CLAST Essay Writing and Composition 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: On the CLAST essay section, what is the PRIMARY purpose of a thesis statement?
- To summarize the entire essay
- To state the main argument or claim the essay will support (Correct answer)
- To provide background history on the topic
- To list all the evidence you will use
Correct answer: To state the main argument or claim the essay will support
A thesis statement presents the central claim or argument that the body of the essay develops and supports.
Question 2: Which essay structure does the CLAST essay section primarily assess?
- Stream of consciousness narrative
- Five-paragraph expository or argumentative essay (Correct answer)
- Personal journal entries
- Descriptive poetry
Correct answer: Five-paragraph expository or argumentative essay
The CLAST assesses organized, academic writing typically structured as an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
Question 3: A topic sentence in a body paragraph should:
- Introduce a new topic unrelated to the thesis
- State the main point of that paragraph and relate to the thesis (Correct answer)
- Summarize the entire essay
- Always begin with a quotation
Correct answer: State the main point of that paragraph and relate to the thesis
Each topic sentence announces the specific focus of its paragraph and connects that focus to the overall thesis.
Question 4: When writing a CLAST essay, which type of evidence is MOST effective for supporting an argument?
- Vague generalizations
- Personal feelings and guesses
- Specific facts, statistics, or concrete examples (Correct answer)
- Repeated restatement of the thesis
Correct answer: Specific facts, statistics, or concrete examples
Specific, verifiable evidence — facts, statistics, concrete examples — provides the strongest support for an argument.
Question 5: What is the function of the concluding paragraph in a CLAST essay?
- Introduce new arguments not mentioned earlier
- Restate the thesis and summarize key points (Correct answer)
- List all sources used
- Begin the essay's narrative
Correct answer: Restate the thesis and summarize key points
A conclusion restates the thesis in new words and summarizes the essay's key supporting points.
Question 6: Which of the following is an example of a strong, specific CLAST essay thesis?
- This essay is about college education.
- College education is important.
- Rising tuition costs disproportionately burden low-income students and widen economic inequality. (Correct answer)
- Many people have opinions about college.
Correct answer: Rising tuition costs disproportionately burden low-income students and widen economic inequality.
Option C makes a specific, arguable claim that can be developed with evidence, making it an effective thesis.
CLAST Essay Writing and Composition 1
On the CLAST essay section, what is the PRIMARY purpose of a thesis statement?