A claim is a controversial statement against the status quo that is the focus of an argument. Claims should be phrased as specific statements, not questions, so both sides have an equal chance to advocate their positions. There are three types of claims: claims of fact about what is/was/will be, claims of value about what is good/bad, and claims of policy about what should be done. Debates involve burdens of proof, presumption, and rebuttal for both sides to effectively argue for or against the claim. Debates can occur in various environments focused on different topics.

1. Chapter Nine: Claims Justin Serranzana Speech 104 Professor Marteney