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1、Chapter2Claims(alsocalledpropositions)functionasthemainpoint,mainidea,thesis,orcontrollingideaofthetext,specificallyanargumentativeessay.Claimsansweroneofthefirstquestionslistenershaveaboutaspeech:Whatisthespeakertryingtoprove?Untilproven,allclaimsareopinions,andclai
2、mssubdivideintothreecategories：fact,valueandpolicy.Factualclaimsassertthataconditionhas,does,orwillexist.Theseclaimarecalledfactualclaimssincetheyaresupported(areproven)byfactual,verifiableinformationsuchasstatistics,specificexamples,andpersonaltestimony(alsocalledan
3、ecdotes).Manyfactualclaimsdonotmakeinterestingclaimsbecausetheyaretooeasilyverifiedbyoursenses.Whenreadingandevaluatingafactualclaim,youmustconsiderseveralfactors.Do(es)thewriter(s)presentsufficientandreliabledata?Do(es)thespeaker(s)usereliableauthorities?Do(es)thesp
4、eaker(s)confusefactswithinferences?SufficientandReliableDataReliableAuthoritiesYourownexperiencehasprobablytaughtyoualreadythatnotallexpertsaretrustworthy.Youmustreadcarefullyandcritically.Expertsdomakemistakes.Formanypeople,religionandreligiousleadersareamongthemost
5、trustworthyofsourcesonanyissue.Yethistoryislitteredwithexampleofhowagoodthingcanbeusedforthewrongreasons.RecenthistorygivesustheexampleofCopernicus.Peopledomakemistakes.Weareoftenslowtochangeouropinions.Wemustbeforeverseekingthetruthandquestioningoursourcesbecauseoft
6、hosetwoveryhumanconditions.Factsv.InferencesWedefinedfactsasstatementsthatcanbeverified.Inferencesarestatementsabouttheunknownbasedontheknown.Ascareful,analytical,criticalspeakersandlisteners,wewanttobecertainthatwedistinguishfactfrominference.Thisisoftendifficultbec
7、auseinferencesarebuiltuponfacts,sowesometimestreatthemasfactsthemselves.Butinferencesarenotfacts;theyareinterpretationsoffacts.Forexample,imagineaglasswhichhaswaterin50%ofit.Somepeopledescribethatas"halffull"andotherssay"halfempty."Thoseareinterpretationsoftheonefact
8、.Example:Sheis55.Sheisold.SampleStoryAwhitevanparkedinfrontofthewestgatehas"120"paintedonthesideofitinlargeredletters.Statementsabo
