In argumentative essays, it is necessary to distinguish the writer's “claim” from the “reasons,” “evidence,” and “specific examples” that support it. This is the key to questions that ask for the “writer's opinion” in reading-comprehension problems.
Basic Rules
Claim: What the writer wants to say in this passage. It usually appears at the beginning or end.
- Signs of a claim: I think / I believe / In my opinion / argue that / It is important to / We must
- Expressions such as “The point is...” and “The key issue is...” are also claim markers
Reason / Evidence: Logical reasons, data, or statistics that support the claim.
- Signs of evidence: because / since / due to / according to / a study shows / research indicates
- Numbers, years, and proper nouns are often evidence supporting a claim
Example: A specific case used to strengthen the evidence.
- Signs of examples: for example / for instance / such as / take ~ as an example / a case in point
Distinguishing Claims from Facts:
- Fact: “Water boils at 100°C,” which can be objectively proven
- Opinion: “Water is the most important resource.” ← important is a subjective judgment
Questions asking for the “writer's claim” frequently appear on entrance examinations. Be aware of the difference between facts and opinions.
Claim: Online learning is more effective than traditional classroom learning.
Evidence 1: A study by Harvard University found that students learn 25% faster online.
Evidence 2: Online learning allows students to study at their own pace.
Example: For instance, Tom studied a 6-month course in just 3 months using Coursera.
Conclusion (Restatement of the Claim): Therefore, schools should adopt online learning more widely.
Points to Remember
① A writer who quotes an opposing view: “Some people argue that X. However, I believe Y.” ── X is not the writer's opinion but the opposing view. Y is the writer's claim.
② Rhetorical questions: A question such as “Should we ignore this problem? Of course not.” expresses a strong claim.
③ Cautious claims: Expressions such as “It might be argued that...” and “I would suggest that...” are also claims. The level of certainty differs, but remember that they are opinions.
④ Distinguishing quotations from the writer's opinion: “According to Smith (2020), X.” is Smith's opinion. If it is followed by “I agree with Smith's view,” the writer also agrees. In a negative context, it may quote an opposing view.
- Signs of claims: I think / I believe / argue that / important / must
- Signs of evidence: because / according to / a study shows
- Signs of examples: for example / such as / a case in point
- Distinguish facts from claims (numbers = facts, evaluative words = claims)
- Watch for quotations of opposing views (Some argue ... However, I believe ...)
Practice
- Answer whether the following sentence is a “claim” or a “fact”: The Earth orbits the Sun once every 365.25 days.
- In the structure “Some people say X, but I think Y,” which is the writer's claim?
- In no more than 50 Japanese characters, explain the advantage of distinguishing claims, evidence, and specific examples when reading an argumentative essay.