2.2 Types of Claims to Look out for (Book)

In some cases, the writer may want to share a particular vision of what something is like, what effects something has, how something is changing, or of how something unfolded in the past. The argument might define a phenomenon, a trend, or a period of history.

Often these claims are simply presented as fact, and an uncritical reader may not see them as arguments at all. However, very often claims of fact are more controversial than they seem. For example, consider the claim, “Caffeine boosts performance.” Does it really? How much? How do we know? Performance at what kind of task? For everyone? Doesn’t it also have downsides? A writer could spend a book convincing us that caffeine really boosts performance and explaining exactly what they mean by those three words.

Some phrases writers might use to introduce a claim of fact include the following:

• Research suggests that _____________.
• The data indicate that _____________.
• _____________is increasing or decreasing.
• There is a trend toward _____________.
• _____________causes _____________
• _____________leads to _____________.

Often a claim of fact will be the basis for other claims about what we should do that look more like what we associate with the word “argument.” However, many pieces of writing in websites, magazines, office settings, and academic settings don’t try to move people toward action. They aim primarily at getting readers to agree with their view of what is fact. For example, it took many years of argument, research, and public messaging before most people accepted the claim that “Smoking causes cancer.”

Here are a few arguable sample claims of fact:

• It is easier to grow up biracial in Hawaii than in any other part of the United States.
• Raising the minimum wage will force many small businesses to lay off workers.
• Fires in the western United States have gotten worse primarily because of climate change.
• Antidepressants provide the most benefit when combined with talk therapy.