MaverickJ
New member
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2026
- Messages
- 11
I just got my third essay back from my freshman comp class, and for the third time, the feedback is basically the same: "Interesting ideas, but the claim is weak/unclear." On my last paper, I literally wrote, "This paper will discuss the symbolism of the green light in The Great Gatsby." I thought, boom, there it is, that's my main point. But nope. Professor drew a line through it and wrote, "This is an announcement, not a claim."
So, what's the actual difference?
I'm starting to panic because finals are coming up. I get that a claim is, like, the thing you're trying to prove. But I feel like my "thing" is always just a statement of fact or a topic. How do I turn a topic into a debatable argument? For my next paper, I have to write about climate change and policy. My first attempt at a claim was, "This paper will look at carbon taxes." Bad, right?
Is a good claim just something that someone could reasonably disagree with? Like, I can't say "The sky is blue" because that's a fact. But I can say, "The psychological effects of a perpetually gray sky are a primary driver for urban migration." See, I feel like I just made that up, but at least it sounds like something someone could argue against? Is that the secret sauce? I'm looking for any tips, examples, or even just a formula to follow until my brain rewires itself to think this way. I need my professor to stop bleeding red ink all over my margins. Help a desperate freshman out!
So, what's the actual difference?
I'm starting to panic because finals are coming up. I get that a claim is, like, the thing you're trying to prove. But I feel like my "thing" is always just a statement of fact or a topic. How do I turn a topic into a debatable argument? For my next paper, I have to write about climate change and policy. My first attempt at a claim was, "This paper will look at carbon taxes." Bad, right?Is a good claim just something that someone could reasonably disagree with? Like, I can't say "The sky is blue" because that's a fact. But I can say, "The psychological effects of a perpetually gray sky are a primary driver for urban migration." See, I feel like I just made that up, but at least it sounds like something someone could argue against? Is that the secret sauce? I'm looking for any tips, examples, or even just a formula to follow until my brain rewires itself to think this way. I need my professor to stop bleeding red ink all over my margins. Help a desperate freshman out!