Which term refers to the elements used to support a claim within a text?

• A. Prior knowledge
• B. Components of an essay
• C. Nonfiction texts
• D. Supporting evidence

Answer: (D)

The main idea is recognizing what backs up a claim in writing. Authors use evidence to justify what they say, drawing on facts, statistics, quotes, examples, or research findings to show why the claim is true or reasonable. This is known as supporting evidence because those elements provide the proof within the text. Prior knowledge is what readers bring to the text, not what the author provides to justify the claim, while the other choices describe general aspects of writing rather than the specific material used to back up an argument.