Which term describes the primary position taken by a writer or speaker?

• A. Comprehension
• B. Evidence
• C. Thesis
• D. Point of view

Answer: (C)

The central claim a writer or speaker puts forward—the main position they intend to defend—is the thesis. The thesis states the stance the entire piece will support and guide the argument, giving the reader a clear sense of what the author is trying to prove. It’s typically a concise statement that can be debated and then backed up with reasoning and evidence throughout the work.

This differs from comprehension, which is simply understanding what the text says; it differs from evidence, which are the facts and data used to back up the thesis; and it differs from point of view, which is the speaker’s or narrator’s perspective or stance, not the claim itself.

So the term that describes the primary position is thesis. For example, if the writer argues that school uniforms improve student discipline and academic performance, that claim is the thesis, and the rest of the piece provides evidence and reasoning to defend it.