Quarter 2 – Module 1

Analyzing Arguments
Used by the Writer
 Background
Information for
Learners
Direction: Give your views on the image
presented below and present your arguments if
this is true or not.
Argument/s
Argument is an expression of one’s point of
view on a particular subject or topic which is
often called a “Claim” or a “Thesis
Statement”. It is presented with evidences
and resources supporting an idea which
aims to either let the reader do something or
believe into something to be true or correct.
Argument/s
a reason or the reasoning
given for or against a
matter under discussion.
Argument/s
These are claims backed by reasons
that are supported by evidence.
Argumentation is a social process.
Having an argument involves two or
more individuals responding to one
another's claim and support for such a
claim.
Argument/s
An argument is a statement or set of
statements that you use in order to try to
convince people that your opinion about
something is correct. It is better to convince
by argument than seduce by example. An
argument is a discussion or debate in which a
number of people put forward different or
opposing opinions.
In academic writing, an
argument is usually a main
idea, often called a “claim”
or “thesis statement,”
backed up with evidence
that supports the idea.
What is an argument in a sentence?
When used in relation to grammar and writing,
an argument is any expression or syntactic
element in a sentence that serves to
complete the meaning of the verb. In other
words, it expands on what's being expressed
by the verb and is not a term that implies
controversy, as common usage does.
What is not an argument?
An argument is a set of statements; one is the
conclusion, the rest are premises. The
conclusion is the statement that the argument
is trying to prove. The premises are the
reasons offered for believing the conclusion to
be true. Explanations, conditional
sentences, and mere assertions are not
arguments.
Why is argument important in writing?

It is used to settle disputes and discover

truth. Instructors assign argumentative
writing so students can learn to examine
their own and other's ideas in a careful,
methodical way. Argument teaches us how
to evaluate conflicting claims and judge
evidence and methods of investigation.
How do you identify an argument in an
essay?
The best way to identify whether an
argument is present is to ask whether
there is a statement that someone is
trying to establish as true by basing it
on some other statement. If so, then
there is an argument present.
What are the key elements of an argument?

A typical argument contains three

primary elements: 1. a claim or thesis.
2. statement(s) of reason(s) evidence /
support / proofs and 3.
counterarguments.
How does one develop an argument?
Clearly state your contention (the main point
an argument is trying to prove, usually a belief
outlined in the thesis statement of an
introduction) in a thesis statement within your
introduction. Identify the important
reasons/premises of your argument. A
reason is evidence given to support the
contention.
How do you analyze an argument?
1) Read the argument and instructions
carefully. 2) Identify the argument's
claims, conclusions and underlying
assumptions. Evaluate their quality. 3)
Think of as many alternative
explanations and counterexamples as
you can.
What is the most important part on an
argument?
Claims. Your claim is your main point. It
should either seek to change how the
audience thinks or how the audience
acts. The audience should be able to
agree or disagree with your claim, and
they should understand the need for the
claim.
What makes an argument good or bad?

A good argument is one where the

premises sufficiently support the
belief and the conclusion is true.
Diametrically, a bad argument is one
where the premises do not provide good
reasons to support the conclusion.
What are the steps in argument?
• Introduce the problem. Introduce the problem
or issue at the center of your argument.
• Present your claim.
• Support your claim.
• Acknowledge the opposing side of the
argument.
• Restate your claim.
How do you start your first argument?

In the first paragraph of an argument essay,

students should set the context by
reviewing the topic in a general way. Next
the author should explain why the topic is
important (exigence) or why readers should
care about the issue. Lastly, students should
present the thesis statement.
What is the structure of the argument?

An argument can be broken down into

three basic parts: the conclusion, the
premises, and the assumptions. THE
CONCLUSION The conclusion (or theses)
is the point of the main idea of the
argument--what the author is trying to
prove.
Claim/s
Claim is the main argument of the essay
which is considered the most important
part of an academic paper. It defines your
paper’s goals, directions, scope and
exigence and is supported by evidence,
quotations, argumentation, expert’s
opinions, statistics, and telling details.
What is the similar
meaning of claim?
Some common synonyms of claim
are demand, exact, and require.
While all these words mean "to ask
or call for something as due or as
necessary”.
What is the use of
claim?
A claim persuades, argues,
convinces, proves, or
provocatively suggests
something to a reader who may or
may not initially agree with you.
What is a claim in
writing?
A “claim” (also known as a “thesis
statement” or “argument”) is the
central idea of your paragraph or
essay and should appear in the
first sentence.
What is difference
between fact and claim?
The word 'claim' is used to say that
something is true although it has not been
proved or approved by all people
totally. Fact means reality. It is used to refer
that a particular situation or incident existed
and considered to be true and that it can be
proved as real.
How do you write a
claim?
1.Make one point at a time.
2.Keep claims short, simple and to the point.
3.Keep claims directly relevant to their point.
4.Use research, evidence and facts to support
your claims.
5.Use logic to support your claims.
How do you write a
claim in an essay?
Start with a hook or attention getting
sentence. Briefly summarize the texts •
State your claim. Make sure you are
restating the prompt. Include a topic
sentence that restates your claim and your
reason.
Can a claim be a
question?
Claims are answers to questions.
Questions set you up for certain
types of claims. If you ask for facts,
then the claims will state facts.
Is a claim your opinion?
A "claim" is something you propose
to be true based on a certain
argument or line of evidence. An
"opinion" is something you just
believe innately, and is necessarily
not open to proof or disproof.
How long should a claim
be written?
Remember to keep your claim statement
short, ideally of about two lines. Your
readers should get your point without facing
any confusion. So it is recommended that
you avoid too long and complex sentences.
Make it easy and interesting for your reader.
How do you defend a
claim in an essay?
1) Present the issue/situation/problem.
2) State your assertion/claim/thesis. 3)
Support your claim (using evidence from
other sources) 4) Acknowledge and
respond to real or possible opposing
views.
What is the difference
between claim and
counterclaim?
A claim is the main argument. A
counterclaim is the opposite of
the argument, or the opposing
argument.
What type of essay
supports a specific claim
or idea?
Persuasive writing, also known as the
argument essay, uses logic and reason to
show that one idea is more legitimate than
another. It attempts to persuade a reader to
adopt a certain point of view or to take a
particular action.
Which is the best claim for an
argumentative paragraph?
An effective claim in an argumentative
essay will be a true statement that is not
hypothetical and can be proved with the
help of evidence and facts. Facts can
never be denied or encountered. They are
not debatable at all.
What is the difference
between argument and
claim?
Argumentation is a social process of two or
more people making arguments, responding to
one another--not simply restating the same
claims and reasons--and modifying or
defending their positions accordingly. Claims
are statements about what is true or good or
about what should be done or believed.
Direction: Give your views on the image
presented below and present your
arguments if this is true or not.
Three Types of Claims
1. Claim of Fact
Claim of Fact is a statement
asserting that something has
existed, does exist, or will exist. It is
not a fact; it only claims to be a fact.
Hence, the claim is debatable
whether it is true or false.
1. Claim of Fact
A claim of fact makes an
assertion about something
that can be proved or
disproved with factual
evidence.
1. Claim of Fact
It is an argumentative thesis
which makes a quantifiable
assertion; in other words, it is an
argument (claim) about a
measurable topic (fact).
How do you make Claim of
Fact
To make a claim of fact, use
factual evidence that is
sufficient, reliable, and
appropriate.
Example: The Philippine
Economy will bounce back
higher before the end of this
year.
The statement is a claim of fact (future) which is to be
proven to be true or false come the end of this year.
Example: Teens who
engage in promiscuous,
unprotected sex will
develop STDs, become
pregnant, and/or contract
AIDS.
2. Claim of Value
Claim of Value is a statement
asserting something to be good or
bad or that something is better than
the other one or that something is
more or less desirable.
2. Claim of Value
It is an argumentative thesis which
makes a qualifiable assertion; in
other words, it is an argument
(claim) about a moral, aesthetic, or
philosophical topic (value).
Example: The Game of
Thrones is the best
movie of all time.
Here, the claim is asserting the value of the
said movie as best than the other movies.
Example: Indian
food is the best
food of all.
Example: The
Wizard of Oz is
the greatest movie
of all time.
Example:
Snowboarding is the
greatest way to
spend a vacation.
3. Claim of Policy
Claim of Policy is a statement urging that
some conditions should exist, or that
something should be or should not be
done. This claim advocates the adoption
of policies or courses of action due to
problems that have occurred and calls for
a solution.
3. Claim of Policy
It is an argumentative thesis which
makes an assertion about a course of
action the reader should take; in
other words, it is an argument (claim)
about an actionable topic (policy).
Example: Legislation should be
passed mandating the conduct
of Online Voter’s Registration
amid covid-19 pandemic.

The claim here asserts that the government should

provide a policy for the conduct of online voter’s
registration amid pandemic.
Example: The
United States should
stop capital
punishment.
Example: The
Philippines should
become independent
from the use of foreign
oil.
Example: Human
cloning for organ
donations should be
legal.
Samples:
Fact claim (causality): The death
penalty does not deter crime.
Value claim: Capital punishment is
unjust.
Policy claim: The death penalty
should be abolished in Illinois.
Samples:
Fact claim (existence): Heartland relies less
on state taxpayer funding than ISU.
Value claim: Heartland is a better school
than ISU.
Policy claim: Students in Heartland’s district
should do their first two years there before
transferring to a two year school.