English 9: Argumentative Texts, Claims, and Evidence

Vocabulary flashcards covering the definitions of argumentative texts, the three types of claims, and the three tests of evidence.

Evidence

Information used to prove, explain, or support a claim, which may include facts, examples, observations, statistics, or expert statements.

Argumentative Text

A type of informational text that presents a position or claim about an issue and supports that position using reasons and relevant evidence.

Claim

A statement a writer wants the audience to accept.

Claim of Fact

A type of claim that states something that can be proven true or false using evidence.

Claim of Value

A type of claim that judges whether something is good, bad, better, important, or worthwhile.

Claim of Policy

A type of claim that proposes an action, rule, or solution—what should or must be done.

Relevance

An evidence test that asks: Does it directly support the claim?

Suffience

An evidence test that asks: Is the evidence enough to be convincing?

Credibility

An evidence test that asks: Can the source be trusted and checked?

Should (Modal Verb)

A modal verb that often signals a recommended action in a claim of policy.