Claims, Evidence, and Reasoning

Understanding a Claim

• Definition: A claim is a statement that is arguable and can be proven by evidence.
• Characteristics:
  • It is not a personal opinion.
  • It answers a specific question.
  • Should be arguable.

Example of a Claim

• Question: "Should my little brother get a cell phone?"
• Claim: "Cell phones can be unhealthy for kids."
• Notes: Avoid starting a claim with "I believe" or "I think."

Importance of Evidence

• Purpose: Supports or backs up your claim.
• Characteristics:
  • Must be reliable.
  • Should be cited with credible sources.

Example of Evidence

• Research Cited: "Overuse of the smartphone is associated with various mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, stress, and low self-esteem."
  • Source: Panova and Carbonell, 2018 from the Journal of Behavior Addiction.
• Notes: Always cite sources to verify reliability.

Connecting with Reasoning

• Purpose: Explains how or why the evidence supports the claim.

Example of Reasoning

• "Kids are on their smartphones all the time, and that can lead to health problems."

Putting It All Together

• Complete Argument:
  1. Claim: Cell phones can be unhealthy for kids.
  2. Evidence: Overuse of smartphones is linked to mental health issues (Panova and Carbonell, 2018).
  3. Reasoning: Frequent smartphone usage by kids supports the evidence of potential health problems.

Conclusion

• The lecture explains how to structure a well-supported argument using claims, evidence, and reasoning.
• Encourages practicing writing strong claims and backing them up with evidence and reasoning.