A claim is a type of argumentative thesis – we usually call it a claim when it is being used in a persuasive essay. Claims need to be defended by you with logical, persuasive reasoning. Claims can also be challenged.

The most common types of claims are

• claims of policy (we must do something!),
• claims of value (this is good! or this is bad!),
• claims of definition (this is what it is)
• claims of cause/effect (X has caused Y or X will cause Y)