Final answer:
The writer's claim generally refers to the main argument of the essay or article. Based on the given information about the structure of an argumentative essay, the correct answer is option (c), stating that protein bars may not be as healthy as advertised and that this claim is found in the opening sentence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The writer's claim can be understood as the statement the author is arguing or asserting in their writing. It appears as the main argument put forth in various parts of an essay or article, which the writer then supports with evidence and analysis. Based on the context provided, we must deduce from the details within the passage where the writer's claim is located.
From the information provided about the topic of protein bars and the structure of claims within an essay, we can identify that option (c) 'The writer claims that protein bars may not be as healthy as they are advertised, and this appears in the opening sentence' is the correct choice. This option aligns with the guidance that the claim often appears as the first sentence in a paragraph, setting the stage for the evidence and analysis that follow.
While all the options mention possible claims, it is the relationship between the claim and its position in the passage that is important here. The opening sentence often outlines the primary argument, which the subsequent sentences support. Thus, the correct answer is option (c) because it identifies the potentially skeptical stance on the healthfulness of protein bars and appropriately places this claim in the opening sentence of the passage.