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Every argument has a claim someone wants you to accept and reasons that answer why you should.
Paper packet. Every task here also exists on screen, where it is checked automatically; answers written on paper are not assessed by Nydus. When you are back at a device, enter your answers there.
You will take a short message, note or poster and say which sentence is the claim — the thing the writer wants you to believe or do — and which sentences are the reasons offered for it, using the why-test and the because-test, with or without a signpost word and wherever the claim sits.
The community center has asked everyone for ideas about the summer fair.
Last year the fair ran out of drinking water by two o'clock.
The only tap is inside, at the far end of the hall.
So this year there should be a water table by the front gate.
The fair has been held every summer for as long as anyone can remember.
Last year people stood six deep around the dog show.
The dog show needs a much bigger ring this year.
From the back of that crowd, nobody could see a single dog.
You give reasons every day. Can we eat outside? It's sunny and the table is dry. You asked for something and gave two reasons for it. This lesson is about spotting those two jobs in what other people say and write.
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| This lesson's terms | A claim is a sentence someone wants you to accept: to believe it, or to do it. A reason is a sentence offered to answer why should I accept that? An argument is a claim together with its reasons. Background is any other sentence: it may be true, and it answers nothing. |
| Supported conclusion | The conclusion the stated reasons reach, including the limits on its group, time or conditions. |
Every argument, however short, has two kinds of sentence in it. The claim is what the speaker wants you to accept. Each reason is an answer to why should I accept it?
Some claims say what is true: the pond is frozen solid. Some say what to do: we should put the bird feeder by the window. Both are claims, because in both someone is asking you to agree.
The why-test. Point at a sentence and ask why? If another sentence answers, the first is the claim and the answer is a reason.
The because-test. Join them: the claim, then because, then the reason. Wear wellies because the field is flooded sounds sensible. Swap them — the field is flooded because wear wellies — and you get nonsense, which tells you the first way round was right.
Signpost words help when they are there. So, that is why and which means usually lead to the claim. Because, since and for one thing usually lead to a reason. Many people never use them, and the claim can come first, last or in the middle, so where a sentence sits never tells you its job. The two tests do.
Another way: picture
Think of a table. The claim is the tabletop and each reason is a leg holding it up. A vase on the table or a cat underneath it is in the room, and it holds nothing up: that is background.
Another way: steps
A claim is not a special kind of word. It is a job that a sentence does in a message. Read this pair: 'The lights are off. The club must have closed early.' The writer wants us to accept that the club closed early. The lights being off is offered as a reason. Now imagine somebody asks why the lights are off. The same person replies, 'The club closed early, so the lights are off.' The jobs have changed. The sentence about the lights is now the claim. That is why memorizing a list of claim words cannot replace reading the message.
Keep two questions apart. The first is 'What reason did the writer give?' The second is 'Is that a good enough reason?' You can answer the first even when the reason is weak. Perhaps the club is open and its lamps have failed. This would weaken the argument about closing early. It would not change which sentence was offered as its reason. In this lesson, get the jobs clear before deciding how much to trust the argument.
A helpful notebook has three columns: what the writer wants accepted, what is offered to support it, and what merely sets the scene. Do not put the whole passage in the first column. Shorten each part without changing its meaning. 'Take a coat' and 'Rain is forecast' are enough to keep the link visible. Read across the first two columns with because between them. Then read the third column and ask whether leaving it out changes the support. This is a way of checking your own reading, not a rule that background is unimportant in every situation.
A short message says: The biggest fish keeps chasing the small ones. The tank has a blue castle in it. So the biggest fish needs a tank of its own. Which sentence is the claim — the one the writer wants you to accept?
The supported answer is: So the biggest fish needs a tank of its own.
The distinction in this case is that the chasing is offered to answer why a tank of its own?, and the castle answers nothing.
A short message says: Our bikes get wet and rusty in the yard. The club needs a shed for the bikes. The yard is painted green. Which sentence is the claim — the one the writer wants you to accept?
The supported answer is: The club needs a shed for the bikes.
The distinction in this case is that the rust answers why a shed?, and the color of the yard answers nothing.
A short message says: Lena should be the goalkeeper on Saturday. Lena has a red scarf. She saved every shot in practice this week. Which sentence is the claim — the one the writer wants you to accept?
The supported answer is: Lena should be the goalkeeper on Saturday.
The distinction in this case is that the saves in practice answer why Lena?, and the scarf answers nothing.
A short message says: The library has a new blue carpet. The lift has been broken for two weeks. The library should mend the lift before anything else. Which sentence is the claim — the one the writer wants you to accept?
The supported answer is: The library should mend the lift before anything else.
The distinction in this case is that two weeks without a lift answers why mend it first?, and the carpet answers nothing.
A short message says: Bring a coat to the match. The forecast says rain from three o'clock. The match is at the park by the bus station. Which sentence is the claim — the one the writer wants you to accept?
The supported answer is: Bring a coat to the match.
The distinction in this case is that the forecast is offered to answer why bring a coat?, and where the park is answers nothing.
A short message says: The park café opened in May. The café should sell bottles of cold water. On hot days the park's drinking fountain is always broken. Which sentence is the claim — the one the writer wants you to accept?
The supported answer is: The café should sell bottles of cold water.
The distinction in this case is that the broken fountain answers why sell water?, even though it comes last, and the opening month answers nothing.
Signpost words tell you what is coming next. Match each one to what usually follows it.
…, so … / … because … / Since …, … / That is why … / …, which means … / For one thing, … / a claim usually follows / a reason usually follows
So, that is why and which means come after the reasons and point to what the speaker wants you to accept: a claim follows. Because, since and for one thing point to an answer to why?: a reason follows. Try it: the pond is frozen, so we can't feed the ducks there — the claim follows so. We can't feed the ducks there because the pond is frozen — the reason follows because.
A poster in the library window says the five things below. The claim is the first one. Mark every sentence that gives a reason for it.
Come to the Riverside Fun Run on Sunday! / The route is flat all the way round. / Every runner gets free fruit at the finish. / The run is organized by the swimming club. / The money raised pays for a new lifeboat.
The claim is Come to the Riverside Fun Run on Sunday! Ask why should I come? Three sentences answer: the route is flat, every runner gets fruit at the finish, and the money pays for a new lifeboat. Some are stronger reasons than others, but all three are offered as reasons. Who organizes the run answers nothing about why you should come, and the claim is not a reason for itself.
These three sentences are one argument, shuffled. Put them in order so the reasons come first and the claim comes last, after so.
The seed packet says sunflowers need six hours of sun a day. / The window box on the north side gets only two of them. / So the sunflowers should go in the south window box.
Start with the fact that stands on its own: the seed packet says sunflowers need six hours of sun a day. Next comes the fact that leans on it: the north window box gets only two hours — two of the six the packet asks for. Last is the sentence both of them are for, the one that begins with so.
Imagine that you help write a notice for the reading club. It says: 'There are twelve members and only eight chairs. We need four more chairs before Friday. The club began in September.' Someone reads it quickly and says that September is the reason for getting chairs. Work through the numbers and the words before replying.
The request is to get four more chairs. Ask why that request was made. Twelve people need seats, but eight chairs are available. Twelve minus eight is four. That difference explains both the need for more chairs and the number requested. The date the club began does neither of those jobs. The club could have begun in April and still be four chairs short. It is background in this argument.
Write the short argument in a new order: 'We need four more chairs because twelve members have only eight chairs.' The meaning survives the change of order. We have not proved that buying chairs is the best solution: perhaps another room can lend four. We have shown what supports the request in the notice. Keep that limit in the summary.
Before sending the notice, check whether every member is coming on Friday. If only eight will attend, the stated reason no longer establishes a shortage for that meeting. This shows how a clear claim-and-reason split helps with the next task. You know which fact to check. You do not have to argue about when the club began or whether the writer is a nice person. You can ask about attendance and the chairs actually available.
Taking the first sentence as the claim. Writers often start with a reason or with background.
Counting every true sentence as a reason. The goal posts are white is true and about the pitch, and it does not answer why should the pitch be mown?
*Thinking a claim must say should. The pond is frozen solid* is a claim when someone gives you a reason to believe it.
The hall floor was painted on Friday. Paint takes three days to dry. So nobody should walk on it before Monday.
The hall floor was painted on Friday. Paint takes three days to dry. So nobody should walk on it before Monday.
Find the one sentence the others are for.
State the result of this reading move.
Find the one sentence the others are for.
This records the link just identified: The hall floor was painted on Friday. Paint takes three days to dry. So nobody should walk on it before Monday.
So points to the third sentence, and the why-test agrees: why keep off until Monday? The first two sentences answer.
So points to the third sentence, and the why-test agrees: why keep off until Monday? The first two sentences answer.
The claim is the third sentence.
State the result of this reading move.
The claim is the third sentence.
This records the link just identified: So points to the third sentence, and the why-test agrees: why keep off until Monday? The first two sentences answer.
Both other sentences answer why?: one gives the day, the other the drying time.
Both other sentences answer why?: one gives the day, the other the drying time.
Two reasons, and no background.
The recycling bin should move to the kitchen. Nobody walks past the back door. The bin is a green one.
The recycling bin should move to the kitchen. Nobody walks past the back door. The bin is a green one.
No so, no because. Position will not help.
State the result of this reading move.
No so, no because. Position will not help.
This records the link just identified: The recycling bin should move to the kitchen. Nobody walks past the back door. The bin is a green one.
Ask why move the bin? The second sentence answers: nobody walks past where it is now.
Ask why move the bin? The second sentence answers: nobody walks past where it is now.
The first sentence is the claim, the second its reason.
State the result of this reading move.
The first sentence is the claim, the second its reason.
This records the link just identified: Ask why move the bin? The second sentence answers: nobody walks past where it is now.
Try move the bin because it is green: that is no answer at all.
Try move the bin because it is green: that is no answer at all.
So the third sentence is background.
Identify the task before answering its parts.
Claim sentence: {{b0}}
First reason sentence: {{b1}}
Missing seats: {{b2}}
The three labeled spaces ask for different parts of this analysis, so keep their order visible.
Locate the evidence for the first part.
Sentence 2 asks for the larger room.
This is the supplied information that bears on work out claim sentence.
Work out claim sentence.
2
Sentence 2 asks for the larger room.
Work out first reason sentence.
1
The membership count in sentence 1 combines with the capacity in sentence 3 to support that request.
Work out missing seats.
2
There are 8 people but 6 seats, so two people lack seats; the sign's color does not explain the shortage.
Write the completed analysis in its original order.
2 / 1 / 2
Read these entries with their labels: Work out claim sentence. / Work out first reason sentence. / Work out missing seats.
One swing chain is rusty. Rusty chains can snap. Nobody should use that swing until it is fixed. Ask why? of the last sentence.
One swing chain is rusty. Rusty chains can snap. Nobody should use that swing until it is fixed. Ask why? of the last sentence.
The first two sentences answer it.
So which sentence is the claim, and which are the reasons?
Check with because: does the claim, then because, then rusty chains can snap sound like an answer?
Read the first note on the community center board. Mark the reasons, and choose the claim.
Underline the premises and circle the conclusion in the passage above.
Read: (1) The club has 11 members. (2) We need a larger room. (3) The current room seats only 9. (4) Our sign is blue. Write the claim's sentence number; the smaller of the two reason sentence numbers; and how many seats are missing.
Work out claim sentence.
b0
Find the request the writer wants accepted.
Work out first reason sentence.
b1
Find the fact about the number of people needing seats.
Work out missing seats.
b2
Subtract the available seats from the people needing them.
Read: (1) The club has 15 members. (2) We need a larger room. (3) The current room seats only 13. (4) Our sign is blue. Write the claim's sentence number; the smaller of the two reason sentence numbers; and how many seats are missing.
Claim sentence: b0
First reason sentence: b1
Missing seats: b2
Read: (1) The club has 9 members. (2) We need a larger room. (3) The current room seats only 7. (4) Our sign is blue. Write the claim's sentence number; the smaller of the two reason sentence numbers; and how many seats are missing.
Claim sentence: b0
First reason sentence: b1
Missing seats: b2
Read: (1) The club has 10 members. (2) We need a larger room. (3) The current room seats only 8. (4) Our sign is blue. Write the claim's sentence number; the smaller of the two reason sentence numbers; and how many seats are missing.
Claim sentence: b0
First reason sentence: b1
Missing seats: b2
Read: (1) The community center has 13 members. (2) We need a larger shelter. (3) The current shelter seats only 11. (4) Our sign is blue. Write the claim's sentence number; the smaller of the two reason sentence numbers; and how many seats are missing.
Claim sentence: b0
First reason sentence: b1
Missing seats: b2
Lesson test: one question per skill, one attempt each, no hints. Your answers are checked when you submit.
Read: (1) The club has 12 members. (2) We need a larger room. (3) The current room seats only 10. (4) Our sign is blue. Write the claim's sentence number; the smaller of the two reason sentence numbers; and how many seats are missing.
Claim sentence: b0
First reason sentence: b1
Missing seats: b2
You can find the claim in a short passage and name its reasons, even with no signpost word. Say out loud why the bin is a green one is not a reason for moving the bin. Next: sentences that look like arguments and are only reports.
16. Your turn: a message about the swings, step 2
So which sentence is the claim, and which are the reasons?
A true sentence that answers nothing is background, not a reason.
16. Your turn: a message about the swings, step 3
Check with because: does the claim, then because, then rusty chains can snap sound like an answer?
A true sentence that answers nothing is background, not a reason.