Writing Flashcards

Which is the best example of a strong topic sentence for a body paragraph?

Answer: Deforestation destroys critical habitats, threatening the survival of hundreds of species.

A strong topic sentence makes a specific, debatable claim that the paragraph will support with evidence.

When citing a source in MLA format within the text, a writer should include:

Answer: The author's last name and the page number

MLA in-text citations require the author's last name and page number in parentheses, e.g., (Smith 42).

A writer notices that their essay shifts between first person ('I') and third person ('one'). This is an example of:

Answer: Inconsistent point of view

Shifting between first and third person within an essay creates inconsistent point of view, which confuses readers.

Which revision makes this sentence more concise: 'Due to the fact that it was raining, we decided to stay inside.'?

Answer: Because it was raining, we stayed inside.

'Due to the fact that' is a wordy phrase that 'because' replaces concisely without losing meaning.

In an argumentative essay, which of the following best describes a 'warrant'?

Answer: The logical reasoning that connects evidence to the claim

A warrant explains why the evidence supports the claim, making the logical connection explicit for the reader.

Which sentence correctly uses an appositive phrase?

Answer: My brother, a talented guitarist, performs in a local band.

An appositive phrase renames or describes the noun next to it and is set off by commas; 'a talented guitarist' correctly describes 'my brother.'

A student writing a narrative essay wants to show rather than tell a character's nervousness. Which sentence best achieves this?

Answer: Jake's hands trembled as he gripped the podium, his mouth dry and his notes shaking.

Showing uses specific physical details — trembling hands, dry mouth — to let readers experience the emotion rather than being told about it.