Claim-Evidence Writing

Sample Claim: The Columbian Exchange had dramatically unequal effects on different regions, with Europe gaining valuable crops that improved nutrition and population growth, while the Americas suffered catastrophic population decline from introduced diseases.

Explanation: Good claims identify relationships and significance, not just facts.

Answer: A summary describes what happened. An argument makes a claim about significance, causation, or interpretation, supported by evidence. Arguments are debatable; summaries are descriptive.

Explanation: "Trade increased" is summary. "Trade expansion transformed social structures by..." is argument.

Sample Thesis: The Silk Road's greatest significance was not its trade in luxury goods but its role as a conduit for religious and technological exchange that transformed civilizations from China to Rome.

Explanation: This thesis makes a debatable claim, indicates what will be proven, and suggests the argument's structure.

Answer: Introduce the source (who, when, why), quote or paraphrase specifically, explain what the evidence shows, and connect it to your claim. Consider the source's limitations and perspective.

Explanation: Evidence should be analyzed, not just presented. Explain why the evidence supports your argument.

Answer: Acknowledge multiple causes, distinguish between immediate and underlying causes, consider both push and pull factors, and avoid oversimplification. Use hedging language ("contributed to," "was one factor in") when appropriate.

Explanation: Historical events rarely have single causes. Acknowledging complexity strengthens your argument.

Sample CER: Claim: European maritime expansion disrupted existing Asian trade networks and shifted economic power. Evidence: Before 1500, Indian Ocean trade was dominated by Arab, Indian, and Chinese merchants through established networks; by 1600, Portuguese and Dutch controlled major ports and trade routes through military force. Reasoning: Europeans' willingness to use naval warfare gave them control over trade that had previously been commercially negotiated, fundamentally changing who profited from and controlled global commerce.

Answer: Acknowledge alternative interpretations, present their strongest form (not a strawman), explain why your interpretation is more convincing or more fully supported by evidence. This shows scholarly integrity and strengthens your argument.

Explanation: Addressing counterarguments demonstrates that you've considered multiple perspectives.

Answer: Necessary: must be present for the event (no event without it). Sufficient: alone could cause the event. Most historical events have necessary causes that together become sufficient. Example: Printing was necessary for Reformation spread, but other factors were also needed.

Explanation: This distinction helps you avoid claiming more than your evidence supports.

Answer: Use diverse sources (primary documents, statistical data, scholarly interpretations) to support different aspects of your argument. Show how they corroborate each other or explain apparent contradictions.

Explanation: Multiple source types strengthen arguments by providing different kinds of evidence.

Sample CER: Claim: Modern globalization has simultaneously increased connection and created new divisions. Evidence: The internet connects 5 billion people globally, while the digital divide leaves 3 billion without access; global trade has lifted millions from poverty in some regions while displacing workers in others; cultural exchange spreads ideas while provoking nationalist backlash. Reasoning: Globalization's benefits are unequally distributed - those with resources and education benefit most, while those without may feel threatened by rapid change. This explains why globalization generates both enthusiasm and resistance, depending on one's position in the global economy.