Identifying Claims Discussion

For your Initial Post due by Friday at 11:59 PM:（due sep 17）

• Choose one of the videos from LECTURE: Course Theme – Borders and summarize its main claim in 350-500 words. Include the following:
  • Identify the main claim.
  • Identify the main claim as a claim of policy, fact, or value.
  • Explain why you believe the claim is one of policy, fact, or value.
  • You may also comment on whether or not you personally agree with the claim.

For your Response to at least 1 classmate due by Sunday at 11:59 PM:（due sep19）

• Address the following topics in your response of at least 250-300 words:
  • Compose a counterargument to your classmate's summary.
  • Provide some reasons for your counterargument.

Phrases to help you

Claims of Policy

• We should _____________.
• We ought to _____________.
• We must _____________.
• Let’s _____________.
• The best course is _____________.
• The solution is to _____________.
• The next step should be _____________.
• We should consider _____________.
• Further research should be done to determine _____________.

Claims of Fact

• Research suggests that _____________.
• The data indicate that _____________.
• _____________is increasing or decreasing.
• There is a trend toward _____________.
• _____________causes _____________
• _____________leads to _____________.

Claims of Value

• _____________is terrible/disappointing/underwhelming.
• _____________is mediocre/average/decent/acceptable.
• We should celebrate _____________.
• _____________is great, wonderful, fantastic, impressive, makes a substantial contribution to _____________.
• _____________is the best _____________.
• _____________is the worst _____________.
• _____________is better than _____________.
• _____________is worse than _____________.
• _____________is just as good as _____________.
• _____________is just as bad as _____________

Phrases that signal that one idea is supposed to lead to another. 

• Because_____________, _____________.
• Because of this, _____________.
• If_____________, then _____________.
• Since_____________, _____________.
• For this reason,_____________.
• We can conclude_____________.
• Therefore, _____________.
• So_____________.
• Consequently, _____________.
• As a result, _____________.
• Hence_____________.
• Thus_____________.
• It follows that _____________.