What does the author use to support his/her claim?

The author employs evidence to support their claims as it provides concrete information that can substantiate their argument or viewpoint. Evidence is crucial in persuasive writing and argumentative texts because it helps establish credibility and allows readers to see the rationale behind the author's assertions. This might include statistics, facts, quotes from credible sources, or firsthand accounts that bolster the main idea being presented.

In this context, while data and examples can also be forms of evidence, the term "evidence" encompasses all types of factual support. Assumptions, on the other hand, are conclusions drawn without supporting evidence, which means they do not effectively strengthen a claim. Therefore, the use of "evidence" as the correct choice reflects the need for well-supported arguments in effective writing.