Final answer:
The author's claim is that "students today have too much homework." This statement is indicative of the author's argument, distinguishing it from mere descriptions of a student's routine or consequences of certain actions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that represents the author's claim is: "students today have too much homework." This claim reflects a viewpoint or argument about the current state of educational demands placed on students, which can be inferred from the context provided that discusses the challenges students from working-class families face, such as poor study environments, lack of support, and needing to contribute financially to the family. The other statements mentioned ("you work for the rest of the day and into the night" and "you'll have to wake up early and start again") describe actions or consequences, but they do not represent an overarching claim or argument.
As for the scenarios provided, we can analyze and interpret each piece of information. In the case of Jad not going to the party because he did not finish his homework, this is an example of attempting to form a logical argument, but conclusion is identified as invalid since there could be other reasons why Jad didn't attend the party.
The information about students reportedly spending one-third of their time in school requires careful interpretation of data, as this result is contingent on the fact that the survey was conducted over a full 24-hour day.
The last scenario describes a student's night at the library working on a paper and studying, emphasizing the long hours and exhaustion students may face due to academic demands.