1. Types of persuasive claims
SLCC
Fairview High School

2. There are four general types of
persuasive claims
• Claims of value
• Claims of fact
• Claims of policy
• Cause/effect claims
• And the type of claim you are making will
drive the type of evidence you provide to
support it.

3. Claims of value
• Example
o Kurt Vonnegut is the best modern satirist.
• Evidence necessary
o Your criteria for determining your value judgment and
analysis of less worthy examples.
 Criteria for determining a great satirist.
 Who are others? How do they not meet the criteria.

4. Claims of fact
• Example
o Women are naturally more nurturing.
• Argue it as a fact even though it may not be a
fact.
o Not a claim:
 Smoking is bad for your health.
 That’s not a debatable “fact.”
• Evidence necessary
o Credible evidence—facts, data, statistics, etc.
 Use scientific evidence that babies are more soothed
by mothers.
 Surveys show that older adults see mothers as more
nurturing.

5. Claims of policy
• Example
o Smoking should be banned in all public
buildings.
• Evidence necessary
o Show all the reasons why your policy claim
needs to be followed.
 Demonstrate that smoking is unhealthy.
 Demonstrate the dangers in particular of second-
hand smoking.
 Something about the role/rights of public
buildings.
 Why specifically in ALL public buildings.

6. Cause/effect claims
• Example
o Because the flu shot contains thimerisol, no
pregnant women should be given the flu
shot.
• Evidence necessary
o Make the link between the cause and effect
clear.
 Evidence about thimerisol and its dangerous side
effects to mother and fetus.

7. The boundaries between these claims
are fluid; they can overlap
• Fact and value
o Arguing as fact and placing a value judgment on it.
o Boxing is a dehumanizing sport.
• Cause/effect and policy
o Because this causes that, this other step needs to be
taken.
o E.g., Because of the dangers of thimerisol on pregnant
women and fetuses, flu shots for pregnant women
should not contain thimerisol.

8. Think about your own work:
• Write down your thesis.
• What type of claim are you making with your
research paper thesis?
o Value
o Fact
o Policy
o Cause/effect
o Some combination
• And what kind of evidence then should you be
collecting?