Writing Complex Claims

CLAIM VS. OPINION

THE BIG FIVE: (CH 12, WRITER/THINKER/MAKER)

1) CENTRAL CLAIM & 2) EVIDENCE

3) COUNTERARGUMENT/CONCESSION

4) STAKES

5) ROADMAP/ORGANIZATION

Freewrite:

• What’s the difference between opinion and claim?
• Write an example opinion.
• Write an example claim.

Claims

• Opinion
• Ex:
• Simple claim
• Ex:
• Complex claim?
• How do we move from a simple claim to a complex claim?

Why complex claims?

• Complex claims are multi-layered; resists simple “agree/disagree” binary thinking
• Considered from multiple perspectives (people who might not agree with you, the larger aspect of why the argument matters)
• Embodies rhetorical listening
• Can be a sophisticated, ethical way of making arguments

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Complex Claims

• Similar variations: “thesis statement,” “main argument”
• Elements of a complex claim:
• Counterargument/Concession, Claim & Evidence, Stakes, road map/organization
• Ex: (Claim & evidence): The University of Washington should make tuition free for students because it will lower student dependence of loans, increase completion rates, and create a more equitable learning environment.

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Concessions/Counterarguments

• Concessions: A weakness/a possible loophole in the author’s argument (something that you’re willing to give away)
• Ex: a free tuition program would be expensive for the university and/or the state
• Counterarguments: arguments that an author can anticipate that would challenge the author’s claim
• Ex: budget constraints by the university administration; a free tuition program is poorly targeted (may benefits rich students more than poor students); free tuition programs don’t address all of the equity challenges at university; etc.
• Acknowledging and addressing/refuting a concession or a counterargument helps you make a mature and reasonable argument, and builds up your ethos/credibility

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Rhetorical Signals for Concessions

• Of course, …
• I concede that …
• It is true that …
• It may well be that …
• Have there been contrary findings? Yes…
• While we acknowledge that …
• Critics of --- are right that …
• There are in fact published studies that suggest…
• It is possible that …

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Rhetorical Signals for Counterarguments

• [some person or group] claims/argues/suggests that…
• ----------’s argument implies that…
• ----------interprets these results to mean that …
• According to [some person or group],
• Critics/supporters of -----argue that

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�Stakes

• “So-What?” aspect: why does your argument matter and for whom/which groups of people?
• What could be gained in favor of your argument? What could be lost if the audience dismisses your argument?
• Emphasizing the significance and implications of your argument (why your argument matters)
• Ex: Creates a larger pool of educated people
• Opens up college access to underserved populations

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Road Map

• Signals the reader what the organization of the paper is going to be:
• Example of implicit roadmap:
• Counterargument/Concession + Claim & Evidence + Stakes
• The reader expects a discussion of each element in the essay with logical transitions between paragraphs.
• Example of explicit roadmap:
• This paper will review first…moving onto…

Now, putting it all together:

• Although the university may have budget constraints, the University of Washington should make tuition free for students because it will lower student dependence of loans, increase completion rates, and create a more more equitable learning environment. When college tuition is free, the university can create a larger pool of educated people and open up college access to underserved populations.

Now, let’s do a complex claim together:

• Topic: What should be the official UW ice cream flavor?
• Audience: Enrollment Office
• Claim: ..? [What is the class vote?] Dog Tracks
• Evidence: ..? [How would you articulate the reasoning?]
• Fits with our mascot
• popular flavor
• we can make money, ppl will buy this
• Concession/Counterargument: ..?
• not everyone will get to enjoy this dairy ice cream
• not everyone will buy uw ice cream
• could be expensive to make / sell
• It’s not purple
• Stakes: ..?
• Draws potential prospective students
• school spirit, positive campus environment / student experience
• makes UW more competitive, not every WA state school has an ice cream flavor, we’re first
• Roadmap: ..?

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Example Complex Claim:

Although some people are lactose intolerant, we argue that the UW enrollment office should offer Dog Tracks as an ice cream flavor because the flavor fits with our mascot, chocolate is a popular flavor, and ice cream will bring in money. If UW offers dog tracks as an ice cream flavor, we will improve the student experience and attract prospective students to our community. This paper will first review how the flavor fits into our mascot, then how chocolate is popular, and then how it will benefit UW.