Claims, Evidence, and Arguments for GED RLA
Argumentative passages often contain a central claim supported by evidence and reasoning. Understanding how these pieces work together can help you answer GED RLA questions more accurately.
What Is a Claim?
A claim is a statement or position that an author wants readers to accept. For example: Schools should provide more career-training opportunities. This is a claim because it expresses a position.
What Is Evidence?
Evidence is information used to support a claim. Evidence can include:
- Facts
- Statistics
- Examples
- Research findings
- Expert statements
- Historical information
The evidence should have a meaningful connection to the claim.
What Is Reasoning?
Reasoning explains how the evidence supports the claim. Consider: Claim: Students should have access to career-training programs. Evidence: A school reports that students completing a particular training program had high employment rates. Reasoning: The employment data suggests that career training may help prepare students for employment.
Strong vs. Weak Evidence
Not every piece of information is equally convincing. Ask:
- Is the evidence relevant?
- Does it directly support the claim?
- Is it specific?
- Does the passage provide enough information to evaluate it?
Identify the Main Argument
When reading an argumentative passage, ask: “What does the author want me to believe or do?” That question can help you locate the central claim.
Watch for Counterarguments
Some authors acknowledge opposing views before responding to them. Look for phrases such as:
- Some people argue...
- Critics claim...
- On the other hand...
- However...
Understanding how an author responds to another position can be important when analyzing an argument.
Final Takeaway
When reading GED RLA arguments, identify the claim, find the evidence, and determine how the author uses reasoning to connect the evidence to the claim.
