Defining Rhetoric Rhetoric is the art of speaking or writing effectively Argument vs. Rhetoric: Argument - the use of language, reasoning, and evidence to influence the thoughts and behavior of others Rhetoric - the use of strategies used to make an argument persuasive At the center of an argument is the claim. Claim - the position taken by the writer/speaker, what the speaker/writer is trying to convince the audience of • the best claims are focused, specific, and relevant Claim vs. Opinions Claim - arguable (both for and against) • supported by research, evidence, testimony, statistics, academic reasoning, etc. Example: Virginia Woolf is a more effective writer than James Joyce. Opinion - difficult to argue • typically supported by more opinion Example: I think Virginia Woolf is better than James Joyce.

Question

Which of the following statements is a claim? Single-use plastics are unable to be recycled. Production of single-use plastics should be banned. Single-use plastics can be harmful.

Answer 1

The statement that qualifies as a claim is: "Production of single-use plastics should be banned."

This is a claim because it presents a specific position that can be argued for or against and could be supported by evidence and reasoning. The other statements, while they express positions, are more factual or general. "Single-use plastics are unable to be recycled" is a factual statement (though the argument could be made for why this is problematic, it is not itself a claim), and "Single-use plastics can be harmful" suggests harm but does not take a definitive stance that advocates for a specific action or position.