AWA Logical Organization & Structure 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An AWA essay uses the structure: Introduction → Counterargument → Rebuttal → Supporting Point 1 → Supporting Point 2 → Conclusion. What is the primary risk of this organization?
- The conclusion will be too long
- The counterargument appears before the writer has established their own position, potentially confusing readers (Correct answer)
- There are too many body paragraphs for a timed essay
- The supporting points cannot follow a rebuttal logically
Correct answer: The counterargument appears before the writer has established their own position, potentially confusing readers
Placing the counterargument before establishing your own position can make the essay seem to begin from an opposing viewpoint, undermining clarity.
Question 2: What does 'internal paragraph coherence' mean in the context of AWA writing?
- All paragraphs are the same length
- The sentences within a paragraph connect logically to each other and to the paragraph's topic sentence (Correct answer)
- Each paragraph contains exactly one transitional phrase
- The paragraph uses only one type of sentence structure
Correct answer: The sentences within a paragraph connect logically to each other and to the paragraph's topic sentence
Internal coherence means every sentence within a paragraph relates clearly to the central idea, with smooth logical flow between consecutive sentences.
Question 3: A writer analyzing an argument notices three separate flaws but only has time to develop two fully. The best strategy is to:
- List all three flaws in one paragraph without developing any
- Fully develop the two most impactful flaws and omit or briefly mention the third (Correct answer)
- Write three underdeveloped paragraphs covering all three flaws equally
- Skip the conclusion to make time for all three flaws
Correct answer: Fully develop the two most impactful flaws and omit or briefly mention the third
Depth of analysis on fewer points scores higher than superficial treatment of many; choosing the most significant flaws maximizes analytical impact.
Question 4: Which of the following is the BEST example of a thesis statement for an AWA Argument task?
- This is an interesting argument with some good and bad points.
- The argument is flawed because it makes assumptions, lacks evidence, and ignores alternatives—each of which undermines its conclusion. (Correct answer)
- I disagree with the argument presented in the prompt.
- Arguments can always be improved with more data.
Correct answer: The argument is flawed because it makes assumptions, lacks evidence, and ignores alternatives—each of which undermines its conclusion.
A strong AWA thesis names the specific logical problems (assumptions, lack of evidence, ignored alternatives) and connects them to the conclusion's validity.
Question 5: In the Analyze an Issue task, 'taking a position' requires the writer to:
- Agree completely with the prompt's claim without qualification
- State a clear, defensible stance that the essay's evidence and reasoning will consistently support (Correct answer)
- Present both sides of the issue equally without committing to one
- Adopt the position that is most popular or conventional
Correct answer: State a clear, defensible stance that the essay's evidence and reasoning will consistently support
AWA scorers reward a clear, consistent position that is defended throughout the essay, not neutrality or a position taken only in the conclusion.
Question 6: A paragraph ends with a sentence that introduces a brand-new idea unrelated to the paragraph's topic sentence. This error is known as:
- A dangling modifier
- A run-on sentence
- A lack of paragraph unity (Correct answer)
- A comma splice
Correct answer: A lack of paragraph unity
When a paragraph contains ideas that don't relate to its central claim, it violates unity, the principle that every sentence in a paragraph should support the same main idea.
Question 7: Which revision most improves the logical organization of the following pair of sentences? Original: 'The company's profits fell 30%. The CEO received a bonus.'
- The company's profits fell 30%, and the CEO received a bonus, which seems strange.
- Despite a 30% drop in company profits, the CEO still received a bonus, raising questions about the compensation policy's alignment with performance. (Correct answer)
- Profits fell. Bonuses rose.
- The CEO's bonus was given while profits were falling by approximately 30%.
Correct answer: Despite a 30% drop in company profits, the CEO still received a bonus, raising questions about the compensation policy's alignment with performance.
The revised sentence uses a concessive transition ('Despite') and adds analytical language ('raising questions about alignment'), showing the logical relationship between the two facts.
AWA Logical Organization & Structure 4
An AWA essay uses the structure: Introduction → Counterargument → Rebuttal → Supporting Point 1 → Supporting Point 2 → Conclusion.
What is the primary risk of this organization?