The exact difference between statement and claim is that both “statement and claim” are assertive sentences, and assert something either in negative or positive way. But, “claim” invokes debate; demands more supporting reasons; and it needs to be proved in the light of evidence. On the other hand, “statement” states factual knowledge, general truth, and it doesn’t need to be proved. Nor does it become a cause of any debate.
Technically, to be qualify a “claim”, it has to fulfill the criteria to be statement. Simply put, “All statements are claims but not all claims are statements” In spite of that both are complementary as statements are often used as supporting reasons to prove claims. How? Let’s explore.
- Donald Trump imposed reciprocal trade tariffs.
- He imposed reciprocal trade tariffs on major trading partners to reduce trade deficit of USA.
Here, I would like to make it clear that I am not going to discuss about the legal aspects of “statement or claim” but theirs respective role in academic and critical thinking. How do they play vital role in the formation arguments, initiate debates, make thesis statement and so on.
Difference between sentence and statement
Sentence: meaning, role and types
In linguistic sense, sentence is a grammatical unit with subject and predicate. It has complete sense of meaning and stand alone. Generally, the nature of sentence depends upon the number of ideas it expresses.
For example, simple sentence is used to express single idea, whereas, complex and compound express more than one. Further, on the basis of mood and function, sentences are classified as declarative, Interrogative, negative or exclamatory. In short, sentences can be assertive or just used to exclaim something.
- Donald Trump imposed reciprocal trade tariffs.
- Is it justifiable to impose such tariffs on trading partners?
- WTO rules do not allow any member nation to impose such tariffs.
- Oh my god! Trump imposed 100 percent tariffs.
These are examples of sentences. All these do not qualify as statements. Nor does they become claim as well.
Statement: meaning, role and examples
Usually, statement is a specific and factual sentence that are used to express something as declaration or assertion. In short, a sentence that declares something fact or general truth is called statement.
- Donald Trump imposed reciprocal trade tariffs.
- WTO rules do not allow any member nation to impose such tariffs.
- Tiger is a carnivorous animal.
- He hunts other herbivores.
- Nowadays, tiger is classified as endangered species.
These all sentences are both statements and sentences. Because all are assering facts and information regarding tariffs and tiger. “Statement” may includes one or more sentences to express fact, truth, or evidence. So, “All statements are sentences but not all sentences are statements.”
“Is tiger a carnivorous animal?” is not a statement because it is not declaring something but raising questions. Therefore, it is sentence having complete sense of meaning but not statement.
Claim: meaning, role and examples
So far we have learned that all statements are sentences but not all sentences qualify as statements. I have already described certain conditions that needs to be fulfilled to be called as statement. In the same line, not all the statements are claims but every claim is a statement.
Basically, there are two types of claims: factual and value claims. Factual claims assert something as true or false. Such claims need to be proved by fact, data, and concrete evidence.
- Donald Trump imposed 100 percent reciprocal trade tariffs on china to reduce trade deficit.
On the other hand, “value claim” Makes judgement of something based on certain standards. These claims evaluate and judges things as right or wrong, good or bad.
- People should focusing on the green energy, considering the carbon emission.
Criterion or conditions to be claim
Statement to be qualified as claim, it should be assertive. And, it should clearly assert something to be true. Because, being a fundamental and basic units of argument structure, it requires supportive reasons and evidences. Obviously, statement that claims something that needs to be proved by facts and supportive reasons.
- Conventional power plants are the biggest source of carbon emission.
- Frequencies of cyclones are on the rise in the tropical Asia Pacific region.
- The poor will be the first victim of climate change.
- Climate change is a product of carbon dioxide emission.
Types of claims: Number, place and time
On the basis of different value in terms of numbers, claims are classified as:
- All,
- Some,
- Few.
These words are used to indicate definite numbers. On the other hand, scope is used for place and time.
- All players are well disciplined.
- Some players are seniors.
- Few players are new comers.
Claims: scope of place and time.
Here are some useful examples of claims with scope of time and place.
- India is a victim of terrorism in the world.
- Sahara desert is sparsely populated region in the African continent.
- Equatorial forests are largely confined in the Amazon basin of Brazil.
- In the ancient time, there were hardly any trading relations among major civilization.
- Medieval history is well known for feudal system of governments in Europe.
These are the claims that play the role of supporting reasons, premises, and conclusions in the structure of argument. In short, once you understand the “claims” It will be much easier to write better arguments.
Using “Claims” in writing arguments
Argument is an effective means to persuade someone; or is a technique to convince people in favour of your opinion. Being an art, it has specific techniques and structure. Basically, argument is formed by using reasons, premises and conclusions. Because it is the claim that qualify as reasons, premises and conclusions in the process of forming arguments.
- Reasons
- Premises
- Conclusion
To persuade or convince others in favour of yours point of view people give pro or counter arguments. You may be aware about the fact that “Argument” is part of critical thinking. For layman’s understanding, “Critical thinking” is a specific type of thinking through which you question, analyse, judge, evaluate anything you read, listen, write, or express.
What does argument mean? An overview of argument
Argument is a structure of premises and conclusion. It is a tool to persuade or convince people in favour of your point of view or opinion. Simply put, “argument” is a claim backed by supporting reasons and evidences. If it is logically derived from given premises, it is called “valid.” Or, if it doesn’t follow from the given premises, we term it “invalid.
Explicit argument: An explicit argument requires a specific claim and consistent supporting reasons with credible evidences.
Implicit argument: implicit argument may be a slogan on board, or a poster with hidden message.
Explicit argument: claim, supporting reasons, and logical conclusion
Argumentation is neither a conflict nor debate, but rather it is a process of persuasion. Though it connotes hostility or resentment, but, in fact, it is a cognitive process. It involves claims, supporting reasons and valid conclusion. The purpose of arguments and critical thinking isn’t to prove anything but to persuade in favor of truth.
- Claim or Statement
- Supporting reasons
- Logical conclusion
Example of explicit argument
- Annually, the average temperature of May remains around 35 degrees. (Stand: claim)
- Shockingly, in the last week of April, it is crossing 37 degrees. (Supporting evidence)
- Hence, in this year, it is possible that it will break earlier records. (Conclusion)
Valid and sound arguments
Universally, deductive reasoning or argument is used to derive confirm conclusions. Simply, conclusion derived by the means of deductive reasoning can’t be probable but confirm. At the same time, validity and soundness depend on rules of logic as well as nature of premises used there.
Example of valid and sound arguments
- All herbivore are grass eater. (Claim)
- Cow is a herbivorous animal.(support)
- So, cow depends on grass for survival.(conclusion)
- Technically, deductive argument is expressed by using conditional statements such as, if..then pattern.
So far, I have explained in detail the difference between sentence, statement and claim. Further, I have elaborated how are the different from one another and help in forming argument. Lastly, I have presented an overview of structure of argument.
Difference between logic and reasoning
https://www.comm.pitt.edu/argument-basics
https://open.library.okstate.edu/criticalthinking/chapter/unknown/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument
https://www.comm.pitt.edu/argument-basics