Essay Writing Flashcards
7 cards from real TSIA2 practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Essay Writing flashcards as text
A student's essay body paragraph contains only the topic sentence and three examples with no analysis. What does the paragraph most need?
Answer: Explanation of how each example supports the topic sentence
Analysis connecting evidence to the argument is essential; examples alone do not prove a point without explanation.
Which of the following is the strongest argumentative thesis for an essay about school uniforms?
Answer: Mandating school uniforms reduces socioeconomic-based bullying and helps students focus on academics.
An effective thesis makes a specific, debatable claim and previews the reasons that will be argued in the essay.
Which sentence contains a subject-verb agreement error?
Answer: The number of homeless individuals in major cities are rising each year.
'The number' is a singular subject and requires the singular verb 'is,' not 'are.'
What is the purpose of transitional words like 'furthermore,' 'however,' and 'therefore' in an essay?
Answer: To signal logical relationships between ideas and guide the reader
Transitional words clarify how ideas relate — adding, contrasting, or concluding — which helps readers follow the argument.
Which revision makes the following vague sentence more precise: 'The new policy affected a lot of people in a bad way.'
Answer: The new policy left over 10,000 residents without health coverage.
Specific details — a number and a named consequence — replace vague words like 'a lot' and 'bad,' making the claim concrete.
A writer argues that college should be free but never addresses the question of how it would be funded. This is an example of what logical weakness?
Answer: An incomplete argument that ignores a significant practical objection
Failing to address funding leaves a major gap in the argument, making it vulnerable to the most obvious counterargument.
Which approach to essay revision is MOST effective for improving overall argument quality?
Answer: Re-reading the essay to ensure each paragraph clearly supports the thesis
Checking that every paragraph serves the thesis ensures the essay is unified, coherent, and argumentatively sound.