Claim Identification Definition

A claim is an assertion that something is true, usually made by someone who wants to convince others of something. In order to be convincing, a claim must be supported by evidence. The process of claim identification is the act of finding and evaluating the evidence for a given assertion.

There are three main types of claims: those based on fact, those based on value, and those based on policy. Factual claims can be verified through objective means, such as research or experimentation. Value claims are more subjective and express judgments about what is good or bad, important or unimportant. Policy claims are prescriptions for what should or should not be done.

The identification of claims is an important first step in critical thinking. It allows you to determine whether a given assertion is supported by evidence and whether that evidence is strong enough to convince you. Once you have identified the claim being made, you can begin to evaluate it critically.