Claim-Evidence Writing

Answer: The three components are: (1) Claim - a clear statement of your argument or position; (2) Evidence - specific facts, data, or examples that support your claim; (3) Reasoning - explanation of how and why the evidence supports your claim.

Answer: An effective geographic claim is specific (not vague), arguable (not just a fact), focused on geographic concepts (location, place, human-environment interaction, movement, or region), and can be supported with available evidence.

Answer: Evidence should be introduced with context about its source (e.g., "According to the 2020 census data..." or "The topographic map shows..."), followed by the specific information, and then an explanation of its relevance to your claim.

Answer: Evidence alone does not prove a claim - you must explain the logical connection between your evidence and claim. Reasoning shows your understanding of geographic concepts and demonstrates critical thinking about how and why the evidence matters.

Answer: Valuable geographic evidence includes quantitative data (statistics, measurements), maps and satellite imagery, primary source observations, case studies of specific places, and comparisons across regions or time periods. Multiple types of evidence strengthen arguments.

Answer: Acknowledge alternative explanations or opposing viewpoints, then explain why your claim is still valid. This might involve showing limitations in counterarguments, providing additional evidence, or explaining how your claim accounts for exceptions.

Answer: Correlation means two things occur together (e.g., coastal areas and high population density), while causation means one thing directly causes another. Geographic writing should be careful to claim causation only when there is clear evidence of a cause-effect relationship, not just correlation.

Answer: Maps can show spatial patterns, distributions, relationships between features, changes over time, and comparisons between regions. When using maps as evidence, specify what the map shows, describe the relevant patterns, and explain how these patterns support your claim.

Answer: Credible geographic evidence comes from reliable sources (government agencies, academic research, established organizations), uses appropriate methodology, is recent enough to be relevant, can be verified, and is presented without manipulation or selective omission.

Answer: The conclusion should restate how your evidence supports your claim, note the broader significance of your argument, acknowledge any limitations, and potentially suggest implications or questions for further investigation. Avoid simply repeating your opening claim.