Creating Good Argumentative Claims

Creating an argument is a bit like Victor Frankenstein creating his monster. If it isn't logical, people won't understand it and will try to destroy it. The creation itself may turn on you if you don't fully develop it. It may fall apart if something is introduced that you weren't ready for, like fire. So to avoid these problems, creators must start with a strong base. The base of a strong argument is the claim.

The claim is the statement that indicates what the essay is going to prove, often the same as the thesis statement. Unlike thesis statements where there are myriad possibilities of types, only three types of claims are possible: fact, value and policy.

The argumentative claim of fact states that a concept is either true or false. It may be something that has happened in the past, is happening now, or may happen in the future. Global warming is caused by human overconsumption and The NY Yankees will win the next World Series are both claims of fact, things that can be proven or disproven by facts.

An argumentative claim of value, on the other hand, is a judgment call. It may state that something is right or wrong, good or bad. Movie reviews, for instance, are typically claims of value. Other such claims might be Wong Fu's has the worst Chinese food in town or the movie Paranormal Activity has great special effects for its $15,000 budget.

An argumentative claim of policy is the most common type used in research papers. Policy claims use words like "must be" and "will be" in them, stating that a certain condition should exist. All college students should be required to take an etiquette class before graduating and The stadium's concession stand should be open for at one hour after games have finished.

All argumentative claims should be supported by well-thought-out support, of course. Facts and even opinions that come from credible sources are good support. Part of the support you use to prove the Yankees will win the Series might be their track record and current roster, for example. Claims of value should be certain to include the standards you are using. For instance, perhaps the special effects in Paranormal Activity wouldn't have been so good if the budget had been $150,000. Personal experience can have a great impact, although it might need to be rewritten to avoid being in first person (using "I"). In a claim of policy such as the one about the concession stand, including a story of how I saw fifty people still mulling around 45 minutes after the game, asking how they could get some snacks and sodas, would be a personal example that would illustrate the current problem.

An appropriate, well-written claim is the brain of an effective argument, just as the brain is needed in Frankenstein's creation. We all know what happened when the brain wasn't up to par. Spending some time creating the brain that really fits your purpose will keep your argumentative essay experience from becoming a horror story.