Claims, Warrants, and

Impacts

Debate I

WRITING CLAIMS

CLAIMS must have TWO

features:

1. A good claim is DEBATABLE.

2. A good claim is NARROW.

Good claims must be DEBATABLE

Which of the following two claims is

debatable?

a. Pollution is bad for the

environment.

b. At least 25% of the federal

budget should be spent limiting

pollution.

Good claims must be DEBATABLE

Why is B the more debatable

claim?

a. Pollution is bad for the

environment.

b. At least 25% of the federal

budget should be spent limiting

pollution.

Good claims must be NARROW

Which of the following claims is

more narrow?

a. Illegal drug use is detrimental

because it encourages gang

violence.

b. Drug use is detrimental to

society.

Good claims must be NARROW

Why is A the more narrow claim?

a. Illegal drug use is detrimental

because it encourages gang

violence.

b. Drug use is detrimental to

society.

TYPES OF CLAIMS

There are four types of claims:

1. Claims of fact

2. Claims of cause and effect

3. Claims of value

4. Claims of solution

CLAIMS of FACT

These claims argue about what the

definition of something is or whether

something is a settled fact.

EXAMPLE:

What some people refer to as global

warming is actually nothing more than

normal, long-term cycles of climate

change.

CLAIMS of CAUSE & EFFECT

These claims argue that one person,

thing, or event caused another thing

or event to occur.

EXAMPLE:

The popularity of SUVs in the United

States has caused pollution to

increase.

CLAIMS of VALUE

These are claims made about what

something is worth, whether we value

it or not, how we would rate or

categorize something.

EXAMPLE:

Global warming is the most pressing

challenge facing the world today.

CLAIMS of SOLUTION

These claims argue for or against a

certain solution or policy approach to

a problem.

EXAMPLE:

Instead of drilling for oil in Alaska we

should be focusing on ways to reduce

oil consumption, such as researching

renewable energy sources.

Identify the type of claim

1. The increased number of people smoking in the U.S. has caused healthcare premiums to go up.

2. Tobacco products contain addictive ingredients.

3. Removing tobacco products from the market in the U.S. should be our top priority.

4. Instead of simply stating that tobacco products are bad for your health, we should remove them from the market.

Identify the type of claim

1. The increased number of people smoking in the

U.S. has caused healthcare premiums to go up.

Cause and Effect

2. Tobacco products contain addictive ingredients.

Fact

3. Removing tobacco products from the market in

the U.S. should be our top priority. Value

4. Instead of simply stating that tobacco products

are bad for your health, we should remove them

from the market. Solution

WARRANTS

Parts of a warrant:

1. Data - evidence, fact, research

2. Bridge – how the data supports

the claim

3. Backing – additional logic or

reasoning that may be necessary

to support the warrant

WARRANT PRACTICE

Can you identify the DATA, BRIDGE

and BACKING in the following

warrant?

WARRANT EXAMPLE

Claim: Lopez Middle School students achieve academic excellence.

Warrant: Lopez’s Reading STAAR scores were the highest among the district. The scores were 97% in the 6th grade, 99% in the 7th

grade and 100% in the 8th grade for the 2014 STAAR test. This proves academic excellence because Lopez scoring above 90% overall ranks them as exemplary. Any school that is exemplary achieves academic excellence.

WARRANT EXAMPLE

Claim: Lopez Middle School students achieve academic excellence.

Data: Lopez’s Reading STAAR scores were the highest among the district. The scores were 97% in the 6th grade, 99% in the 7th

grade and 100% in the 8th grade for the 2014 STAAR test. Bridge: This proves academic excellence because Lopez scoring above 90% overall ranks them as exemplary. Backing: Any school that is exemplary achieves academic excellence.

IMPACTS

Impacts have three considerations:

1. Timeframe

When will the impact happen?

2. Probability

What is the likelihood the impact will

actually occur?

3. Severity & Believability

How much would the impact affect the

world? Is the impact believable?

IMPACT EXAMPLE

The likelihood of Lopez students achieving

academic goals is very high given the high

test scores. Many parents will want their

child to attend Lopez so that their child can

obtain academic success. Lopez’s

academic achievement proves that it is the

best middle school in the North East ISD.

What was considered when writing this

impact? Timeframe, Probability, or Severity

and Believability

The Answer

Probability and Believability

HOW DO YOU KNOW?

QUIZ – Friday, October 30!

Be able to identify the four types of claims given

an example

Tell me what two qualities all claims must have

Explain the three parts of a warrant and give an

example

Explain the three aspects of an impact

Given a claim, write a full set of warrants and

impacts – like your homework assignments