prize5-10, Exercise 1: Reading a claim

Model answer (one possible choice: "The Fringe is the biggest arts festival in the world"; check each point):

1. Who is speaking? Often the Fringe itself, the press and the city. Status: claimed, with an interest in the title.
2. What exactly? Biggest by what measure: number of shows, performances, tickets or audience? Status: unknown until the measure is stated.
3. Which layer? Not a custom claim; a comparison that needs figures from other festivals.
4. What is the source? The Fringe Society's annual figures and comparison with other large festivals. Status: documented for the Fringe's own numbers (check), unknown for the comparison.
5. Who pays, who gains? The title helps the festival, the city and sponsors; performers bear the costs of a very large event. Status: partly documented.
6. What would change my mind? A like-for-like comparison with another festival showing a larger count on the same measure.

The method shows that the claim is probably defensible on number of shows, and should be stated that way.