The following questions refer to Chapter 2 (pp. 51-107).

In an essay, what is a claim?

Question

The following questions refer to Chapter 2 (pp. 51-107).

In an essay, what is a claim?

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

An argument's main idea—a proposition that is debatable but is stated as if it were true.

1) Relevant knowledge points and concepts
- Claim (thesis): the central assertion an essay seeks to prove; it guides the argument and is stated assertively.
- Debatable vs. factual: claims invite dispute and require support; factual statements are verifiable and not typically arguable.
- Supporting sentences/evidence: these back up the claim; they are not the claim itself.
- Opinion vs. informed claim: an uninformed personal opinion lacks evidence and argumentative structure, whereas a claim should be supported by reasons and evidence.

2) Step-by-step reasoning
- Compare each answer choice to the definition of a claim.
- Option: "An uninformed personal opinion" — this lacks evidentiary support and argumentative framing, so it does not capture the role of a claim in an essay.
- Option: "A statement of fact." — facts are verifiable and not inherently debatable; a claim is typically a debatable proposition.
- Option: "A sentence used to support a main idea." — that describes a supporting sentence or premise, not the main claim itself.
- Option: "An argument's main idea--a proposition that is debatable but is stated as if it were true." — matches textbook definition: central, assertive, and arguable.
- Option: "All of the answers are correct" — impossible because the previous options contradict each other and only one matches the definition.

3) No calculations required.

4) Why the correct answer is correct
That choice captures the essence of a claim: it is the thesis-level assertion the writer defends. Emphasizing "debatable" signals that reasonable people could disagree and thus the claim requires supporting reasons and evidence. "Stated as if it were true" reflects the assertive tone of a thesis statement.

5) Why other options are incorrect
- Uninformed personal opinion: lacks argumentative support and may not be positioned as the essay’s main, defendable idea.
- Statement of fact: not debatable and therefore not the typical focus of an argumentative claim.
- Sentence used to support a main idea: describes supporting detail, not the main claim.
- All answers correct: false because the other choices are incorrect.

Conclusion: The correct answer is "An argument's main idea--a proposition that is debatable but is stated as if it were true," which matches the provided answer.

The following questions refer to Chapter 2 (pp. 51-107). In an essay, what is a claim?单项选择题

类似问题

Which one would you NOT use to support a strong argument?

Why must writers incorporate criticisms into their text? You may select more than one answer.

You own a bond that pays $64 in interest annually. The face value is $1,000 and the current market price is $1,021.61. The bond matures in 11 years. What is the yield to maturity?

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

更多留学生实用工具

智能学习助手

风格化写作助手

论文查重助手

文献引用助手

课堂转译助手

课堂笔记助手

Quiz搜索助手

学校历年真题

智能刷题助手

智能匹配练习

希望你的学习变得更简单