The element that you selected in step two is the basis for comparison. You are listening for indications that the first sentence more closely resembles the characteristics of the element than the second. Say the two sentences out loud. Write them down side-by-side. Write one on top of the other. Do whatever technique helps you to come to a conclusion. Keep in mind, an argument has several sentences, so there is no requirement that either sentence fit perfectly with the selected element. But that does not prevent you from coming to a conclusion as to which sentence is a better fit.
For our argument, I begin with the claim and compare the first two sentences:
- The myth that video games cause violent behavior is undermined by scientific research and common sense.
- According to FBI statistics, youth violence has declined in recent years as computer and video game popularity soared.
Given the choice between these two sentences, I conclude that a is a better candidate to be a claim than b because a asserts a position about arguments regarding video game violence as demonstrated by scientific research and common sense. Whereas, sentence b sounds cites and reports scientific research (FBI statistics) about video game violence.