In a news passage, what counts as evidence?

• A. A claim is a factual statement supported by data
• B. A headline
• C. A claim is a statement the author argues is true; evidence includes facts, data, quotes, and sources that support the claim
• D. The author’s birthdate

Answer: (C)

Evidence in a news passage is the information that backs up a claim. A claim is a statement the author argues is true, and evidence includes facts, data, quotes, and sources that support the claim. This setup shows how the argument becomes credible: the claim is what’s being asserted, and the evidence provides verifiable material to back it up. A headline isn’t evidence because it’s mainly an attention-grabber and may not substantiate the claim. A birthdate is irrelevant to supporting a claim. The statement that combines defining a claim with the types of evidence (facts, data, quotes, sources) best describes how evidence functions in journalism.