Elements of Argument

Front

A writer's position on a problem or issue

Back

Claim

Front

Statements of support for claims

Back

Reasons

Front

specific information provided to support reasons

Back

evidence

Front

a statement that can be proved true

Back

fact

Front

documented records of someone's comments about a topic

Back

quotations

Front

a specific instance that illustrates a general idea

Back

example

Front

A fact given in number form

Back

statistic

Front

a brief account of an event that can be used to illustrate a point

Back

anecdote

Front

acknowledging and countering opposing viewpoints

Back

counterargument

Front

a statement that many people accept to be true but is not necessarily so

Back

commonplace assertion