8.W.07 Self-Generated Question-Short Research Project with Multiple Sources

Claims

In a work of persuasive writing, the writer presents "claims," which are propositions that convey the writer's interpretations of or beliefs about something. Claims are not facts but rather conclusions that the writer draws from facts. The claims below convey interpretations of Henry David Thoreau's essay "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For," a selection from Thoreau's Walden.

• Thoreau believed that preoccupation with insignificant events caused nineteenth-century Americans to overlook what is important in life.

• Thoreau felt that technology was the primary cause of distress for nineteenth-century Americans.

• Thoreau thought that we should follow the ways of nature to lead more fulfilling lives.

• Thoreau felt that each individual has the responsibility to understand and reject the "shams and delusions" that are too often accepted as truths.

• Thoreau demonstrated his misanthropy (hatred of human beings) in his essay and saw no choice but to abandon civilization.

Notice how we could argue over the truth of the statements presented above. This fact alone should help you determine if you are presenting a claim. A claim, by its very nature, includes the possibility of at least two different, sometimes opposing, points of view. After all, there would be no reason to argue for a belief or interpretation if the subject of the belief or interpretation provided for only one possible point of view.

I think that most of the claims listed above could be argued well with specific evidence from Thoreau's essay, but I would be a little suspicious of one of the claims and downright skeptical about another one. To me, Thoreau seems disturbed by the emphasis on technological "improvements" in his day, such as the telegraph and railroad, but does he really believe that technology is the "primary cause of distress"? Right now, I really don't know, so I would wait to see how well the writer could support this interpretation before I would make up my mind. I approach the last claim with more skepticism, the claim that "Thoreau demonstrated his misanthropy (hatred of human beings) in his essay and saw no choice but to abandon civilization." Right now, I don't see Thoreau as a misanthrope, but I would be open to reading this writer's interpretation, examining carefully the way the writer argues this claim.

As you come up with claims for your essays, make sure of two things:

1. that the claims really do convey your interpretation and are not simply statement of fact (see below), and

2. that the claims can be supported with specific evidence.