Presentation delivered to the English 104 class at Victor Valley College.

1. Claims

2. A conclusion that is drawn from evidence
Evidence (news articles, statistics, studies, surveys,
expert opinion, etc.)
 therefore, the claim must be true
Example: Steven Pinker’s “What Our Language
Habits Reveal”
Language has a similar structure as that of human
thought
 therefore, language is a window into the human
mind

3. Main claim = thesis statement
The overall argument you wish to prove
Answers questions such as:
So what’s your point?
Where do you stand on the issue?
Located at the end of the introduction

4. Claims that support the main claim/thesis statement
Answers questions such as:
How does this prove the thesis statement is correct?
How does the evidence support the thesis statement?
How does this relate to the thesis statement?
Located within the body of the essay

5. Steven Pinker’s “What Our Language Habits Reveal”
Main claim/thesis statement
“[L]anguage is not so much a creator or shaper of human
nature, so much as a window onto human nature.”
Sub-claim #1
Language is a window into “the cognitive machinery with
which we conceptualize the world.”
Examples: language structure as metaphorical and based on
similar structure as human thought
Sub-claim #2
Language is a window into “the relationship types that
govern human social interaction.”
Examples: veiled speech used to negotiate relationships

6.  Main claim/thesis statement
Although Pagel makes a convincing case regarding language’s transformative power, his logic is
flawed since it is confined to verbal language; it is not verbal language but written language that has
enabled the technological growth of the human species.
 Sub-claim #1
Pagel defines ‘language’ as verbal language. Pagel states, “your language relies on pulses, discrete
pulses of sound […] we know that there are words we cannot use, phrases we cannot say, because if
we do so, we might be accosted, jailed, or even killed. And all this from a puff of air emanating from
our mouths.” His discussion of language is confined to the verbal, for language is ‘pulses of sound’
and ‘a puff of air emanating from our mouths.’
 Sub-claim regarding verbal language
 Evidence supporting sub-claim
 Sub-claim #2
While other species may not have human language, many species have a method of verbal
communication, which can even be similar to human verbal language. For example, studies show
that “dolphin whistle repertoires contain higher-order internal structure or organizational
complexity. This suggests their whistle ‘language’ contains elements loosely analogous to grammar
or syntax in human language” (Dorminey). Verbal communication, then, is not a uniquely human
gift as Pagel claims.
 Sub-claim regarding verbal language
 Evidence supporting sub-claim

7. When analyzing another’s argument, look for the
author’s main claim and sub-claims
Do you agree with the main claim?
Does the evidence support the sub-claims?
Why or why not? Discuss in your essay.

8. Dorminey, Bruce. “Researchers Closer to Decoding
Dolphin Speak.” Forbes. Forbes Media, 18 Oct. 2012.
Web. 19 Dec. 2014.
Pagel, Mark. “How Language Transformed Humanity.”
TEDGlobal. Edinburgh International Conference Center,
Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. 13 Jul. 2011. Conference
Presentation.
Pinker, Steven. “What Our Language Habits Reveal.”
TEDGlobal. Oxford, England, UK. Jul. 2005. Conference
Presentation.