Claim and argument
A claim (or thesis) is what you want people to accept. An argument is a reason for the claim, with proof. A good argumentative text has a simple shape: 1) introduction with the claim, 2) arguments with examples or evidence, 3) counter-argument (what the other side says) with your answer to it, 4) conclusion that repeats the claim in a strong way.
Appeal to reason (logos)
This appeal uses facts (things that can be checked), examples and evidence (numbers, studies, observations). Example: "Last year our class used 400 sheets of paper. A paper-saving plan can cut this by half." Check if the facts are true, if the example is typical, and if the logic is fair.
Appeal to emotion (pathos)
This appeal speaks to feelings: joy, pride, fear, pity, hope. Stories, pictures and strong words do this. Emotion is fair when it is true and linked to the facts. It is unfair when it scares people with false claims or hides the facts. Always ask: "Is this feeling based on something real?"
Appeal to values and trust (ethos)
This appeal shows what you care about (honesty, fairness, nature, family) and why people can trust you: experience, honesty, knowledge. A doctor speaking on health or a captain on football has more trust on that topic. Trust is built by telling the truth, admitting limits and keeping promises.
Facts, opinions, testimony and prejudice
Fact: can be checked ("Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius at sea level"). Testimony: what a witness or an expert says; strong if the person knows the topic and is honest. Opinion: what someone thinks or feels ("Green is the best colour"); useful, but not proof. Prejudice: a judgment made before knowing, often about a group of people ("Those people are lazy"). It is unfair and it is not a valid reason.
Try it
Pick one small wish (a longer playtime, a class trip). Write one sentence for each leg: reason, emotion, trust. In the 3D free play, set the three legs to Fact, Fact and Fact to see a level table, then change one to Opinion or Prejudice to see the wobble.
Key formulas and definitions
- Strong persuasion = clear claim + reason + emotion + trust
- Argument shape: claim, arguments with evidence, counter-argument and reply, conclusion
- Strength of support: fact > expert testimony > opinion > prejudice
- Logos = reason, pathos = emotion, ethos = trust and values
Worked examples
1. Claim: "We should walk to school." Write one reason with a fact.
"The school is 800 metres from most homes, which is a ten-minute walk, and walking is free." The distance and the time can be checked.
2. Is "Football is better than cricket" a fact or an opinion?
It is an opinion. It shows what the speaker likes and cannot be proved the same way for everyone.
3. Which is stronger: "A doctor said this medicine is safe" or "My neighbour says it is safe"? Why?
The doctor, because a doctor knows the topic. This is expert testimony. The neighbour's view is only an opinion unless they know the topic.
4. "Girls cannot be good at maths." What kind of statement is this?
Prejudice. It judges a whole group without checking, and it is false. Many girls excel at maths, which is easy to test with real results.
Common mistakes
- Using only emotion. Feelings without facts can look like trickery.
- Calling an opinion a fact. Ask: "Can I check this?"
- Repeating the same reason three times and calling it three arguments.
- Ignoring the other side. A good argument answers the counter-argument.