Types of Claims

Goals

1. Describe the types of claims.
   
2. Skillfully make each type.
   
3. Skillfully analyze each type.

Claims

A claim is a statement that asserts something is true or that a particular action should be taken.

Examples:
- People should tell the truth.
- Person X will win the election.
- The CEO has committed business fraud.
- Teacher X is a good teacher.
- You should go to restaurant X.

Rationale

Skill with classifying and analyzing claims equips you to:

• Support your own claims with the most appropriate reasoning.
  
• Evaluate and respond to the claims of others more effectively.

Claim Classification and Analysis (How To)

1. Classify the claim by type (e.g., descriptive, causal, normative).
   Note: A single claim can fall into more than one type.
   
2. Characterize the claim as either objective or subjective.
   
3. Match reasoning to the claim type (e.g., use values for normative, evidence for descriptive).
   
4. Strengthen subjective claims by grounding them in evidence, definitions, or widely shared standards when possible.

Types of Claims

1. Descriptive Claim
   Describes what is—a statement about reality.
   Example: “Water boils at 100°C at sea level.”

2. Normative Claim
   States what should be—makes a moral, ethical, or value-based judgment.
   Example: “People should vote in local elections.”

3. Causal Claim
   Asserts that one thing causes another.
   Example: “Smoking causes lung cancer.”

4. Predictive Claim
   Forecasts what will happen in the future.
   Example: “Raising interest rates will reduce inflation.”

5. Comparative Claim
   Compares two or more things in terms of quality, effectiveness, or other criteria.
   Example: “Electric cars are more efficient than gas-powered cars.”

6. Evaluative Claim
   Expresses a judgment about value or quality.
   Example: “That film was a masterpiece.”

7. Definition-Based Claim
   Asserts whether something meets a definition or category.
   Example: “Pluto is not a planet.”

Objective vs. Subjective

These are characteristics that apply to any claim:

• Objective Claim
  Can be evaluated based on evidence that is observable, measurable, and independently verifiable by skilled individuals.
  Example: “Mars has two moons.”

• Subjective Claim
  Based on personal experience, taste, or belief; not independently verifiable.
  Example: “Ice cream is the best dessert.”

Tip: Even when making a subjective claim, strive to include objective elements to make your argument stronger.

Examples of Applying Claim Types

1. “People should eat a Mediterranean diet.”
   • Type: Normative
     
   • Characteristic: Subjective
     
   • Reasoning: Support the value judgment with objective evidence on health benefits (e.g., lower heart disease risk) to strengthen the claim.
2. “Doing homework helps students learn.”
   • Type: Causal
     
   • Characteristic: Objective
     
   • Reasoning: Cite studies or experiments showing a consistent positive effect of homework on learning outcomes.
3. “Vim is an excellent, perhaps the best, text editor.”
   • Type: Evaluative + Comparative
     
   • Characteristic: Subjective
     
   • Reasoning: Add objective comparisons—e.g., startup time, customizability, user control—to support the opinion.
4. “You should wear a seat belt.”
   • Type: Normative + Causal
     
   • Characteristic: Subjective
     
   • Reasoning: Base the recommendation on objective data (e.g., accident survival rates) to justify the action.
5. “Rafting is a great sport.”
   • Type: Evaluative
     
   • Characteristic: Subjective
     
   • Reasoning: Strengthen the subjective opinion with common benefits such as fitness, adventure, and group bonding.