What is a claim?

According to John Mauk and John Metx in Inventing Arguments, a "claim" is an argumentative assertion. Speakers and writers put forth an idea that requires support through the logical presentation of evidence. A claim therefore is not a statement of fact or proclamation of common knowledge; college writers would never argue a point of view that most reasonable people would regard as accurate. Claims do not repeat widely help beliefs. For example, imagine arguing that many people love cars. This kind of so-called argument serves no purpose-because it is an observation, not a claim.

Claims are NOT about what you like or dislike. I really don't like Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata." This is not a claim; it is a statement of personal taste.

In college argument, practice making a focused claim, an arguable claim, and/ or a revelatory claim, which challenges a common perspective, reveals a hidden dimension, or encourages a fresh way of thinking. Commonly, most college writers begin with too broad an approach to their topic--focus your argumentative assertion on a single aspect of an issue or theme. Ask a specific open-ended, research question. In doing so, demonstrate your ability (as a writer) to investigate the depth and breadth of the topic.

DEPTH: How does your essay address the complexities involved? How are you taking into account the unforeseen problems in the topic? Are you dealing with the most significant factors? A claim can be clear, accurate, precise, and relevant, but superficial (that is, lack depth). For example, the statement, "Just say No!" was a slogan often used during the Reagan presidency to discourage children and teens from using drugs--the statement is clear, accurate, precise, and relevant. Nevertheless, it lacks depth because it treats an extremely complex issue, the pervasive problem of drug use among young people, superficially. It fails to deal with the complexities of the issue.

BREADTH: Do we need to consider another point of view? Is there another way to look at this topic? What would this look like from a conservative standpoint? What would this look like from the point of view of . . .?  A line of reasoning may be clear accurate, precise, relevant, and deep, but lack breadth (as in an argument from either the conservative or liberal standpoint which gets deeply into an issue, but only recognizes the insights of one side of the question).