Claim, Data, Warrant
Next Exit
The Road to Answering
Open Response Questions
What is claim, data,
warrant?
» Claim, data, warrant (CDW) is a
formal and analytical writing style.
» CDW helps you prove your
thoughts using evidence.
» It can be used for answering open
response questions, discussion
questions, or writing essays.
» You can use it in any class.
Claim
»
»
»
»
What you are claiming is true
Your opinion about the subject
Your answer to the question
Often the topic sentence of a
paragraph
» Very much like a hypothesis
Data
» The evidence or the facts you use to
support your claim
» Examples to support your claim
» Quotes from the text to support the
claim
» References to the text supporting your
claim
» Statistics supporting the claim
» Content specific vocabulary that supports
the claim
Warrant
» The explanation of how the data
supports your claim
» Explains how the example,
statistic, quote or reference
supports the claim
» Explains the significance of the
data
» Usually three to five sentences long
Easy Example
» Claim: BCMS has an excellent afterschool program.
» Data: We offer archery, art, and cooking
classes along with tutoring in all core
subject areas.
» Warrant: Archery helps students
develop strength, focus, and confidence.
Art allows students to tap into their
creativity, and cooking teaches students
to be self-sufficient. Tutoring classes
reinforce students’ academic skills.
Color-coding your
answers
» Claim is highlighted in pink.
» Data is highlighted in
green.
» Warrant is highlighted in
yellow.
Example
BCMS has an excellent after-school
program. We offer archery, art, and
cooking classes along with tutoring in all
core subject areas. Archery helps
students develop strength, focus, and
confidence. Art allows students to tap
into their creativity, and cooking teaches
students to be self-sufficient. Tutoring
classes reinforce students’ academic
skills.
Language Arts Example
Mood is the overall feeling of the text, and
authors use imagery to help create mood.
Imagery is language that appeals to the senses
and paints a picture in the mind of the reader.
Read the passage on pp. 91-93 in The
Outsiders.
A. Identify the mood of the passage.
B. Explain how S.E. Hinton uses imagery to
create this mood.
Part A of the question is your claim
because it is what you are claiming to be
true.
a. In this passage from The Outsiders, S.E.
Hinton uses imagery to create a mood of
danger and desperation.
Part B of your response will contain both data and
claim. You should make specific references to the text
to support your claim, and this will be data. As you
explain how those references (data) support your claim
(how they create mood), you will be writing warrant.
b. In this scene, Pony and Johnny save some kids from the
burning church. Images such as “the roar and crackling was getting
louder”, “drowning in smoke”, and “timber crashing and flames
roaring” work to establish a feeling of intense risk. The imagery
affects the reader in this way because it is connected to life or
death situations. “The roar and crackling was getting louder” is a
sound image that emphasizes the sense of danger and also helps
build suspense. The reader realizes the fire is growing more out of
control. “Timber crashing and flames roaring” is another sound
image that intensifies the mood of danger in the scene because we
know the church is close to collapsing. “Drowning in smoke”
emphasizes the desperate nature of the situation and underscores
the fact that the smoke is deadly.
Open Response Example
The writers of both “Seventh Grade” and “Stolen
Day” use direct and indirect characterization
to create and develop characters. In an essay,
define direct characterization and indirect
characterization. Then, answer these
questions for either “Seventh Grade” or
“Stolen Day”: Other than the main character,
which character does the writer develop?
Chose one minor character and tell how the
writer uses indirect characterization to
Open Response
Dr. Seuss uses both direct and indirect
characterization to create and develop his
characters. In an essay, define direct
characterization and indirect characterization.
Then, answer these questions for “The Cat in
the Hat”. Chose one character and tell how
the writer uses indirect and direct
characterization to describe him or her.
Open Response Example
Poetry is a very deep and subjective form of writing as
we discovered when reading “Life” and “The Courage
that My Mother Had”.
A. Use details from either poem to draw a
conclusion.
B. Explain how each detail supports that
conclusion.
Open Response Example
Figurative language is found everywhere; in
example, song lyrics, short stories, and poetry.
A. Define five examples of figurative language.
B. Give an example of each type of figurative
language.
Open Response
Figurative language is found everywhere; in example,
song lyrics, short stories, and poetry as you will find as
you read the poem “Loo Wit” on page 538 in the
Literature book.
A. Identify two examples of personification in
the poem.
B. Use the details from the poem to draw a
conclusion.
C. Explain how each detail supports that
conclusion.
Open Response
Figurative language is found everywhere; in example,
song lyrics, short stories, and poetry as you will find as
you read the poem “Loo Wit” on page 538 in the
Literature book.
A. Identify two examples of in the poem.
B. Use the details from the poem to draw a
conclusion.
C. Explain how each detail supports that
conclusion.