Final answer:
Alan Weisman's claim in 'The World Without Us' is that nature would reclaim human-made environments if humans disappeared. The text's structure supports this claim with detailed hypothetical scenarios and analysis of these scenarios demonstrates how they substantiate Weisman's argument.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question refers to Alan Weisman's work The World Without Us, which posits what would happen to the natural and urban environments if humans were to suddenly disappear from the planet. Weisman's claim in this work is that nature would eventually reclaim cities and other man-made structures, and the text's structure supports this by providing detailed examples of how this reclamation process would unfold over time. For instance, the text presents hypothetical scenarios like buildings deteriorating, bridges collapsing, and wildlife returning to urban areas. This progression is meticulously outlined to reinforce the claim that nature would indeed prevail.
Analyzing the textual evidence, a crucial element of any argument, tells readers how the cited examples corroborate the overall premise. For example, if the student were to refer to a specific excerpt that features vegetation engulfing a once-busy city street, it would be imperative to elucidate how that image serves to support Weisman's argument about the power of nature's resurgence in the absence of human interference.
Additionally, a well-structured analysis might include mention of the text's adherence to conventional expectations in rhetorical writing, or instances where it consciously deviates from them to emphasize a point. Such nuances in the text's structure are often intentionally employed to guide the reader towards a deeper understanding of the claim and its implications.