Which term refers to the main claim in an essay to be supported?

Which term refers to the main claim in an essay to be supported?

• A. Thesis
• B. Connotation
• C. Anecdotes
• D. Argument

Answer: (D)

The main claim an essay is built around is the thesis. It states the central point or stance the writer will defend, and everything in the essay is designed to support that claim. Because the prompt asks for the term for the main claim to be supported, the thesis is the best fit: it is the statement you intend to prove with evidence, examples, and reasoning. The term “argument” refers to the whole line of reasoning used to persuade, including the reasoning steps and evidence—it's the process, not the single claim itself. “Connotation” is about the emotional associations a word carries beyond its literal meaning, and “anecdotes” are short personal stories used as examples or evidence. So the correct term for the main claim to be supported is the thesis.

The main claim an essay is built around is the thesis. It states the central point or stance the writer will defend, and everything in the essay is designed to support that claim. Because the prompt asks for the term for the main claim to be supported, the thesis is the best fit: it is the statement you intend to prove with evidence, examples, and reasoning. The term “argument” refers to the whole line of reasoning used to persuade, including the reasoning steps and evidence—it's the process, not the single claim itself. “Connotation” is about the emotional associations a word carries beyond its literal meaning, and “anecdotes” are short personal stories used as examples or evidence. So the correct term for the main claim to be supported is the thesis.