In informational arguments, how can you identify the central claim?

• A. The author uses the most tricky vocabulary.
• B. Look for the main assertion the author is trying to prove.
• C. The central claim is found in the introduction.
• D. The central claim is proved by counterarguments.

Answer: (B)

Finding the central claim means pinpointing the author’s main assertion—the primary point the piece is trying to prove. Everything the author presents, from data to examples, is arranged to support that point. This claim is the thesis the argument builds toward, and it may be stated directly in the introduction, or it may be implied and revealed through the sequence of evidence.

Tricky vocabulary isn’t what reveals the main claim. While introductions sometimes state the claim, that’s not guaranteed. Look for the position the author is trying to persuade you to accept, the point that the rest of the piece is providing reasons and evidence for. Counterarguments are used to address opposing views and strengthen the central claim, not define it.