Academic Writing and Argumentation Flashcards
6 cards from real TOEFL practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Academic Writing and Argumentation flashcards as text
In academic writing, which of the following is the BEST example of a well-developed body paragraph?
Answer: Studies show that urban air pollution contributes to respiratory illness. According to the WHO, cities with high particulate matter levels report significantly higher rates of asthma and bronchitis, demonstrating a clear link between pollution and public health outcomes.
Option B presents a clear claim, specific evidence from a credible source, and analysis connecting the evidence to the claim — the hallmarks of a well-developed academic paragraph.
When paraphrasing a source in academic writing, a writer should:
Answer: Restate the original idea in their own words and sentence structure, then cite the source
Proper paraphrasing requires rewriting the idea in your own words AND your own sentence structure, followed by a citation to acknowledge the original source.
Which of the following BEST describes a 'straw man' fallacy in argumentation?
Answer: Misrepresenting an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack
A straw man fallacy involves distorting or exaggerating an opponent's position to make it easier to refute, rather than addressing the actual argument.
In the TOEFL Integrated Writing task, what is the student expected to do?
Answer: Explain how the lecture challenges, supports, or casts doubt on points from the reading
The Integrated Writing task requires students to synthesize information from both a reading passage and a lecture, explaining the relationship between the two — typically how the lecture challenges the reading's points.
Which of the following sentences contains a DANGLING MODIFIER?
Answer: Running quickly through the airport, the flight was barely caught.
In Option B, 'Running quickly through the airport' modifies 'the flight,' which is illogical — flights do not run. This is a dangling modifier because the subject performing the action is missing.
In academic writing, an 'ANECDOTE' is most appropriately used to:
Answer: Illustrate or personalize a point, not as a substitute for data
Anecdotes (brief personal or illustrative stories) can humanize abstract points, but they are not rigorous evidence; they should supplement, not replace, data-driven support.