AST Writing and Rhetoric 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which organizational strategy works best for an essay arguing that stricter environmental laws should be passed?
- Present strongest arguments last for maximum impact (Correct answer)
- Present all counterarguments before any supporting arguments
- List supporting points randomly
- Begin and end with counterarguments
Correct answer: Present strongest arguments last for maximum impact
Saving the strongest argument for last creates a powerful closing impression in persuasive writing.
Question 2: A concluding paragraph should primarily:
- Restate the thesis and synthesize key points without introducing new arguments (Correct answer)
- Introduce new evidence to strengthen the argument
- Repeat the introduction verbatim
- List the sources used in the essay
Correct answer: Restate the thesis and synthesize key points without introducing new arguments
A conclusion wraps up the essay by restating the thesis and synthesizing—not merely summarizing—the main points.
Question 3: Which example demonstrates the use of anaphora as a rhetorical device?
- 'We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields.' (Correct answer)
- 'The pen is mightier than the sword.'
- 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.'
- 'Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.'
Correct answer: 'We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields.'
Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses; 'we shall fight' repeats at the start of each clause.
Question 4: When revising a draft, a writer should address which concern first?
- Clarity and organization of ideas (Correct answer)
- Spelling and punctuation errors
- Font size and formatting
- Word count requirements
Correct answer: Clarity and organization of ideas
Global concerns like clarity and organization should be addressed before local concerns like grammar and spelling.
Question 5: Which sentence uses evidence most effectively in a persuasive essay?
- According to a 2023 CDC report, teen sleep deprivation increased 40% over five years, leading to lower academic performance. (Correct answer)
- Studies show sleep is important for teens.
- Many experts believe that teens do not sleep enough.
- It is common knowledge that sleep affects school performance.
Correct answer: According to a 2023 CDC report, teen sleep deprivation increased 40% over five years, leading to lower academic performance.
Effective evidence is specific, cited, and directly linked to the argument—the CDC statistic with a date and percentage does all three.
Question 6: What does it mean to 'synthesize' sources in an academic essay?
- To weave multiple sources together to support an original argument (Correct answer)
- To summarize each source in a separate paragraph
- To quote sources without adding analysis
- To choose only one source per paragraph
Correct answer: To weave multiple sources together to support an original argument
Synthesis involves integrating ideas from multiple sources and connecting them to form a unified argument rather than treating each source separately.
AST Writing and Rhetoric 2
Which organizational strategy works best for an essay arguing that stricter environmental laws should be passed?