This course is intended to cultivate the craft of written communication. Written communication consists of both what you say, your argument, and the way you say it, your style. We will continue considering argumentation.
We have discussed the rhetorical situation that an argument is set in. We will now discuss the essential components of an argument.
While there is no singular strategy for constructing an argument, there are several common approaches. These include the Toulmin MethodLinks to an external site., the Rogerian MethodLinks to an external site., and the Classical MethodLinks to an external site.. Though no matter the approach, all arguments consist of certain essential components. These are claims and evidence. This week, we will discuss claims. Next week, we will discuss evidence.
A claim is an assertion accompanied by one or more reasons. An assertion absent a reason is only an opinion. In an argument, there is the central claim, or the thesis statement, and the supporting claims. The central claim, or thesis statement, is an arguable assertion. If the assertion is well accepted or widely agreed upon, then the rhetorical situation is absent a motivation. The central claim, or thesis statement, should be specific and slim in scope. Further information on the central claim, or the thesis statementLinks to an external site. can be found at the Purdue Online Writing Lab.
A claim, whether it is the central claim or a supporting claim, can typically be categorized as one of four types:
Claim of Fact: An assertion about whether something is a settled fact. Example: While food insecurity is often regarded as a result of food scarcity, this is an oversimplification.
Claim of Cause and Effect: An assertion that someone or something caused something else. Example: Economic inequality is the chief cause of food insecurity in the United States.
Claim of Value: An assertion about whether or not something is of value. Example: Establishing food sovereignty is an essential endeavor.
Claim of Solution: An assertion suggesting a particular solution to solve a particular problem. Example: While we must maintain federal food assistance in the meantime, we must also address economic inequality to alleviate food insecurity.
As stated above, a claim is an assertion accompanied by one or more reasons. The assertion is also accompanied by a warrant. The warrant is the connection between the assertion and the reason. Sometimes the warrant is well accepted or widely agreed upon and therefore assumed. Sometimes the warrant is arguable and therefore must be articulated.
ASSERTION: You shouldn’t drink that milk.
REASON: It’s way past its expiration date.
WARRANT: Milk that is way past its expiration date is likely spoiled. (In this case, the warrant is well accepted and widely agreed upon and therefore assumed. It would not need to be articulated.)
ASSERTION: You shouldn’t eat that cheeseburger.
REASON: It’s not vegan.
WARRANT: Only vegan food is ethical or Only vegan food is healthy. (In this case, the warrants are arguable and would need to be articulated.)
Further information on claimsLinks to an external site. can be found at the Purdue Online Writing Lab.
read the following essays and watch the following video and write a response of 350 words minimum:
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2018/08/17/638518284/opinion-how-i-learned-to-face-food-waste-and-plan-smarter
https://www.hcn.org/issues/51.2/food-eating-roadkill-is-an-alaska-tradition-what-about-the-lower-48-salvage
How does each resource engage the topic of food waste? What is the claim of each resource? Which resource communicated its motivation most effectively? Why?
