Identify Claims

of Fact, Policy
and Value
Quarter 3 – Module 3
 Claims of Fact, Value and Policy
This lesson will help you identify explicit and implicit
information made in a written text. Moreover, you will be
introduced to the different types of claims that a writer can
make fact, value, or policy. You can usually determine this by
examining the type of questions they answer about the text.
 Claims of Fact, Value and Policy
When reading texts critically, it is imperative that you
identify the type of claims or the approach to the topic, to see
the main argument. Although we focus on critical reading, it
is useful to note that these claims may also be used when
you write your own paper.
To identify the claims, focus on the first and last
sentences of the paragraph. The details in each paragraph
will also guide you as to whether a text supports or opposes a
certain claim or argument.
 What are claims?
• Whenever you read something, you find yourself looking for
the writer’s point or position regarding the chosen topic.
• That point is also known as the claim, or the central
argument or thesis statement of the text.
• This claim is what the writer tries to prove in the text by
providing details, explanations, and other types of evidence.
• As such, it is usually found in the introduction or in the first
few paragraphs of the text.
 What are claims?
• The claim is the most important part of the text.
• The quality and complexity of the reading depend on the
claim because the claim defines the paper’s direction and
scope.
• The claim is a sentence that summarizes the most
important thing that the writer wants to say as a result of
his/her thinking, reading, or writing.
 Characteristics of a Good Claim
1. A claim should be argumentative and debatable.
2. A claim should be specific and focused.
3. A claim should be interesting and engaging.
4. A claim should be logical.
 Types of Claims
1. Claim of fact
2. Claim of value
3. Claim of policy
 Claim of Fact
• A claim of fact makes an assertion about something that can be
proved or disproved with factual evidence.
• However, keep in mind the basic quality of claims, that they
have to be debatable, and offer an assertion about an issue.
• So, a claim of fact for a logical argument cannot simply consist
of a statistic or proven fact. It needs, instead, to focus on an
assertion which uses facts to back it up, but for which the
evidence might still be debatable.
• If you make a claim of fact, you show factual evidence
(examples, data, research reports) that prove your claim.
 Claim of Fact
• Claims of fact usually answers a “what” question.
• When determining whether something is a claim of fact,
the following questions are useful:
➢ Is this issue related to a possible cause or effect?
➢ Is this statement true or false? How can its
truthfulness be verified?
➢ Is this claim controversial or debatable?
 Claim of Fact
Examples:
• People use Facebook, Twitter, and other social media to
bully one another.
• Human activities are the primary cause of the recent rise
in global temperatures.
 Claim of Value
•A claim of value argues that something is good or
bad, or right or wrong or that one thing is better
than another thing.
• Claims of value attempt to explain how problems,
situations, or issues ought to be valued.
 Claim of Value
• To discover these explanations, you may ask the
following questions:
➢ Which claims endorse what is good or right?
➢ What qualities should be considered good? Why?
➢ Which of these values contend with others? Which
ones are more important, and why?
• Example:
It is wrong to use social media to bully people.
 Claim of Value
• To discover these explanations, you may ask the
following questions:
➢ Which claims endorse what is good or right?
➢ What qualities should be considered good? Why?
➢ Which of these values contend with others? Which
ones are more important, and why?
 Claim of Value
Example:
• It is wrong to use social media to bully people.
• Face-to-face communication is better than online
communication for building meaningful relationships.
 Claim of Policy
•A claim of policy argues that certain conditions should
exist, or that something should or should not be done, in
order to solve a problem.
• Claimsof policy defend actionable plans, usually answer
“how” questions.
 Claim of Policy
• Thefollowing questions will be useful in evaluating a
claim of policy:
➢ Does the claim suggest a specific remedy to solve
the problem?
➢ Is the policy clearly defined?
➢ Is the need for the policy established?
➢ Is the policy the best one available? For whom?
➢ How does the policy solve the problem?
 Claim of Policy
Example:
• There should becriminal charges brought against people
who use social media to bully people.
• Vaccination
against preventable diseases should be
mandatory for all school-aged children.
 Exercise
To strengthen your understanding of types of claims, take this
ten question self-test. See if you can identify which type of
claim the statement is making, then check the answer.
1. Vaping can lead to increased blood pressure, lung
disease, and insulin resistance.
2. The basic keys to success are perseverance and
discipline.
3. Studies have shown that exposure to violent media is a
risk factor for violent behaviors.
 Exercise
To strengthen your understanding of types of claims, take this
ten question self-test. See if you can identify which type of
claim the statement is making, then check the answer.
4. The Career Support Network is an excellent resource for
people who are considering a mid-life career change.
5. In order to ensure that graduates are competitive for
top jobs in their fields, the college must put additional
resources into its career services office and internship
programs.
 Exercise
To strengthen your understanding of types of claims, take this
ten question self-test. See if you can identify which type of
claim the statement is making, then check the answer.
6. Although the International Astronomical Union
announced that Pluto is not actually a planet, experts
disagree on what characteristics define a planet.
7. Increased investments in solar power will benefit
national security by reducing dependence on fossil
fuels.
 Exercise
To strengthen your understanding of types of claims, take this
ten question self-test. See if you can identify which type of
claim the statement is making, then check the answer.
8. Parents should not only be aware of how their children
are using social media, but also understand the potential
positive and negative impacts of social media use.
9. Advances in computer modeling have made it possible to
create completely new types of architectural structures.
10. It is immoral to steal from stores to feed yourself or
others.