First, most of the patterns (14 of 16 patterns, 12 of the 14 groups) begin with a claim.
This is different from a strict Toulmin argument pattern where the claim is the end result of the
argument construction.
Second, the Alternate Claim and Modified Claim were discussed in Chapter Three in the
context of the need to account for additional claims within an episode. In this chapter, the
discussion looked more closely at the role these claims played in the argument co-construction
process. There are four major claims I can make about the Alternate Claim and Modified Claim.
- The Alternate Claim
generally occurs in a “controversy” model of decision-making,
is a higher form of creative conflict,
generally corrects original claims that are wrong or “fuzzy”,
and allows students in problem-solvingconflict. groups to disagree while avoiding direct - The Modified Claim
can elicit ato the Alternate Clanother Modifim, ied Claim or Alternate Claim; it can serve as a bridge or link
may prompt the ideas that cause the maker of the Alternate Claim to state the
Alternate Claim,
is a lClaim ower-level form of creative conflict when it stands in isolation of an Alternate
and refines, clarifies or elaborates original claims that are slightly “fuzzy” or
incomplete.