CMAS Writing Skills Flashcards

What is the purpose of a 'counterclaim' in argumentative writing?

Answer: To acknowledge an opposing viewpoint and then refute it to strengthen your argument

A counterclaim acknowledges the opposing viewpoint and then refutes it, which demonstrates critical thinking and strengthens the writer's argument.

Which sentence best uses a precise, domain-specific vocabulary word in an informative essay about weather?

Answer: The Category 4 hurricane made landfall, causing catastrophic storm surges along the coast.

Using precise terms like 'Category 4 hurricane,' 'landfall,' and 'storm surges' demonstrates domain-specific vocabulary appropriate for informative writing.

Which editing strategy is most effective when reviewing a CMAS written response?

Answer: Read the response aloud mentally to catch awkward phrasing and errors

Reading a response aloud mentally helps catch awkward phrasing, missing words, and grammatical errors that silent reading may miss.

In a CMAS research simulation task, why is it important to synthesize information from multiple sources?

Answer: To show that you can identify and combine key ideas from different texts to support your response

Synthesizing multiple sources shows higher-order thinking by combining relevant ideas from different texts into a cohesive written response.

What is the effect of using sensory details in a CMAS narrative writing task?

Answer: It helps readers visualize the scene and become more engaged in the story

Sensory details (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch) create vivid imagery that draws readers into the narrative.

Which of the following is an example of plagiarism in a student's CMAS written response?

Answer: Directly copying a sentence from the passage without quotation marks or attribution

Copying text directly without quotation marks or attribution is plagiarism because it presents another's words as your own.