Defensible and Interesting Claims

Effective claims stir interest and call for a defense rather than simply present an obvious, known fact that would cause little or no disagreement.

Sharpening the Edge

As you read in Assignment 6, a claim must be defensible. If a claim isn’t defensible, it is either completely untrue (cannot be defended or is just nonsensical) or it is a fact or generally accepted as a fact. As you gather evidence to support a claim, you should also be reviewing and, if necessary, revising your claim to be sure it has the edge or sharpness of a genuine claim. 

Consider the following examples:

Notice that the examples of claims above are also refined enough to express an interesting view rather than a trite or oversimplified one. Issues worth debating always have more positions within them than a simple pro or con. For example, a claim that schools should not require PE is, as it stands, general, overly familiar, and somewhat dull. However, claiming that requiring PE can actually be harmful to some students adds a level of interest and complexity that will engage readers or listeners. When considering your rhetorical situation, anticipate the possible points of view, objections, and values held by the people reading your argument to help you refine your claim. Sometimes an effective claim produces discomfort in those who disagree with it.

Remember: Effective claims provoke interest and require a defense, rather than simply stating an obvious, known fact that requires no defense or justification