Claim Data
Warrant
The Key to Analytical
Writing.
What is Claim/Data/Warrant?
 Formal
analytical style of writing
 Used to answer open ended questions

not Yes/NO questions
 Helps
your prove your point with the use
of evidence ( data)
 Used in any and every class
Claim


States your position/opinion on an topic.
Thesis statement for an essay and topic
sentence for body paragraphs.




If the thesis statement is about a singular piece
of text, include a TAG ( title, author, genre)
It is not obvious, but is engaged to audience
and ideally teaches the reader something
new.
Specific and logical.
Usually a complex sentence.
Thesis statement




Thesis statement is like the topic sentence to the
entire paper. It states the topic, opinion and the
arguments ( claims that will be addressed in the
paper)
If the thesis statement is about a singular piece of
text, include a TAG ( title, author, genre) and a
lens ( HOW you are analyzing the text) Examples:
Literary devices, theme, characterization, etc.
In Shakespeare’s play, “Othello”, Othello is the
tragic hero because________, _________, and
________.
Label each part of the thesis.
Strong claim
 Though
they seem mere entertainment,
Hollywood movies are actually
responsible for reinforcing cultural
stereotypes in America.
 What is the topic?
 What is the opinion?
 What is the “new” idea?
 What specific details are use?
Weak claim
1. If we can put humans on the moon, we
can find a cure for the common cold.
2. Teachers are posed with many problems
today.
Why are these weak claims?
Topic? Opinion? New idea? Specific
detail?
Data
 The
evidence/examples you use to
support your claim.
 Most of the time it needs to be cited.
 Minimum of 2 data for each claim, ideally
3.
 Must be set up with transition words and
often context/background information
(Answers the who, what, were, when,
why)
Types of Data ( not cited)
 Personal
anecdotes- your own
experiences.

Weakest for academic writing, but great for
pathos/emotional appeal.
Types of Data that must be
cited and introduced.
 Facts
and statistics: objective data about
your topic
 EXPERT Opinion: Ideas from an
expert/educated source.

Used as a direct quote, paraphrase or
summary.
 Facts
from primary research: YOU
conducted research on a topic and
present your objective findings.
Data Examples
 When
my friends and I watch movies
where the female lead is beautiful and
gets the guy, it makes us wonder if we are
beautiful enough to get a guy.
 In
a recent study conducted by Harvard
University, 73% of women polled said they
felt insecure about their looks after
watching Romantic Comedies. ( Jones 7).
Warrants
 Warrants
explain how the data proves the
claim.
 This is the analysis part, and therefore the
most important.
 EVERY DATA needs a warrant.
 4-5 sentences MINIMUM ( depending on
the data).
Warrants continued
 Good
warrants do not summarize the
data, they analyze it.

 Is
Meaning, what exactly in the data
(language, numbers, etc.) told you this
proves your claim.
logical, not making huge interpretive
leaps
 May consider and respond to possible
counter-argument.
Warrant example #1
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Data: In a recent study conducted by Harvard
University, 73% of women polled said they felt
insecure about their looks after watching
Romantic Comedies. ( Jones 7).
Warrant: Romantic Comedies are meant to be
fun, to make the audience laugh, which should
make one feel good. Yet it is having the exact
opposite effect. The stereotypes portrayed in the
movie is harming most women because
insecurities have dangerous side effects. Women
may undergo unnecessary dieting or plastic
surgery which can lead to disease like anorexia,
bulimia and depression. All of this because the
movie presented the idea that to get the man, a
woman must look meet this idea of beauty.
Strong or weak? Why?
Warrant Example #2
 Data:
When my friends and I watch
movies where the female lead is beautiful
and gets the guy, it makes us wonder if
we are beautiful enough to get a guy.
 Warrant: Movies make girls feel like they
aren’t pretty.
 Strong
or weak warrant? Why?
CDW Paragraph Structure
Claim
Transition+ Context+ data
Warrant
Transition+ Context+ data
Warrant
Transition+ Context+ data
Concluding statemtn