” “The Wizard of Oz is the greatest movie of all time,” and “Snowboarding is the greatest way to spend a vacation.”

A claim of policy makes the assertion that someone should or shouldn’t do a certain action. It suggests that a certain course of action ought to be followed, however, it’s not a given that it will. The conditional verb “should,” which indicates that a certain action ought to be taken but not that it must or will be taken, is crucial when making a claim about policy. For example, “Students should read the assigned text material before the instructor lectures on it,” or “The United States should send a manned expedition to Mars.”

Here’s a list of the types of writing with claims:

Argumentative articles. Consider a controversial issue, proving it with evidence throughout your paper.
Literary analysis. Build a claim about a book, and use evidence from it to support your claim.
Research papers. Present a hypothesis and provide evidence to confirm or refute it.
Speeches. State a claim and persuade the audience that you’re right.
Persuasive essays and memos. State a thesis and use fact-based evidence to back it up..

What can you use as evidence in essays?

Facts and other data from relevant and respectful resources (no Wikipedia or other sources like this)
Primary research
Secondary research (science magazines’ articles, literature reviews, etc.)
Personal observation
Expert quotes (opinions)
Info from expert interviews

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Here’s a rundown of examples of claims based on types:

Here’s how claims differentiate themselves from their close cousins:

Opinions: These are personal beliefs, unsupported by evidence. Saying “Pizza is the best food ever” is an opinion, not a claim.
Facts: These are verifiable truths, independent of interpretation. “The Earth revolves around the Sun” is a fact, not a claim.
Claims: These are debatable propositions that require evidence to be convincing. “Eating spicy food boosts metabolism” is a claim, as it needs proof to be accepted.

All forms of writing rely on claims to maintain the interest of the reader, give characters more nuance and depth, and convey the author’s own viewpoint on the issues covered.

The objective of a claim in writing is to persuade the reader of anything. Claims drive the reader towards a specific solution, even when they may not agree with the author’s statement at first or may need more information to come to their own opinion. If a reader already concurs with an author’s assertion, the material offered just strengthens and validates the reader’s position.

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When someone presents an alternative argument to your claim, that is a counterclaim. Another word for a counterclaim is a rebuttal. When someone presents a counterclaim, they are making a claim of their own. It will be up to them to state their counterclaim, and then seek to back it up with evidence (just as you did when making the initial claim).

A claim is a statement that asserts a particular stance or viewpoint, while an opinion is a subjective expression of personal beliefs or preferences.

Make your claims more persuasive by providing clear evidence, avoiding overgeneralization, and addressing potential counterarguments.

Writers should be cautious when making claims without sufficient evidence or in areas where the topic is highly subjective and lacks objectivity.

It depends on the nature of the evidence and the claims. In some cases, a well-supported piece of evidence may contribute to multiple related claims.

Claims in writing showcase the diverse ways in which writers express their perspectives and influence their audience. Whether rooted in facts, values, or policies, claims form the bedrock of effective communication. Crafting and evaluating claims require a thoughtful approach, ensuring that writers engage their readers with clarity, evidence, and nuance.

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What Is a Claim in Writing? Craft Compelling Arguments

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What is a claim in writing?

A claim is the core of your argument, the main point you’re trying to make in your written piece. It’s not just a statement of fact but a debatable position that requires evidence to back it up.

And here’s the key: a strong claim is specific, focused, and relevant to your audience.

Let’s dive in and explore what makes a powerful claim in writing. You’ll get a crash course on what makes up good content, peek at successful cases out there, and pick up tips that make your writing stick with whoever reads it.

By the end, you’ll have the tools you need to make your arguments more compelling than ever before.

Finally, we have policy claims . These are claims that argue for a specific course of action, like “The government should provide free healthcare for all citizens.” Policy claims often involve weighing the pros and cons of different options and making a case for why one choice is better than the others.

Types of Claims in Writing

Alright, let’s dive a little deeper into the different types of claims you might encounter in your writing.

Factual claims are claims that can be proven or disproven with evidence. These claims are often used in scientific or historical writing.

An example of a factual claim might be “The Great Wall of China is over 13,000 miles long.” This claim can be fact-checked using reliable sources like history books or official measurements.

It’s important to note that even factual claims can be debated if there is conflicting evidence or differing interpretations of the facts. That’s why it’s crucial to always back up your claims with credible sources and data.

Value claims are all about making a judgment or evaluation about something. These claims often involve words like “good,” “bad,” “better,” or “worse.”

For example, let’s say you’re writing an essay about the best pizza toppings. A value claim might be something like “Pineapple is the worst pizza topping because it’s too sweet and ruins the savory flavor of the cheese and sauce.”

Notice how this claim is making a judgment about pineapple as a pizza topping. It’s not just stating a fact, but rather arguing that pineapple is inferior to other toppings based on the writer’s taste preferences.

Policy claims, on the other hand, argue for a specific course of action or solution to a problem. These claims often propose a change to the current way of doing things.

For instance, a policy claim might be “Schools should start later in the day to allow students to get more sleep and improve their academic performance.”

This claim advocates for a change in school start times based on the idea that more sleep will lead to better grades. The writer would need to provide evidence to support this claim, such as studies showing the link between sleep and academic success.

So when you’re writing your next essay or research paper, take a moment to think about what type of claim you’re making. Is it a value claim, arguing for the superiority of one thing over another? A policy claim, proposing a solution to a problem? Or a factual claim, stating a verifiable truth?

Identifying the type of claim you’re making can help you structure your argument and find the most relevant evidence to support it. And who knows – maybe you’ll even come up with an original claim that changes the way people think about your topic.

How to Make a Strong Claim in Your Writing

Now that we’ve covered the different types of claims, let’s talk about how to actually craft a strong claim in your writing.

The first step to making a strong claim is to develop a clear thesis statement. Your thesis is essentially your main claim – the overarching argument you’re trying to make in your essay.

Your thesis should be specific, debatable, and supported by evidence. It should also be concise and to the point.

Avoid vague or overly broad statements like “Social media is bad.” Instead, try something more specific like “Social media use can lead to increased feelings of loneliness and depression in teenagers.”

Once you have your main claim or thesis, you’ll want to use topic sentences to introduce and support your sub-claims throughout your essay.

A topic sentence is like a mini-thesis for each paragraph. It states the main point you’ll be discussing in that paragraph and ties it back to your overall claim.

For example, if your thesis is about the negative effects of social media on teenagers, one of your topic sentences might be “Social media can cause teenagers to feel isolated from their peers, leading to increased feelings of loneliness.”

Of course, a claim is only as strong as the evidence that backs it up. That’s why it’s crucial to provide plenty of supporting details and examples to prove your point.

This evidence can come in many forms such as statistics, expert opinions, anecdotes, or real-life examples. The key is to choose evidence that is relevant, credible, and persuasive.

For instance, to support the claim that social media can lead to loneliness in teenagers, you might cite a study showing a correlation between social media use and feelings of isolation. Or you might share a personal story about a friend who became depressed after spending too much time on Instagram.

Finally, to make your claim even stronger, it’s a good idea to address potential counterarguments. This shows that you’ve considered other perspectives and have a well-rounded understanding of the issue.

To address counterarguments, you might acknowledge them briefly and then refute them with evidence.

For example, “Some people might argue that social media helps teenagers connect with friends, but studies have shown that excessive use can actually lead to feelings of disconnection.”

By addressing counterarguments, you show that your claim is nuanced and well-supported, rather than one-sided or simplistic.

Examples of Effective Claims in Writing

Sometimes the best way to understand how to write a strong claim is to see some examples in action. Let’s take a look at a few effective claims from different types of writing.

When you’re writing a literary analysis, your claim will typically be about the deeper meaning or themes of the work.

For example, a claim about The Great Gatsby might be “The novel critiques the hollowness and superficiality of the American Dream.” This claim goes beyond just summarizing the plot and instead makes an argument about the book’s underlying message.

To support this claim, you might point to examples of characters who pursue wealth and status at the expense of genuine happiness, or the way the novel portrays the emptiness of the upper-class lifestyle.

In a persuasive essay, your claim will be the main argument you’re trying to convince your reader to agree with.

For instance, a claim in a persuasive essay about school uniforms might be “School uniforms can help reduce bullying and promote a sense of unity among students.” This claim takes a clear stance on the issue and aims to persuade the reader to support school uniforms.

To back up this claim, you might cite studies showing a decrease in bullying incidents at schools with uniform policies, or anecdotes from students who feel more included and less judged based on their clothing choices.

In a research paper, your claim will typically be your thesis statement – the main argument or hypothesis you’re setting out to prove with your research.

For example, a claim in a psychology research paper might be “Mindfulness meditation can be an effective treatment for anxiety disorders.” This claim sets up the expectation that the rest of the paper will present evidence and arguments to support the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation.

To support this claim, you might cite studies showing the benefits of mindfulness for anxiety symptoms, or compare the effectiveness of mindfulness to other common anxiety treatments like medication or therapy.

Don’t be afraid to take a strong stance and make an argument, but always be prepared to back it up with facts and examples.

So, what is a claim in writing? It’s the backbone of your argument, the central point you’re trying to prove.

A strong claim is clear, specific, and supported by solid evidence. It engages your audience and persuades them to see things from your perspective.

We’ve broken down the nuts and bolts of how to make a strong claim in your writing – pinpointing a laser-focused thesis while bravely confronting those contrary opinions along the way. You’ve seen real-world examples of claims in action, from literary analysis to persuasive essays.

Armed with this knowledge, you’re ready to craft claims that pack a punch. Remember, a compelling claim is just the beginning. It’s up to you to build a case that’s impossible to ignore.

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 50 great argumentative essay topics for any assignment.

General Education

At some point, you’re going to be asked to write an argumentative essay. An argumentative essay is exactly what it sounds like—an essay in which you’ll be making an argument, using examples and research to back up your point.

But not all argumentative essay topics are created equal. Not only do you have to structure your essay right to have a good impact on the reader, but even your choice of subject can impact how readers feel about your work.

In this article, we’ll cover the basics of writing argumentative essays, including what argumentative essays are, how to write a good one, and how to pick a topic that works for you. Then check out a list of argumentative essay ideas to help you get started.

What Is an Argumentative Essay?

An argumentative essay is one that makes an argument through research. These essays take a position and support it through evidence, but, unlike many other kinds of essays, they are interested in expressing a specific argument supported by research and evidence.

A good argumentative essay will be based on established or new research rather than only on your thoughts and feelings. Imagine that you’re trying to get your parents to raise your allowance, and you can offer one of two arguments in your favor:

You should raise my allowance because I want you to.

You should raise my allowance because I’ve been taking on more chores without complaining.

The first argument is based entirely in feelings without any factual backup, whereas the second is based on evidence that can be proven. Your parents are more likely to respond positively to the second argument because it demonstrates that you have done something to earn the increased allowance. Similarly, a well-researched and reasoned argument will show readers that your point has a basis in fact, not just feelings.

The standard five-paragraph essay is common in writing argumentative essays, but it’s not the only way to write one. An argumentative essay is typically written in one of two formats, the Toulmin model or the Rogerian model.

The Toulmin model is the most common, comprised of an introduction with a claim (otherwise known as a thesis), with data to support it. This style of essay will also include rebuttals, helping to strengthen your argument by anticipating counterarguments.

The Rogerian model analyzes two sides of an argument and reaches a conclusion after weighing the strengths and weaknesses of each.

Both essay styles rely on well-reasoned logic and supporting evidence to prove a point, just in two different ways.

The important thing to note about argumentative essays as opposed to other kinds of essays is that they aim to argue a specific point rather than to explain something or to tell a story. While they may have some things in common with analytical essays, the primary difference is in their objective—an argumentative essay aims to convince someone of something, whereas an analytical essay contextualizes a topic with research.

What Makes a Good Argumentative Essay?

To write an effective argumentative essay, you need to know what a good one looks like. In addition to a solid structure, you’ll need an argument, a strong thesis, and solid research.

An Argument

Unlike other forms of essays, you are trying to convince your reader of something. You’re not just teaching them a concept or demonstrating an idea—you’re constructing an argument to change the readers’ thinking.

You’ll need to develop a good argument, which encompasses not just your main point, but also all the pieces that make it up.

Think beyond what you are saying and include how you’re saying it. How will you take an idea and turn it into a complex and well thought out argument that is capable of changing somebody’s mind?

A Strong Thesis

The thesis is the core of your argument. What specific message are you trying to get across? State that message in one sentence, and that will be your thesis.

This is the foundation on which your essay is built, so it needs to be strong and well-reasoned. You need to be able to expand on it with facts and sources, not just feelings.

A good argumentative essay isn’t just based on your individual thoughts, but research. That can be citing sources and other arguments or it can mean direct research in the field, depending on what your argument is and the context in which you are arguing it.

Be prepared to back your thesis up with reporting from scientific journals, newspapers, or other forms of research. Having well-researched sources will help support your argument better than hearsay or assumptions. If you can’t find enough research to back up your point, it’s worth reconsidering your thesis or conducting original research, if possible.

How to Come Up With an Argumentative Essay Topic

Sometimes you may find yourself arguing things you don’t necessarily believe. That’s totally fine—you don’t actually have to wholeheartedly believe in what you’re arguing in order to construct a compelling argument.

However, if you have free choice of topic, it’s a good idea to pick something you feel strongly about. There are two key components to a good argumentative essay: a strong stance, and an assortment of evidence. If you’re interested and feel passionate about the topic you choose, you'll have an easier time finding evidence to support it, but it's the evidence that's most important.

So, to choose a topic, think about things you feel strongly about, whether positively or negatively. You can make a list of ideas and narrow those down to a handful of things, then expand on those ideas with a few potential points you want to hit on.

For example, say you’re trying to decide whether you should write about how your neighborhood should ban weed killer, that your school’s lunch should be free for all students, or that the school day should be cut by one hour. To decide between these ideas, you can make a list of three to five points for each that cover the different evidence you could use to support each point.

For the weed killer ban, you could say that weed killer has been proven to have adverse impacts on bees, that there are simple, natural alternatives, and that weeds aren’t actually bad to have around. For the free lunch idea, you could suggest that some students have to go hungry because they can’t afford lunch, that funds could be diverted from other places to support free lunch, and that other items, like chips or pizza, could be sold to help make up lost revenue. And for the school day length example, you could argue that teenagers generally don’t get enough sleep, that you have too much homework and not enough time to do it, and that teenagers don’t spend enough time with their families.

You might find as you make these lists that some of them are stronger than others. The more evidence you have and the stronger you feel that that evidence is, the better the topic. Of course, if you feel that one topic may have more evidence but you’d rather not write about it, it’s okay to pick another topic instead. When you’re making arguments, it can be much easier to find strong points and evidence if you feel passionate about our topic than if you don't.

50 Argumentative Essay Topic Ideas

If you’re struggling to come up with topics on your own, read through this list of argumentative essay topics to help get you started!

Should fracking be legal?
Should parents be able to modify their unborn children?
Do GMOs help or harm people?
Should vaccinations be required for students to attend public school?
Should world governments get involved in addressing climate change?
Should Facebook be allowed to collect data from its users?
Should self-driving cars be legal?
Is it ethical to replace human workers with automation?
Should there be laws against using cell phones while driving?
Has the internet positively or negatively impacted human society?

Should college athletes be paid for being on sports teams?
Should coaches and players make the same amount of money?
Should sports be segregated by gender?
Should the concept of designated hitters in baseball be abolished?
Should US sports take soccer more seriously?
Should religious organizations have to pay taxes?
Should religious clubs be allowed in schools?
Should “one nation under God” be in the pledge of allegiance?
Should religion be taught in schools?
Should clergy be allowed to marry?
Should minors be able to purchase birth control without parental consent?
Should the US switch to single-payer healthcare?
Should assisted suicide be legal?
Should dietary supplements and weight loss items like teas be allowed to advertise through influencers?
Should doctors be allowed to promote medicines?

Government/Politics

Is the electoral college an effective system for modern America?
Should Puerto Rico become a state?
Should voter registration be automatic?
Should people in prison be allowed to vote?
Should Supreme Court justices be elected?
Should sex work be legalized?
Should Columbus Day be replaced with Indigenous Peoples’ Day?
Should the death penalty be legal?
Should animal testing be allowed?
Should drug possession be decriminalized?

Should unpaid internships be legal?
Should minimum wage be increased?
Should monopolies be allowed?
Is universal basic income a good idea?
Should corporations have a higher or lower tax rate?
Are school uniforms a good idea?
Should PE affect a student’s grades?
Should college be free?
Should Greek life in colleges be abolished?
Should students be taught comprehensive sex ed?

Arts/Culture

Should graffiti be considered art or vandalism?
Should books with objectionable words be banned?
Should content on YouTube be better regulated?
Is art education important?
Should art and music sharing online be allowed?

How to Argue Effectively

A strong argument isn’t just about having a good point. If you can’t support that point well, your argument falls apart.

One of the most important things you can do in writing a strong argumentative essay is organizing well. Your essay should have a distinct beginning, middle, and end, better known as the introduction, body and opposition, and conclusion.

This example follows the Toulmin model—if your essay follows the Rogerian model, the same basic premise is true, but your thesis will instead propose two conflicting viewpoints that will be resolved through evidence in the body, with your conclusion choosing the stronger of the two arguments.

Introduction

Your hook should draw the reader’s interest immediately. Questions are a common way of getting interest, as well as evocative language or a strong statistic

Don’t assume that your audience is already familiar with your topic. Give them some background information, such as a brief history of the issue or some additional context.

Your thesis is the crux of your argument. In an argumentative essay, your thesis should be clearly outlined so that readers know exactly what point you’ll be making. Don’t explain all your evidence in the opening, but do take a strong stance and make it clear what you’ll be discussing.

Your claims are the ideas you’ll use to support your thesis. For example, if you’re writing about how your neighborhood shouldn’t use weed killer, your claim might be that it’s bad for the environment. But you can’t just say that on its own—you need evidence to support it.

Evidence is the backbone of your argument. This can be things you glean from scientific studies, newspaper articles, or your own research. You might cite a study that says that weed killer has an adverse effect on bees, or a newspaper article that discusses how one town eliminated weed killer and saw an increase in water quality. These kinds of hard evidence support your point with demonstrable facts, strengthening your argument.

In your essay, you want to think about how the opposition would respond to your claims and respond to them. Don’t pick the weakest arguments, either— figure out what other people are saying and respond to those arguments with clearly reasoned arguments.

Demonstrating that you not only understand the opposition’s point, but that your argument is strong enough to withstand it, is one of the key pieces to a successful argumentative essay.

Conclusions are a place to clearly restate your original point, because doing so will remind readers exactly what you’re arguing and show them how well you’ve argued that point.

Summarize your main claims by restating them, though you don’t need to bring up the evidence again. This helps remind readers of everything you’ve said throughout the essay.

End by suggesting a picture of a world in which your argument and action are ignored. This increases the impact of your argument and leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

A strong argumentative essay is one with good structure and a strong argument , but there are a few other things you can keep in mind to further strengthen your point.

When you’re crafting an argument, it can be easy to get distracted by all the information and complications in your argument. It’s important to stay focused—be clear in your thesis and home in on claims that directly support that thesis.

Be Rational

It’s important that your claims and evidence be based in facts, not just opinion. That’s why it’s important to use reliable sources based in science and reporting—otherwise, it’s easy for people to debunk your arguments.

Don’t rely solely on your feelings about the topic. If you can’t back a claim up with real evidence, it leaves room for counterarguments you may not anticipate. Make sure that you can support everything you say with clear and concrete evidence, and your claims will be a lot stronger!

What’s Next?

No matter what kind of essay you're writing, a strong plan will help you have a bigger impact. This guide to writing a college essay is a great way to get started on your essay organizing journey!

Brushing up on your essay format knowledge to prep for the SAT? Check out this list of SAT essay prompts to help you kickstart your studying!

A bunch of great essay examples can help you aspire to greatness, but bad essays can also be a warning for what not to do. This guide to bad college essays will help you better understand common mistakes to avoid in essay writing!

Melissa Brinks graduated from the University of Washington in 2014 with a Bachelor's in English with a creative writing emphasis. She has spent several years tutoring K-12 students in many subjects, including in SAT prep, to help them prepare for their college education.

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Detroit Pistons’ Rival Star Makes Strong Claim Before Free Agency

Justin grasso | may 16, 2024.

Nov 12, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan (11) drives to the basket

Detroit Pistons
Chicago Bulls

When the 2024 free agency period gets underway this summer, the Chicago Bulls will have DeMar DeRozan off the books. As a team with plenty of spending space available, the Detroit Pistons could take a hard look at their rival team’s star.

However, DeRozan recently revealed his mindset heading into the offseason, and his strong claim makes it difficult to imagine DeRozan switches sides.

“It’s definitely somewhere I’d like to return to more so than anybody,” DeRozan said on FanDuel TV’s Run It Back this week. “When the job ain’t done with me, no matter how tough the situation may look, I’m one of those guys that tries to stick it through and try to make something out of nothing.”

It’s not uncommon for impending free agents to claim they want to return to their current team. In fact, it’s typical. And for someone like DeRozan, who found himself in trade rumors throughout the past season, many might find it hard for the star forward to stick around in Chicago for another stint.

But the six-time All-Star is more than open to discussing a return to the Bulls.

Feb 27, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan (11) looks to pass the

“The city is great, I love the city, the organization been great,” he continued. “It's definitely a place I would love to return to, and take care of unfinished business."

The DeRozan era in Chicago started strong but has been rocky for the most part. While he thrived from a solo standpoint, the Bulls have struggled to compete in the Eastern Conference. In 2022, Chicago lost 4-1 in the first round as the sixth seed. Over the next two seasons, they finished ninth, failing to advance past the NBA Play-In Tournament.

The Pistons could enter the market for DeRozan, but it seems more likely he’ll remain a rival star at this time. Since he joined the Bulls, DeRozan has averaged 24 points, six rebounds, and five assists in 12 games.

JUSTIN GRASSO

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Why legal identity is crucial to tackling the climate crisis

Digitalization offers a pathway to bridging the global identity gap

May 15, 2024

Programme Specialist, Legal Identity, BPPS, UNDP

Piyush Verma

Senior Governance Expert-Energy, UNDP

Rajesh Sharma

Programme Specialist-Disaster Risk Information & Application, UNDP

Legal identity serves as a fundamental gateway to accessing both public and private services. However, a staggering 850 million people worldwide lack the means to establish their identity. Embracing digitalization offers a pathway to bridging this global identity gap, with digital legal identity serving as a cornerstone of digital public infrastructure, fostering interoperability among diverse systems.

At the core of evidence-based policymaking lies the invaluable data sourced from foundational registries like civil and national ID databases. However, the integrity of this data hinges upon robust protection measures for privacy and data security. The establishment of digital versions of these foundational registries, coupled with seamless interoperability, enables the instant generation of critical data essential for evidence-driven policymaking and ensuring inclusion and respect for human rights . Sectors like environment, energy, and social security stand to benefit significantly from such data, supporting robust risk management strategies in the face of disasters and climate crisis. By utilizing this data, it can improve access to information for citizens regarding disaster and emergency response, facilitating targeted communication tailored to specific communities.

Amidst the escalating risks of climate-induced disasters , targeted interventions informed by data can yield multiple benefits. These interventions enhance predictive capabilities, bolster preparedness efforts, and streamline response mechanisms to mitigate the uncertainties associated with climate-related risks. Furthermore, leveraging data can significantly contribute to emission reduction initiatives, thereby aiding in climate mitigation endeavors.

During disasters, digital identity plays a crucial role in tracking impacts, facilitating relief efforts, and optimizing energy responses. It helps allocate energy resources efficiently, ensures essential services are maintained, and supports emergency response teams with access to vital infrastructure. Additionally, by identifying displaced populations and prioritizing assistance to vulnerable individuals, digital identity aids in coordinating various efforts across different cultural and geographical contexts.

There are five compelling reasons why data derived from Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) and national ID systems are indispensable tools in confronting the climate and energy crisis.

1. Identifying the displaced

Digital legal identities offer a unique means of tracking population movements, facilitating swift access to essential information for each human being. To mitigate data protection and privacy risks, the stored digital ID information is layered and access restricted which ensures that only authorized personnel can swiftly access relevant data for a limited duration specified by law. This data includes valuable health and income profiles, which are crucial for providing prompt support to individuals displaced by disasters. Such information empowers local and national governments to prioritize and mobilize support according to various demographic factors, like age groups, health profiles, education levels, and linguistic abilities, ensuring a more targeted response.

Additionally, storing basic information, including emergency contacts, within digital legal IDs ensures quick and authorized access, enhancing the efficiency of support systems.

2. Using digital ID for registration

Several countries are adopting digital IDs to register disaster impacts, aiding in the comprehensive understanding of these events. With support from UNDP , countries are establishing tracking systems to collect data from various agencies, including environment, health, public works, transport, agriculture, statistics, and others at national, provincial, and sub-national levels.

Digital legal IDs for citizens enable the capture of disaggregated data by age, gender, disability, and income, offering insights into the diverse impacts of disasters on different groups. This detailed data enhances research, policy formulation, and the distribution of targeted social protection support in the aftermath of adverse events.

3. Disaster preparedness and emergency management

Digital legal IDs play a pivotal role in disaster preparedness, particularly within critical infrastructure sectors such as energy. These IDs store valuable personal information, including residence and medical conditions, which can be crucial during emergencies.

Digital IDs aid in identifying vulnerable populations and critical infrastructure, thereby bolstering resilience and guaranteeing a dependable energy supply during adverse events like extreme weather, seismic activity, wildfires, or power grid failures. Utility providers and emergency services can utilize this personal data during disasters to precisely locate individuals in need of special assistance, including those reliant on medical equipment powered by electricity or facing mobility challenges. Targeted support ensures that the most vulnerable members of the community receive prompt assistance and access to necessary energy resources.

Moreover, digital legal IDs can assist in allocating resources by providing real-time data on the status of energy infrastructure and the needs of affected areas. This allows for more efficient deployment of generators, fuel, and repair teams, reducing downtime and improving overall disaster recovery efforts.

4. Energy system sustainability and resilience

Leveraging digital legal ID data to track energy consumption, inspire behaviour change, and enhance sustainability measures can mitigate climate-related disasters.

Governments can use digital IDs to facilitate renewable energy incentives in disaster-prone regions, encouraging the adoption of clean energy technologies. Additionally, digital IDs strengthen the operationalization of renewable energy microgrids by gaining valuable insights to optimize energy distribution and load balancing, providing reliable energy sources during disasters.

Digital IDs also aid in allocating resources by identifying critical infrastructure and essential services, preventing overloads and blackouts. In essence, digital legal ID data empowers the energy sector to proactively address sustainability challenges and bolster resilience, contributing to more reliable and sustainable energy systems that can withstand the impact of disasters.

5. Empowering communities

Active community involvement is crucial for addressing energy access, security, and the climate crisis. Digital legal IDs revolutionize community participation in the energy sector by providing secure access to energy resources and enabling energy trading within community microgrids.

By offering rewards or subsidies directly to digital wallets, individuals are encouraged to invest in renewable energy, leading to broader adoption and increased participation in sustainable energy initiatives. This approach not only stimulates the transition to cleaner energy but also empowers citizens to actively engage in shaping the energy landscape of their communities. This also enhances transparency, trust, and resilience during climate-related emergencies.

As we embrace the boundless potential of digitalization, let's embark on a journey to construct a world where each person not only survives but thrives in the face of climate adversity. This is the time to seize the moment to forge a future where every individual is empowered with the basic tools such as digital legal Ids to navigate the dire consequences of climate change with resilience and resolve.

Longtime Clinton Adviser Sounds The Alarm With ‘Biden Is Doing It All Wrong’ Essay

Reporter, HuffPost

A longtime adviser to former President Bill Clinton has spelled out what he believes could cost President Joe Biden victory in the 2024 election.

Mark Penn suggested in an essay for The New York Times — titled “ Biden Is Doing It All Wrong ” — that the president should stop pandering to his “political base on the left” and “chart a different course” if he wants to beat presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump in November.

“By pitching too much to the base, he is leaving behind the centrist swing voters who shift between parties from election to election and, I believe, will be the key factor deciding the 2024 race,” Penn wrote of Biden.

“If Mr. Biden wants to serve another four years, he has to stop being dragged to the left and chart a different course closer to the center that appeals to those voters who favor bipartisan compromises to our core issues, fiscal discipline and a strong America,” he argued.

Biden is currently polling slightly behind Trump .

The president is “not reaching out to moderate voters with policy ideas or a strong campaign message,” and although “the 2024 election is a rematch” between Biden and his quadruply indicted predecessor, Biden’s victory in battleground states is anything but guaranteed, Penn said.

Biden could “still move more to the center, hoover up swing voters who desperately want to reject Mr. Trump, strengthen his image as a leader by destroying Hamas, and rally the base at the end,” he continued. “But that means first pushing back against the base rather than pandering to it, and remembering that when it comes to the math of elections, swing is king.”

Read the full essay here .

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ICJ: Israel rejects South African claims Rafah offensive is final phase of plan to wipe out Gaza

May 17 (UPI) -- Israeli government lawyers opened day two of a South African bid to persuade the International Court of Justice to order it to halt its "genocidal" offensive on Rafah with a strong rebuttal, arguing that the military campaign would prove the savior of the Palestinian people.

Deputy Attorney General Gilad Noam told the court in The Hague that South Africa's premise that the offensive on the southern city was the final step of the "destruction of Gaza and its Palestinian people" turned reality on its head and that the truth was their future depended on escaping the clutches of Hamas.

"South Africa warns this court that, 'if Rafah falls, so too does Gaza.' Once again, however, the reality is exactly the opposite," said Noam.

"Only by bringing down Hamas's military stronghold in Rafah will Palestinians be liberated from the clenched grip of the murderous terrorist regime and the road to peace and prosperity may finally be paved."

South Africa also had an " ulterior motive " for seeking an Israeli pullback from Rafah, Noam alleged, saying the aim was to hand "a military advantage to its ally Hamas, which it does not want to see defeated."

Israeli Foreign Ministry principal deputy legal adviser Tamar Kaplan Tourgeman said that Israel was defending itself against Hamas and accused South Africa of "distorting statements" by Israeli leaders to "show genocidal intent that is simply not there".

She also rejected claims Israel had shuttered the Rafah and Kerem Shalom border crossings, the two main routes linking southern Gaza with the outside world.

"This is blatantly untrue. The truth is that Israel allows and facilitates the provision of more and more humanitarian aid through a number of crossings on a daily basis."

South Africa, which already has a case before the ICJ in The Hague alleging genocide by Israel in Gaza, opened its latest bid Thursday by accusing Israel of escalating its campaign of annihilation against the Palestinians and calling Rafah "the final stand" in a plan to "wipe Gaza from the face of the Earth " that was on the verge of being realized.

The urgent application by Pretoria requests the court to order Israel to "immediately withdraw and cease its military operations" in the Rafah governate "due to the continuing annihilation of the Palestinian people, with over 35,000 now killed and most of Gaza reduced to rubble".

It argues an all-out assault on Rafah would breach the clause of the 1948 Genocide Convention which prohibits "deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part."

The seven-member South African and international legal team upgraded the application it initially submitted May 10 from a request seeking to stop the Rafah offensive to an effort to halt all Israeli military operations in Gaza.

South Africa also asked the court to order Israel to immediately "ensure and facilitate unimpeded access" for UN and other humanitarian officials, fact-finding missions, investigators and journalists.

"Evidence of appalling crimes and atrocities is literally being destroyed and bulldozed, in effect wiping the slate clean for those who've committed these crimes and making a mockery of justice," said barrister Vaughan Lowe KC.

Max du Plessis, a lawyer for South Africa, said Israel's declared "safe zones" to which people are being urged to relocate from Rafah were far from being places of safety.

"There is nothing humanitarian about these humanitarian zones," he said. "Israel's genocide of Palestinians continues through military attacks and man-made starvation."

The hearing ended with the court requesting written clarification from Israel regarding existing humanitarian conditions in designated evacuation zones.

Judge Georg Nolte said the court wanted to know about al-Mawasi, north of Rafah, in particular, and how Israel would ensure safe passage to the zones, as well as the provision of shelter, food, water and other humanitarian aid and assistance to all those who opt to relocate.

Israel has until 4 p.m. Saturday to comply.

Israel's legal team (L-R) Gilad Noam, Tamar Kaplan Tourgeman and Avigail Frisch Ben Avraham on Friday rebutted arguments by South Africa at the International Court of Justice in the Hague that Israel's offensive on Rafah was the final step in the "destruction of Gaza and its Palestinian people." South Africa is seeking to persuade the court to order Israel to immediately halt its military operation in the city in southern Gaza.

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Guest Essay

The Deep, Tangled Roots of American Illiberalism

An illustration of a scene of mayhem with men in Colonial-era clothing fighting in a small room.

By Steven Hahn

Dr. Hahn is a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian at New York University and the author, most recently, of “Illiberal America: a History.”

In a recent interview with Time, Donald Trump promised a second term of authoritarian power grabs, administrative cronyism, mass deportations of the undocumented, harassment of women over abortion, trade wars and vengeance brought upon his rivals and enemies, including President Biden. “If they said that a president doesn’t get immunity,” Mr. Trump told Time, “then Biden, I am sure, will be prosecuted for all of his crimes.”

Further evidence, it seems, of Mr. Trump’s efforts to construct a political world like no other in American history. But how unprecedented is it, really? That Mr. Trump continues to lead in polls should make plain that he and his MAGA movement are more than noxious weeds in otherwise liberal democratic soil.

Many of us have not wanted to see it that way. “This is not who we are as a nation,” one journalist exclaimed in what was a common response to the violence on Jan. 6, “and we must not let ourselves or others believe otherwise.” Mr. Biden has said much the same thing.

While it’s true that Mr. Trump was the first president to lose an election and attempt to stay in power, observers have come to recognize the need for a lengthier view of Trumpism. Even so, they are prone to imagining that there was a time not all that long ago when political “normalcy” prevailed. What they have failed to grasp is that American illiberalism is deeply rooted in our past and fed by practices, relationships and sensibilities that have been close to the surface, even when they haven’t exploded into view.

Illiberalism is generally seen as a backlash against modern liberal and progressive ideas and policies, especially those meant to protect the rights and advance the aspirations of groups long pushed to the margins of American political life. But in the United States, illiberalism is better understood as coherent sets of ideas that are related but also change over time.

This illiberalism celebrates hierarchies of gender, race and nationality; cultural homogeneity; Christian religious faith; the marking of internal as well as external enemies; patriarchal families; heterosexuality; the will of the community over the rule of law; and the use of political violence to achieve or maintain power. This illiberalism sank roots from the time of European settlement and spread out from villages and towns to the highest levels of government. In one form or another, it has shaped much of our history. Illiberalism has frequently been a stalking horse, if not in the winner’s circle. Hardly ever has it been roundly defeated.

A few examples may be illustrative. Although European colonization of North America has often been imagined as a sharp break from the ways of home countries, neo-feudal dreams inspired the making of Euro-American societies from the Carolinas up through the Hudson Valley, based as they were on landed estates and coerced labor, while the Puritan towns of New England, with their own hierarchies, demanded submission to the faith and harshly policed their members and potential intruders alike. The backcountry began to fill up with land-hungry settlers who generally formed ethnicity-based enclaves, eyed outsiders with suspicion and, with rare exceptions, hoped to rid their territory of Native peoples. Most of those who arrived in North America between the early 17th century and the time of the American Revolution were either enslaved or in servitude, and master-servant jurisprudence shaped labor relations well after slavery was abolished, a phenomenon that has been described as “belated feudalism.”

The anti-colonialism of the American Revolution was accompanied not only by warfare against Native peoples and rewards for enslavers, but also by a deeply ingrained anti-Catholicism, and hostility to Catholics remained a potent political force well into the 20th century. Monarchist solutions were bruited about during the writing of the Constitution and the first decade of the American Republic: John Adams thought that the country would move in such a direction and other leaders at the time, including Washington, Madison and Hamilton, wondered privately if a king would be necessary in the event a “republican remedy” failed.

The 1830s, commonly seen as the height of Jacksonian democracy, were racked by violent expulsions of Catholics , Mormons and abolitionists of both races, along with thousands of Native peoples dispossessed of their homelands and sent to “Indian Territory” west of the Mississippi.

The new democratic politics of the time was often marked by Election Day violence after campaigns suffused with military cadences, while elected officials usually required the support of elite patrons to guarantee the bonds they had to post. Even in state legislatures and Congress, weapons could be brandished and duels arranged; “bullies” enforced the wills of their allies.

When enslavers in the Southern states resorted to secession rather than risk their system under a Lincoln administration, they made clear that their Confederacy was built on the cornerstone of slavery and white supremacy. And although their crushing defeat brought abolition, the establishment of birthright citizenship (except for Native peoples), the political exclusion of Confederates, and the extension of voting rights to Black men — the results of one of the world’s great revolutions — it was not long before the revolution went into reverse.

The federal government soon allowed former Confederates and their white supporters to return to power, destroy Black political activism and, accompanied by lynchings (expressing the “will” of white communities), build the edifice of Jim Crow: segregation, political disfranchisement and a harsh labor regime. Already previewed in the pre-Civil War North, Jim Crow received the imprimatur of the Supreme Court and the administration of Woodrow Wilson .

Few Progressives of the early 20th century had much trouble with this. Segregation seemed a modern way to choreograph “race relations,” and disfranchisement resonated with their disenchantment with popular politics, whether it was powered by Black voters in the South or European immigrants in the North. Many Progressives were devotees of eugenics and other forms of social engineering, and they generally favored overseas imperialism; some began to envision the scaffolding of a corporate state — all anticipating the dark turns in Europe over the next decades.

The 1920s, in fact, saw fascist pulses coming from a number of directions in the United States and, as in Europe, targeting political radicals. Benito Mussolini won accolades in many American quarters. The lab where Josef Mengele worked received support from the Rockefeller Foundation. White Protestant fundamentalism reigned in towns and the countryside. And the Immigration Act of 1924 set limits on the number of newcomers, especially those from Southern and Eastern Europe, who were thought to be politically and culturally unassimilable.

Most worrisome, the Ku Klux Klan, energized by anti-Catholicism and antisemitism as well as anti-Black racism, marched brazenly in cities great and small. The Klan became a mass movement and wielded significant political power; it was crucial, for example , to the enforcement of Prohibition. Once the organization unraveled in the late 1920s, many Klansmen and women found their way to new fascist groups and the radical right more generally.

Sidelined by the Great Depression and New Deal, the illiberal right regained traction in the late 1930s, and during the 1950s won grass-roots support through vehement anti-Communism and opposition to the civil rights movement. As early as 1964, in a run for the Democratic presidential nomination, Gov. George Wallace of Alabama began to hone a rhetoric of white grievance and racial hostility that had appeal in the Midwest and Middle Atlantic, and Barry Goldwater’s campaign that year, despite its failure, put winds in the sails of the John Birch Society and Young Americans for Freedom.

Four years later, Wallace mobilized enough support as a third-party candidate to win five states. And in 1972, once again as a Democrat, Wallace racked up primary wins in both the North and the South before an assassination attempt forced him out of the race. Growing backlashes against school desegregation and feminism added further fuel to the fire on the right, paving the way for the conservative ascendancy of the 1980s.

By the early 1990s, the neo-Nazi and Klansman David Duke had won a seat in the Louisiana Legislature and nearly three-fifths of the white vote in campaigns for governor and senator. Pat Buchanan, seeking the Republican presidential nomination in 1992, called for “America First,” the fortification of the border (a “Buchanan fence”), and a culture war for the “soul” of America, while the National Rifle Association became a powerful force on the right and in the Republican Party.

When Mr. Trump questioned Barack Obama’s legitimacy to serve as president, a project that quickly became known as “birtherism,” he made use of a Reconstruction-era racist trope that rejected the legitimacy of Black political rights and power. In so doing, Mr. Trump began to cement a coalition of aggrieved white voters. They were ready to push back against the nation’s growing cultural diversity — embodied by Mr. Obama — and the challenges they saw to traditional hierarchies of family, gender and race. They had much on which to build.

Back in the 1830s, Alexis de Tocqueville, in “Democracy in America,” glimpsed the illiberal currents that already entangled the country’s politics. While he marveled at the “equality of conditions,” the fluidity of social life and the strength of republican institutions, he also worried about the “omnipotence of the majority.”

“What I find most repulsive in America is not the extreme freedom reigning there,” Tocqueville wrote, “but the shortage of guarantees against tyranny.” He pointed to communities “taking justice into their own hands,” and warned that “associations of plain citizens can compose very rich, influential, and powerful bodies, in other words, aristocratic bodies.” Lamenting their intellectual conformity, Tocqueville believed that if Americans ever gave up republican government, “they will pass rapidly on to despotism,” restricting “the sphere of political rights, taking some of them away in order to entrust them to a single man.”

The slide toward despotism that Tocqueville feared may be well underway, whatever the election’s outcome. Even if they try to fool themselves into thinking that Mr. Trump won’t follow through, millions of voters seem ready to entrust their rights to “a single man” who has announced his intent to use autocratic powers for retribution, repression, expulsion and misogyny.

Only by recognizing what we’re up against can we mount an effective campaign to protect our democracy, leaning on the important political struggles — abolitionism, antimonopoly, social democracy, human rights, civil rights, feminism — that have challenged illiberalism in the past and offer the vision and political pathways to guide us in the future.

Our biggest mistake would be to believe that we’re watching an exceptional departure in the country’s history. Because from the first, Mr. Trump has tapped into deep and ever-expanding illiberal roots. Illiberalism’s history is America’s history.

Steven Hahn is a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian at New York University and the author, most recently, of “ Illiberal America: a History .”

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

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Claim Statements: Guide, examples, and tips to write effectively
Steps to writing the best claim in an essay. A claim is an argument. It is pretty easy to write an argument in an essay. The most straightforward essay will include the main claim or argument in the introduction, a supporting argument beginning each body paragraph, and a conclusion.. The most important part when writing an essay is usually the main claim or argument.
How to Write an Effective Claim (with Examples)
Essays can contain further claims that orbit the topic of the thesis statement, however. Claims straddle the line between opinion and fact. If you're hoping to make a strong claim that seamlessly fits into a powerful essay, you will need to make sure that your claim ticks the right boxes: Your claim can debated — solid arguments can be made ...
PDF Strategies for Essay Writing
Your thesis is the central claim in your essay—your main insight or idea about your source or topic. Your thesis should appear early in an academic essay, followed by a logically constructed argument that supports this central claim. A strong thesis is arguable, which means a thoughtful reader could disagree with it and therefore needs ...
Strong Thesis Statements
Claims about solutions or policies: These are claims that argue for or against a certain solution or policy approach to a problem. Example: Example: Rather than encouraging all students to attend four-year colleges, we should instead emphasize the validity of two-year colleges, technical schools, and trade schools as well.
What Is a Claim in an Essay? Unpacking the Core Element with Writing
Source: pexels.com The Bottom Line. A well-crafted claim is like the heart of your essay, pumping life and direction into your arguments. Getting good at building strong claims is a game-changer ...
What Is a Claim in Writing? Examples of Argumentative Statements
Just what is a claim in writing? It's not all that far off from a claim you might make out loud. Learn more about when you're making a claim right here.
Thesis
Thesis. Your thesis is the central claim in your essay—your main insight or idea about your source or topic. Your thesis should appear early in an academic essay, followed by a logically constructed argument that supports this central claim. A strong thesis is arguable, which means a thoughtful reader could disagree with it and therefore ...
Understanding Claims in Writing and How to Craft Effective Ones
It is the backbone of an essay or any piece of writing, providing a clear focus and direction for the reader. Crafting a strong claim requires careful thought, analysis, and supporting evidence. In this article, we will delve into the concept of claims in writing and explore effective strategies for constructing compelling and persuasive claims.
What Is a Claim in an Essay? Definition and Examples
A claim is the core argument defining an essay's goal and direction. (1) It's assertive, debatable, and supported by evidence. Also, it is complex, specific, and detailed. Also known as a thesis, a claim is a little different from statements and opinions. Keep reading to reveal the nuances.
Claim & Counterclaim in Argumentative Writing
Writers should state claims as fact and be as straightforward and concise as possible. In an essay or any other form of argumentative writing, the claim is usually found at the end of the first ...
Creating Evidence-Based Claims
162 Creating Evidence-Based Claims . When we think about boiling down argumentation in composition to its most essential form, two key elements will usually pop up: claims and evidence. Your claim is similar to your thesis in that it can be your central argument and position, it can be the main idea/s present within your writing, it can reveal why you think your topic is interesting or ...
Claim Statements in Arguments
An argument breaks down into three primary categories: a strong claim (also referred to as a strong statement), reasons or justifications for the claim, and evidence supporting those reasons. For ...
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Claim 1: Crime rates have increased in recent years. Claim 2: Violence on television is responsible for increased crime. Claim 3: Increased crime rates in recent years are a serious cause for alarm. Claim 4: Although many have argued that the argument is oversimplified, new data suggests that violence on television is responsible for increased ...
How to Write a Thesis Statement
Step 1: Start with a question. You should come up with an initial thesis, sometimes called a working thesis, early in the writing process. As soon as you've decided on your essay topic, you need to work out what you want to say about it—a clear thesis will give your essay direction and structure.
What Is a Claim in an Essay: Definition, Types, & Examples
20 Tips to Write a Good Claim in an Essay. Claims used in essays should be clear and easy to prove. Basically, one should choose a statement that is easy to justify using available evidence. Because assertions convey the main points in a paper or paragraph, writers should include a strong supporting statement.
What Is a Claim in Writing? Definition, Types, & Examples
A claim in writing is the core argument defining an essay's goal and direction. It's assertive, debatable, and supported by evidence. Also, it is complex, specific, and detailed. Think of a claim as a specific, debatable statement you, the writer, intend to prove or support. It's the central argument in your essay, the core message of ...
3 Strong Argumentative Essay Examples, Analyzed
These essays typically follow one of two formats: the Toulmin model or the Rogerian model. The Toulmin model is the most common. It begins with an introduction, follows with a thesis/claim, and gives data and evidence to support that claim. This style of essay also includes rebuttals of counterarguments.
Parts of an Argumentative Essay
The 4 parts of an argumentative essay are the claim, counterclaim, reasoning, and evidence. ... below is an example of strong evidence and weak evidence to support the claim and reason. Strong ...
How to Write a Claim: Sharpening Your Argumentative Skills
Remember, a strong claim is clear, debatable, and supported by evidence, setting the stage for a persuasive essay that not only presents a viewpoint but also encourages readers to consider new ...
PDF Page Claims, Claims, Claims
claim with subclaims, specific quotes, telling details, examples, and evidence. Myth #3: A claim should never be longer than a sentence. Correction: While your claim will tell you where you need to go, don‟t feel trapped inside the five-paragraph essay. Do present the information in a reasonable manner and place
What Is a Claim in Writing? Craft Compelling Arguments
Claims in Persuasive Essays. In a persuasive essay, your claim will be the main argument you're trying to convince your reader to agree with. For instance, a claim in a persuasive essay about school uniforms might be "School uniforms can help reduce bullying and promote a sense of unity among students."
50 Great Argumentative Essay Topics for Any Assignment
The Toulmin model is the most common, comprised of an introduction with a claim (otherwise known as a thesis), with data to support it. This style of essay will also include rebuttals, helping to strengthen your argument by anticipating counterarguments. ... There are two key components to a good argumentative essay: a strong stance, and an ...
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How to Write an Effective Claim for an Essay

What is a claim in an essay?

Types of claims with examples

1. Factual claims

2. Value claims

3. Definitional claims

4. Cause and effect claims

5. Descriptive claims

6. Argumentative claims

7. Exploratory claims

8. Assertive claims

9. Policy claims

Where to use Claims when writing

Features of a reasonable claim

1. A good claim is a statement and not a question

2. A good claim challenges the status quo

3. A good claim is unbiased

4. A good claim is particular

5. A good claim promotes an argumentative essay

Claim vs. Claim Statement

Claim vs. Thesis Statement vs. Counterclaim

1. Pick a topic and find out more information about it

2. Phrase the exciting topic as a question

3. Define the objective of your essay

4. Take a position on the issue

5. Develop sub-claims

Dos and don'ts when writing A claim in an Essay

Final Remarks

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How to Write an Effective Claim (with Examples)

Essay Claim Basics

Types of Claim (With Examples!)

1. Claim of Fact or Definition

2. Claim of Cause & Effect

3. Claim of Value

4. Claim of Solution or Policy

Claim vs. Counterclaim vs. Thesis Statement

How to Write an Effective Claim

Additional Tips in Writing a Claim the Right Way

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Developing Strong Thesis Statements

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

The thesis statement or main claim must be debatable

The thesis needs to be narrow

Types of claims

What Is a Claim in an Essay? Unpacking the Core Element with Writing Tips

What’s a Claim, Anyway?

Building a Rock-Solid Claim

Cooking Up a Strong Claim

Rooting Your Claim with Evidence

Claims in Different Essay Worlds

Watch Out for These Slip-Ups

Fine-tuning Your Claim Crafting a Claim Can Be a Trial-and-error Deal

The Bottom Line

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Making Claims in Writing

Statement vs. Claim Example

Types of Writing That Use Claims

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Argumentative Claim Examples

What to Include in a Claim Paragraph

What Is a Counterclaim in Writing?

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Broad thesis (arguable, but difficult to support with evidence)

Arguable thesis with analytical claim

Arguable thesis with normative claim