Verifying Claims

Learning Outcomes
1. Distinguish between evidence and claims.
2. Verify claims for all types of authority.

You may be familiar with Toulmin’s model of argumentation, wherein a source makes a claim, provides evidence to support that claim (grounds), and implies underlying assumptions that connect the evidence to the claim (warrants).

When you verify a claim, you are verifying that the grounds and the warrants are both accurate.

Infographic with the questions "Are the grounds accurate?" and "Are the warrants accurate?" There are also clarifying definitions of "grounds = evidence" and "warrants = underlying assumptions."

In this video, note how Hank Green investigates a claim about the Department of Government Efficiency. Are the grounds (the scientific study example) accurate? Are the warrants behind the grounds accurate?

While the grounds were accurate—the government really did spend $4.5 million to spray alcoholic rats with bobcat urine—the unstated warrants were inaccurate. The author of the post assumed that (1) the Department of Government Efficiency would need to focus on science spending, and (2) the rat study was a frivolous and absurd use of government money. As Hank points out, the truth is that (1) the science budget is not a large enough portion of government spending to attract the attention of the Department of Government Efficiency, and (2) the rat study revealed valuable information for veterans with PTSD.

You, too, will need to investigate not just what is directly stated in your sources but also what is implied in your sources.