Click on a box to explore each topic.
Claim
A claim is a conclusion that answers a question about scientific phenomena or a solution to a problem.
Example:
In the first section of the Newsela article, the writer presents the following claim. The title of this section, “Now is the time to lead other countries,” is a clue to the writer’s position regarding whether Congress should enact climate change laws. Examining the title of the section and the details helps to reveal the claim.
Claim
Now is the time for the United States to lead other countries in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Writers use evidence to support claims.
Example:
In the first section of the article, the writer provides evidence to support the claim that the United States should act “now.” The writer includes evidence that emphasizes the urgency and seriousness of climate change, the significant impact that humans have on greenhouse gas emissions, and the fact that international meetings struggle to come up with an agreeable plan.
Claim
Now is the time for the United States to lead other countries in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
an arrow pointing from the bottom Evidence box to the Claim box at the top
Evidence
“In a report released this fall, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said that warming of the Earth's climate system is both unequivocal and unprecedented.”
“The authoritative IPCC study also found that it was "extremely likely" that human influence has been the major cause of climate change.”
“At the same time, international meetings — such as the Climate Change Conference just concluded in Warsaw, Poland — struggle to devise broadly acceptable agreements among countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
Writers use reasoning to explain why the evidence supports the claim. Including sound reasoning in your writing makes it more effective and helps readers to understand and accept your ideas.
Example:
In the first section of the article, the writer alludes to the reasoning that supports the claim in the final sentence: “Yet, the emission of these gases pose grave risks to the world's economy, its environment and public health.” To make your writing more effective, it is important to explicitly state your reasoning. In the previous activity, you were able to develop an explanation of why the evidence supported the claim, even though the writer did not do so explicitly.
Claim
Now is the time for the United States to lead other countries in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
two arrows pointing from the bottom Evidence box and Reasoning box to the Claim box at the top
Evidence
“In a report released this fall, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said that warming of the Earth's climate system is both unequivocal and unprecedented.”
“The authoritative IPCC study also found that it was "extremely likely" that human influence has been the major cause of climate change.”
“At the same time, international meetings — such as the Climate Change Conference just concluded in Warsaw, Poland — struggle to devise broadly acceptable agreements among countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
Reasoning
There is a sense of urgency with which climate change needs to be addressed because greenhouse gas emissions threaten the world’s economy, environment and public health. Because international meetings have not been successful with developing an agreeable plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the United States must act now in leading other countries.