Page | 52 • Warrant: serves as the logical link between claims and evidence, oCering a rationale for how the evidence supports the claims; a logical connection or bridge between the claim and the evidence. Picture these three elements as a building structure, where the claim forms the roof, is supported by the pillars of evidence, both of which rest on the foundation of the warrant. This structure assures that the claim made is backed by logical and supported arguments. Let’s look at some examples of the Claim-Evidence-Warrant relationship. Example: Late night eating and weight gain Consider the argument: "Eating late at night leads to weight gain." • Claim: Eating late at night leads to weight gain. • Evidence: An experimental study published in the Nutrition Journal found that people who ate close to bedtime had a significantly higher body fat percentage than those who did not. • Warrant: The body's metabolism slows down at night; food processing eCiciency is decreased. In this example, the claim is directly supported by evidence from a scientific study. The warrant, which might not be explicitly stated, underlies the reasoning that connects this specific piece of evidence to the broader claim about weight gain. The warrant relies on a principle of human physiology (the slowing of metabolism at night) that makes the evidence relevant to the claim. Example: Educational Reading Program • Claim: Implementing XYZ reading program increases grades 5–7 student reading comprehension. • Evidence: A quasi-experimental study finds a significant relationship between program use and improvements in reading comprehension test scores, after controlling for prior achievement. • Warrant: Structured reading programs with scaColded content support incremental skill development, leading to better comprehension. Here, the claim is directly supported by evidence from a scientific study. The warrant underlies the reasoning connecting this piece of evidence to the claim about increasing reading comprehension.
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