A claim or opinion supported by reasons and evidence is called what?

A claim or opinion supported by reasons and evidence is called what?

• A. Key idea
• B. Thesis
• C. Argument
• D. Organizational pattern

Answer: (C)

An argument is a claim or opinion that is supported by reasons and evidence. In writing or speaking, you put forward what you believe and then back it up with explanations, facts, examples, or expert opinions to persuade others. This makes the structure more than just a statement—it builds a case. A key idea or main point describes what the text is about, and a thesis is the central claim of an essay, often supported by arguments, but the specific phrase “claim supported by reasons and evidence” best describes an argument. An organizational pattern, by contrast, refers to how the information is arranged, not to the claim itself. So the correct term is argument.

An argument is a claim or opinion that is supported by reasons and evidence. In writing or speaking, you put forward what you believe and then back it up with explanations, facts, examples, or expert opinions to persuade others. This makes the structure more than just a statement—it builds a case. A key idea or main point describes what the text is about, and a thesis is the central claim of an essay, often supported by arguments, but the specific phrase “claim supported by reasons and evidence” best describes an argument. An organizational pattern, by contrast, refers to how the information is arranged, not to the claim itself. So the correct term is argument.