Claim
A claim is a single assertion that the writer asks the reader to accept. An essay’s thesis is its central claim; the essay’s body paragraphs contain supporting claims, each of which advances the thesis by establishing a piece of the overall argument.
Claims vary in kind:
- Claims of fact assert that something is the case. “The average American reads fewer books now than in 1990.” These require verifiable evidence.
- Claims of value assert that something is good, bad, better, or worse. “Montaigne is a more honest essayist than Bacon.” These require criteria — the writer must establish what “honest” means before arguing that Montaigne satisfies the standard.
- Claims of policy assert that something should be done. “Universities should require a writing course in every year of study.” These require both evidence that the current situation is inadequate and reasoning that the proposed policy would improve it.
A claim differs from an observation or a fact. “The unemployment rate is 4%” is a fact; “The unemployment rate understates the true extent of joblessness” is a claim. The distinction matters because claims require support; facts require only verification.
The most common error in essay writing is presenting claims without evidence — asserting rather than arguing. The second most common is confusing evidence with claims: quoting an authority is presenting evidence; asserting what the authority said is true is making a claim that still needs its own support.