Writing Flashcards

A student writes: 'The experiment was conducted by the scientists carefully.' Which revision best improves this sentence?

Answer: The scientists carefully conducted the experiment.

Active voice (subject performs the action) is clearer and more direct than passive voice.

Which transition word best connects these sentences: 'Maria studied for hours. _____, she felt confident on test day.'

Answer: Therefore

'Therefore' signals a logical cause-and-effect relationship between studying and feeling confident.

In an argumentative essay, which type of evidence is MOST effective for supporting a claim?

Answer: Statistics and data from credible research studies

Statistics and data from credible sources provide objective, verifiable support for argumentative claims.

A student's essay has this thesis: 'Dogs make good pets.' What is the MAIN weakness of this thesis?

Answer: It makes a claim that is too obvious and not arguable.

An effective thesis makes a specific, debatable claim; 'dogs make good pets' is too vague and widely accepted to argue.

Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?

Answer: Covered in mud, the boy's shoes were left outside.

In that sentence, 'covered in mud' incorrectly modifies 'shoes' when the intended meaning is unclear—the boy was covered in mud.

What is the PRIMARY purpose of a concluding paragraph in an informational essay?

Answer: To restate the thesis and summarize the key points

A conclusion synthesizes the essay by restating the central idea and summarizing the supporting points without adding new information.

Which choice BEST describes the purpose of using precise, domain-specific vocabulary in informational writing?

Answer: To accurately convey specialized concepts and establish credibility

Domain-specific vocabulary allows writers to communicate complex ideas accurately and demonstrates knowledge of the subject.