Which statement best defines evidence in informational writing?

• A. A conclusion drawn from data
• B. A statement that supports a claim
• C. An author's opinion about a topic
• D. A guess about what might be true

Answer: (B)

Evidence in informational writing is the information that supports a claim. It includes facts, data, statistics, quotes from experts, examples, and other verifiable details that back up the main idea. This keeps the writing credible and helps readers see why the claim is trustworthy rather than just taking it on faith. For example, if the claim is that recycling reduces landfill waste, evidence would be concrete data showing waste reduction, or a study comparing cities that recycle to those that don’t. Concluding from data is the result of analyzing the evidence, not the evidence itself; an author's opinion is a personal view, not a factual support, and a guess is speculative and not reliable support.