Concept 7

Ensure claims are supported by specific, appropriate information.

Core Idea

A claim becomes convincing when the support is specific enough to measure, picture, or verify. General praise is weaker than a concrete result.

Understanding

Rule: A claim becomes convincing when the support is specific enough to measure, picture, or verify. General praise is weaker than a concrete result.

  • Specific support often means numbers, clear examples, or observable outcomes.
  • "Students liked it" says very little. Attendance, participation, or waitlist numbers give the reader something real to judge.
  • Match the support to the exact claim, not just the general topic.

Step by Step

  1. Identify the claim that needs support.
  2. Prefer evidence that is concrete and directly tied to that claim.
  3. Reject details that are specific but irrelevant.
  4. Choose the detail that best lets the reader verify the point.

Misconceptions

  • Using general praise as proof.
  • Picking a specific detail that does not match the claim.
  • Overloading the paragraph with data that does not answer the main point.
Question

Worked Example

A student writes, "The coding workshop became popular very quickly." Which choice best supports that claim?

Select an answer to see the explanation