Claims, Evidence, and Reasoning

What is a claim?

• The position taken by the writer - what the writer is trying to prove or argue

• provided to support a claim; supported by evidence

• used to support or prove a reason: statistics, facts, quotations, surveys, etc...

What are reasons?

• The position taken by the writer - what the writer is trying to prove or argue

• provided to support a claim; supported by evidence

• used to support or prove a reason: statistics, facts, quotations, surveys, etc...

What is evidence?

• The position taken by the writer - what the writer is trying to prove or argue

• provided to support a claim; supported by evidence

• used to support or prove a reason: statistics, facts, quotations, surveys, etc...

Write a reason to support your claim.

Write in complete academic sentences please.

Provide evidence to support your reason.

Write in complete academic sentences please.

Choose the sentence starter that is best suited for introducing evidence.

• "I believe that"

• "According to the data,"

• "In conclusion,"

• "Therefore,"

Why is evidence important in supporting a claim?

• It provides a personal opinion to persuade others

• It offers a prediction of future events

• It provides facts, quotes or data that backs up the claim

• It restates the claim in different words

Why is it important to know the difference between claim, evidence, and reasoning in argumentative writing?

• To make the writing more complex

• To clearly communicate the your argument

• To increase the length of your paragraph

• To use more words

What is a claim in argumentative writing?

• A question that the scientist wants to answer

• A statement that can be tested or proven with evidence

• A detailed explanation of why something happens

• A summary of the results of an experiment

Which of the following best defines evidence?

• A personal belief or opinion

• Providing facts, quotes and data

• A detailed description of an experiment

• A prediction about the outcome of an experiment