What is the definition of a claim?

a. a specific opinion that can be supported by evidence.
b. the evidence from personal experience
c. the audience's point of view on a topic
d. the feeling an author gets about a topic.

a. a specific opinion that can be supported by evidence.

a. a specific opinion that can be supported by evidence.

The definition of a claim is option a: a specific opinion that can be supported by evidence. To arrive at this answer, you can break down the options and analyze them one by one.

Option a states that a claim is a specific opinion that can be supported by evidence. This aligns with the traditional definition of a claim in argumentative writing. When making a claim, you are stating your position or belief on a particular topic, and it should be supported by relevant evidence.

Option b suggests that a claim is the evidence from personal experience. While personal experiences can be used as evidence to support a claim, the claim itself refers to the opinion or argument being made, not the evidence.

Option c suggests that a claim is the audience's point of view on a topic. However, a claim represents the author or speaker's point of view, not the audience's. The audience's perspective would be more closely related to their own opinions or views, not a claim.

Option d proposes that a claim is the feeling an author gets about a topic. While an author's emotions or feelings might influence their choice of claim, the claim itself is not defined by their subjective feelings. A claim should be objective and supported by evidence, rather than solely based on personal feelings.

Therefore, after considering and comparing the options, the most accurate definition of a claim is option a: a specific opinion that can be supported by evidence.