"Community Newspaper Under Siege"

by Tim Grobaty

For the record, the media is not the enemy of the American people; that’s one of the more dangerous of the lies that are flooding the country today. Rather, the media, especially in the form of small community newspapers, is among the American people’s best friends and vigilant guardians. In little communities all across the country, journalists from small newspapers—mostly weeklies—are the reader’s neighbors. They live where their readers live, shop where their readers shop, share their readers’ concerns. In this era where bitter gossip and unfounded and malicious rumors travel across the internet at hyperspeed, the tangible and very real connection between a community newspaper and the neighborhoods it covers is crucial to the health of its readership. The best are still trusted, staffed with tireless and invariably underpaid reporters and editors who are charged with sifting through the cyberchatter and carefully researching and curating the news.

Use the passage to answer the question.

What is the main claim the author makes?

(1 point)

Newspapers are carefully curated and researched by journalists who are passionate about the news.

The media is wrongfully depicted as the enemy of the American people.

Journalists working for small community newspapers are part of the communities they serve.

Small community newspapers are important and have a positive impact on the American people.

7 answers

The main claim the author makes is:

Small community newspapers are important and have a positive impact on the American people.

Which characteristic best describes a valid claim?(1 point)
Responses

based in belief or feeling
based in belief or feeling

something people mostly agree about
something people mostly agree about

based in logic or fact
based in logic or fact

something that sounds correct

The characteristic that best describes a valid claim is:

based in logic or fact.

Which statement must be true in order for a statement to qualify as a claim?(1 point)
Responses

It is true.
It is true.

It is debatable.
It is debatable.

It is a question.
It is a question.

It is popular.

The statement that must be true in order for a statement to qualify as a claim is:

It is debatable.

What is the purpose of an argumentative text?(1 point)
Responses

to teach or guide
to teach or guide

to inform or explain
to inform or explain

to persuade or convince
to persuade or convince

to amuse or entertain

The purpose of an argumentative text is:

to persuade or convince.