Claim, Data, Argument

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Claim, Data, Argument

• A model for analyzing arguments adapted from the
  work of Stephen Toulmin

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Is this for paragraphs or essays?

• Both!
• The claim, data, argument model works as a way to
  organize individual paragraphs and the larger
  arguments of a full essay.

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Claim

• Definition A claim states the position that will
  be defended in the paragraph or essay.
• What is your claim?
• Examples
• George, from Of Mice and Men, is a villain.
• OR George, from Of Mice and Men, is a hero.

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Data

• Definition Data is the evidence the writer
  cites that supports his or her claim.
• What 2-4 pieces of evidence from John Steinbecks
  Of Mice and Men support your claim that George is
  either a villain or a hero?
• This evidence will come in the form of specific
  examples, quotations, or secondary research
  findings.

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Argument

• Definition The argument interprets your data,
  showing how the data supports your claim or
  explaining why the data proves your claim.
• In trials, for example, opposing lawyers often
  agree on the data but dispute the arguments.
  They would argue that the set of data presented
  proves their point rather than the opposing
  sides point.
• Go back to your data. Make sure you can connect
  each piece of evidence/data to your position on
  Georges character (your claim). Those
  explanations are your arguments.

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Claim, Data, Argument A paragraph

• George is a villain because he intentionally
  harms Lennie on multiple occasions. George admits
  he used to play jokes on Lennie cause he was
  too dumb to take care of himself (Steinbeck 40)
  he even convinced Lennie to jump into a
  riveralthough George knew Lennie could not swim.
  His mistreatment of Lennie even leads to Lennies
  deathGeorge pulled the trigger (Steinbeck 104)
  that led to Lennies demise. A villain is a
  person who purposefully causes emotional, mental,
  or physical harm to another being George
  certainly does this to Lennie. George often took
  advantage of Lennies disability and used his
  disability and his trust in George as a way to
  torment Lennie. Eventually, the violence toward
  Lennie escalated until George commits
  premeditated murder. George did not care about
  Lennie, which is why Lennie became his victim.

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Claim, Data, Argument A paragraph, second
example

• George is a villain because he intentionally
  harms Lennie on multiple occasions. George admits
  he used to play jokes on Lennie cause he was
  too dumb to take care of himself (Steinbeck 40)
  he even convinced Lennie to jump into a
  riveralthough George knew Lennie could not swim.
  George often took advantage of Lennies
  disability and used his disability and his trust
  in George as a way to torment Lennie. His
  mistreatment of Lennie even leads to Lennies
  deathGeorge pulled the trigger (Steinbeck 104)
  that led to Lennies demise. The act of
  premeditated murder suggests that George did not
  really care about Lennie. A villain is a person
  who purposefully causes emotional, mental, or
  physical harm to another being George certainly
  does this to Lennie.

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Now you try it!

• Writing Assignment for Act 1 of The Crucible.
• Choose the following topic or create one of your
  own (get yours preapproved with me).
• Topic By the end of Act 1, the girls dancing in
  the woods (and dabbling in other things they
  should not have been doing) turned into a litany
  of people being charged with witchcraft. Who, in
  your opinion, is most responsible?
• Come up with an answer to the question and write
  it in the form of a CLAIM.
• Find 2-3 pieces of DATA (textual evidenceat
  least one of which must be in the form of a
  quotation) to support your claim.
• Create an ARGUMENT in which you elaborate upon
  your data and explain how it connects to your
  claim. Do not say something like, This quote
  supports the claim because
• Use three highlighter colors. Highlight your data
  one color, your claim another, and your argument
  another.

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Now you try it!

• Writing Assignment for Act 2 of The Crucible.
• Choose one of the following topics or create one
  of your own (get yours preapproved with me).
• Topic Based on what you know from Acts 1 and 2,
  is John Proctor a respectable character?
• Topic Is Elizabeths reactions to Johns
  infidelity reasonable or unreasonable?
• Come up with an answer to the question and write
  it in the form of a CLAIM.
• Find 2-3 pieces of DATA (textual evidenceat
  least one of which must be in the form of a
  quotation) to support your claim.
• Create an ARGUMENT in which you elaborate upon
  your data and explain how it connects to your
  claim. Do not say something like, This quote
  supports the claim because
• Use three highlighter colors. Highlight your data
  one color, your claim another, and your argument
  another.

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Act 4 Writing Assignment

• Choose one of the following topics or create one
  of your own (get yours preapproved with me).
• Topic Is John Proctor a hero or a villain?
• Topic The word crucible has two meanings a
  container for melting or purifying metals and a
  severe test. Which character do you think faces
  the greatest challenge in the play and becomes
  the truest form of what he or she truly is?
• Come up with an answer to the question and write
  it in the form of a CLAIM.
• Find 2-3 pieces of DATA (textual evidenceat
  least one of which must be in the form of a
  quotation) to support your claim.
• Create an ARGUMENT in which you elaborate upon
  your data and explain how it connects to your
  claim. Do not say something like, This quote
  supports the claim because
• Use three highlighter colors. Highlight your data
  one color, your claim another, and your argument
  another.