An author's argument or claim is what the author is trying to prove. It is the main point.
The author should use facts to support his or her claim. Look for these facts and details in the passage.
Let's look at this example of an author's argument:
Recycling is something everyone can do to help the environment.
The author may use the following reasons to support his argument:
Recycling bins are located in many homes, restaurants, and parks. Recycling reduces the amount of garbage we put in landfills.
Please evaluate the student's answers:
Excellent
Good
Okay
What do you think of when you hear the word "shark"? Do you think about a shark's large teeth? Or do you think of a shark's fin slicing through the water? You probably don't think about a shark in danger. But you should! Sharks are at risk of becoming extinct. It is up to us to protect them. Pollution is a big threat to sharks. It hurts both the shark and its ocean home. Humans are responsible for this pollution. If we stop polluting our waters, we can help sharks and also preserve their home. Another big reason sharks are at risk is due to certain kinds of fishing. Two fishing methods kill sharks every day: longlining and trawling. Longlining uses hundreds of hooks on lines to catch fish. Sharks get caught up in the traps. Trawling is when large nets are used to catch fish. Sharks get caught up in the nets, too. We are responsible for the laws that guard the oceans. The current laws are not working. We need to have laws that stop pollution and cruel fishing methods. What can regular citizens do? Write to your government leaders. Tell them that sharks need protection. We need laws to protect these animals and our oceans.