3.2 Positioning the Claim

Claims can be placed anywhere in the argument.However， if you want to make your claim serve its purpose—in guiding readers and in clarifying your argument， you need to use extreme caution about where to place the claim.Generally speaking， the positioning of the claim is determined by the writer， the subject matter， and the audience.This is to say that whether you want to state your claim upfront in the beginning or wait until toward the end， or to imply it instead of stating it does not depend on your own preference.The following classification of positioning models illustrates how different purpose， subject matter， and audience can determine a different positioning of the claim．

● The Upfront Model： state your claim crystal clear and upfront， and place it in the first couple of paragraphs.This model is most appropriate and effective：

If your purpose is to offer clear orientation and guidance toward your argument；

If your argument is too complicated to be easily understood without the guidance of a claim；

If your claim is particularly striking and unique that you want to use it to grab audience’s attention or pique their curiosity；

If your audience is not familiar with your subject matter；

If your audience is not obviously or strongly objectionable to your claim．

● The Delayed Model： State your claim crystal clear but postponed it until the end of the argument.This model is preferred：

If your audience can understand your argument without an early claim；

If your audience is more acceptable to your reasoning and evidence than your claim；

If your audience would be very hostile to your claim if it is stated early．

● The Midway Model： State your claim crystal in the middle of the argument.This model works when

You refute opposing views first and are ready to present your own argument；

You prepare potentially hostile or less familiar or educated audience well enough with detailed background knowledge or stories or evidence．

● The Omission Model： Imply your claim， hint at your claim， or simply omit your claim.This model is chosen

If your claim is too obvious；

If your argument is too complicated or nuanced to be condensed into one statement；

If your claim is too controversial， bold， or untraditional；

If you write your argument in a narrative style． Wq2GadgZ7PkF4LWQQrgPyzxkg/nx0XJ4hpkFflTFuu2TQ7AQp/jMQTommbiGDGBA