2.2 Types of Claims to Look out for (Book)

The most familiar kind of argument demands action. It is easy to see when the writer is asking readers to do something. Here are a few phrases that signal a claim of policy, a claim that is pushing readers to do something:

• We should _____________.
• We ought to _____________.
• We must _____________.
• Let’s _____________.
• The best course is _____________.
• The solution is to _____________.
• The next step should be _____________.
• We should consider _____________.
• Further research should be done to determine _____________.

Here are a few sample claims of policy:

• Landlords should not be allowed to raise the rent more than 2% per year.
• The federal government should require a background check before allowing anyone to buy a gun.
• Social media accounts should not be censored in any way.

A claim of policy can also look like a direct command, such as “So if you are an American citizen, don’t let anything stop you from voting.”

Note that not all claims of policy give details or specifics about what should be done or how. Sometimes an author is only trying to build momentum and point us in a certain direction. For example, “Schools must find a way to make bathrooms more private for everyone, not just transgender people.”

Claims of policy don’t have to be about dramatic actions. Even discussion, research, and writing are kinds of action. For example, “Americans need to learn more about other wealthy nations’ health care systems in order to see how much better things could be in America.”