Which statement best defines a claim in an argument?

Which statement best defines a claim in an argument?

• A. A conclusion universally accepted without support
• B. A statement or position that can be supported with evidence
• C. A personal belief not backed by data
• D. The summary of the entire text

Answer: (B)

In an argument, the claim is the position or statement the author wants you to accept. It’s a specific point that can be defended with evidence—facts, data, examples, or reasons. A claim isn’t just a personal belief or a summary of the whole text; it’s the core assertion that the rest of the argument is built to support and test. That’s why the best description is a statement or position that can be supported with evidence. The other ideas don’t fit: a claim isn’t something already universally accepted without support, nor is it simply a personal belief without data, and it isn’t just the summary of the entire text.

In an argument, the claim is the position or statement the author wants you to accept. It’s a specific point that can be defended with evidence—facts, data, examples, or reasons. A claim isn’t just a personal belief or a summary of the whole text; it’s the core assertion that the rest of the argument is built to support and test.

That’s why the best description is a statement or position that can be supported with evidence. The other ideas don’t fit: a claim isn’t something already universally accepted without support, nor is it simply a personal belief without data, and it isn’t just the summary of the entire text.