CAEL Writing: Extended Response Synthesis 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When revising a CAEL extended response for 'lexical resource,' what should the writer focus on?
- Counting the total number of words in the response
- Using a range of precise, topic-appropriate vocabulary rather than repeating the same basic words (Correct answer)
- Replacing all common words with the longest synonyms available
- Ensuring every sentence contains at least one academic word
Correct answer: Using a range of precise, topic-appropriate vocabulary rather than repeating the same basic words
Lexical resource refers to vocabulary range, precision, and appropriateness — not simply using rare or long words.
Question 2: A student's extended response uses only simple sentences throughout. How does this affect the CAEL writing score?
- It has no effect because clarity is more important than complexity
- It limits the grammatical range score, since varied sentence structures demonstrate greater proficiency (Correct answer)
- It actually improves the score by making the response easy to read
- It only affects the score if the sentences contain grammatical errors
Correct answer: It limits the grammatical range score, since varied sentence structures demonstrate greater proficiency
CAEL assesses grammatical range; using only simple sentences suggests limited command of complex structures regardless of accuracy.
Question 3: What does it mean to 'develop' an idea in a CAEL extended response body paragraph?
- Write more sentences about the same topic without adding new information
- Provide evidence from the sources, explain how it relates to the point, and analyze its significance (Correct answer)
- Use a new source that contradicts the reading passages
- Break the idea into a numbered list for clarity
Correct answer: Provide evidence from the sources, explain how it relates to the point, and analyze its significance
Development means moving from claim → evidence → explanation → analysis, not simply restating the same idea multiple times.
Question 4: In synthesizing sources, what is the difference between a 'reporting verb' and analytical framing?
- Reporting verbs like 'states' or 'argues' simply attribute ideas; analytical framing adds the writer's evaluation of that information (Correct answer)
- Reporting verbs are used in introductions only; analytical framing is used in conclusions
- Analytical framing means copying text exactly without a reporting verb
- There is no meaningful difference between the two in academic writing
Correct answer: Reporting verbs like 'states' or 'argues' simply attribute ideas; analytical framing adds the writer's evaluation of that information
Reporting verbs attribute information to sources, while analytical framing ('this suggests,' 'this reveals') adds the writer's interpretive layer.
Question 5: A CAEL writing prompt includes two passages with different tones — one formal academic, one journalistic. How should this affect the extended response?
- The student should match the informal tone of the journalistic source throughout
- The student should maintain a consistent academic tone in their own writing regardless of the sources' styles (Correct answer)
- The student should alternate tones to match each source as they are cited
- The student should note the tone difference as the thesis of the response
Correct answer: The student should maintain a consistent academic tone in their own writing regardless of the sources' styles
The writer's own voice must remain appropriately academic throughout, even when drawing on sources with varied styles.
Question 6: Which approach BEST demonstrates critical thinking when synthesizing two passages in CAEL?
- Accepting all information in both passages as equally valid without question
- Evaluating the strength of each source's argument and explaining how they together illuminate the issue (Correct answer)
- Selecting the passage with more statistics as more authoritative
- Writing only about the passage whose topic you find more interesting
Correct answer: Evaluating the strength of each source's argument and explaining how they together illuminate the issue
Critical thinking involves evaluating, comparing, and analyzing sources rather than passively accepting all information as equal.
Question 7: What is the most effective way to conclude a CAEL extended response that synthesizes two passages?
- Introduce a new argument not discussed in the body paragraphs
- Restate the thesis in different words and summarize how the source material supports the overall position (Correct answer)
- End with a direct quote from one of the passages
- Write a personal anecdote that relates to the topic
Correct answer: Restate the thesis in different words and summarize how the source material supports the overall position
A strong conclusion restates the thesis and briefly synthesizes how the evidence collectively proved the argument, without introducing new claims.
CAEL Writing: Extended Response Synthesis 5
When revising a CAEL extended response for 'lexical resource,' what should the writer focus on?