Author's Claims

What is a claim in the context of writing?

• A request for a refund

• A title of an article

• A statement of fact

• An argument or main idea the author wants to prove

How can evidence in a text be described?

• As unrelated facts to make the article longer

• As specific examples supporting the claim

• As a list of references at the end

• As the author's personal opinions

What is the author's argument or claim? 

• Hip-hop should be taught as literature.

• Hip-Hop is a form of poetry.

• Hip-Hop is not appropriate in the classroom. 

• None of these

Which line below is the author's claim or argument? 

• yearbook is a special collection of memories that will be treasured by students for decades.

• However some schools authorities insist on dictating what students can include in yearbooks. 

• Teachers often remove articles & images they feel are inappropriate. 

• Authorities should not ruin this treasure by censoring yearbooks....

“The best things in life are free,” they say, which is true for things like libraries. However, it is not true for many museums. The Philadelphia Museum of Art, for example, costs $20 to get in.
Traveling exhibits, such as the work of a certain artist that is touring the country, almost always cost even more. People must pay to get into the museum and also pay for the special showing. That means people who don’t have much money cannot enjoy the art.
Most museums have “free days,” but these are usually only one or two days a month. If you’ve ever attended one of these, you know they are jam packed with people. It is hard to even see the exhibits when crammed into a room like sardines in a can!
The thing is, people already pay enough for the privilege of living in a city. In addition, museums are supported by arts organizations and individual donors. They do not need to charge the public a hefty sum as well. They should be free for everyone, all the time.
Which of the following evidence would support the author’s claim that“ people already pay enough for the privilege of living in a city”?

• A comparison showing which cities are the most expensive

• Examples of the fees people who live in cities must pay

• Testimony from someone who cannot afford museum admission

• An interview with someone who thinks museums should be free

What is the second reason the author gives to support the claim that hip-hop should be taught in literature?

• Hip-hop is more interesting than classic poetry.

• Lyrics for hip-hop songs can teach student life-lessons

• Teachers can better relate to their student's experiences

• Students can learn to write hip-hop lyrics.

Why does the author mention the First Amendment in the article? 

• to explain why yearbooks should be censored by school authorities

• to support the idea that students have a right to express themselves.

• to point out why yearbook censorship is a controversial topic

• to emphasize the importance of censoring all school materials.

What is the primary purpose of an author's claim in a text?

• To entertain the reader

• To provide background information

• To persuade or inform the reader

• To describe a setting

Which of the following best describes a counterclaim?

• A supporting argument for the author's claim

• An opposing argument to the author's claim

• A summary of the author's main points

• An unrelated statement

In literary analysis, how can an author's claim be identified?

• By looking for the thesis statement or main argument

• By counting the number of paragraphs

• By identifying the genre of the text

• By analyzing the author's biography