Station 1: Are Your Claims Really Claims?

1. A fact that proves a claim is ________________. It can be a quote from a source, a specific fact, or a general statement that is accepted as true and cannot be debated.

Evidence is a fact that backs up a claim. It CANNOT be debated or argued.

Explanation

Evidence is a fact that backs up a claim. It CANNOT be debated or argued.

Submit

2. The Latin American revolutions were most revolutionary because they inspired pride and independence in the Americas.

This is a claim.

This is evidence.

"They inspired pride and independence in the Americas" is something we could debate.

You could use evidence to say: yes, they did inspire pride because now the Latin American countries were controlled by the Creoles who were from Latin America.

Or you could use different evidence to say: no, they did not inspire pride and independence because the lower classes, Native Americans, and African slaves still were poor and controlled by the Creoles.

Explanation

"They inspired pride and independence in the Americas" is something we could debate.

You could use evidence to say: yes, they did inspire pride because now the Latin American countries were controlled by the Creoles who were from Latin America.

Or you could use different evidence to say: no, they did not inspire pride and independence because the lower classes, Native Americans, and African slaves still were poor and controlled by the Creoles.

3. A _______ is a debatable statement. There is more than one possible right answer that can be argued.

A claim must be debatable. A fact that everyone agrees on is not a claim, but it could be used as evidence.

Explanation

A claim must be debatable. A fact that everyone agrees on is not a claim, but it could be used as evidence.

Submit

4. The French Revolution was most revolutionary because more schools opened.

This is a claim.

This is evidence.

"More schools opened" is not something we can argue or debate about. It is a fact. So it cannot be a claim; it has to be evidence.

Explanation

"More schools opened" is not something we can argue or debate about. It is a fact. So it cannot be a claim; it has to be evidence.

5. Read this claim: "The Haitian Revolution was revolutionary because it improved the economy for Haitians." Which sentence below is an OPPOSING claim from what the sentence above is arguing?

A. The Haitian Revolution was revolutionary because it ended slavery and allowed former slaves to own land.

C. The Haitian Revolution was revolutionary because it made Haiti's economy poorer.

The claim is that the Haitian Revolution improved the economy for Haitians, and this is a statement that can be debated.

The opposite side from what that claim is arguing is choice C: that the Haitian Revolution made the economy worse and poorer. This is also a statement that could be debated.

A and B do not make an argument against the first claim. Choice A is evidence that supports the claim. Choice B is evidence against the first claim, but it is still a fact - it can't be debated, so it is not a claim.

Explanation

The claim is that the Haitian Revolution improved the economy for Haitians, and this is a statement that can be debated.

The opposite side from what that claim is arguing is choice C: that the Haitian Revolution made the economy worse and poorer. This is also a statement that could be debated.

A and B do not make an argument against the first claim. Choice A is evidence that supports the claim. Choice B is evidence against the first claim, but it is still a fact - it can't be debated, so it is not a claim.