GLA GLA Writing Skills and Composition 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the main purpose of a thesis statement in a GLA writing task?
- To list all the topics covered in the essay
- To state the central claim or argument that the entire essay will develop and support (Correct answer)
- To summarize the source texts provided
- To introduce background information about the topic
Correct answer: To state the central claim or argument that the entire essay will develop and support
A thesis statement presents the writer's main argument or position, giving the essay direction and a central claim for all body paragraphs to support.
Question 2: Which organizational structure arranges events or steps in the order in which they occurred?
- Cause and effect
- Compare and contrast
- Chronological order (Correct answer)
- Order of importance
Correct answer: Chronological order
Chronological order organizes information from earliest to latest, making it ideal for narratives and process explanations.
Question 3: What role does supporting evidence play in a GLA argumentative essay?
- It restates the thesis in different words
- It provides specific facts, examples, or quotations that validate the writer's claims (Correct answer)
- It introduces new topics unrelated to the thesis
- It serves as the conclusion of the essay
Correct answer: It provides specific facts, examples, or quotations that validate the writer's claims
Supporting evidence gives credibility to a writer's argument by showing concrete reasons why the claim is accurate or reasonable.
Question 4: How should students effectively begin a body paragraph in a GLA essay response?
- With a quotation from the source text
- With a topic sentence that states the paragraph's main point and connects it to the thesis (Correct answer)
- With a restatement of the prompt question
- With a personal anecdote unrelated to the topic
Correct answer: With a topic sentence that states the paragraph's main point and connects it to the thesis
A topic sentence opens a body paragraph by introducing its specific supporting point and showing how it relates to the essay's overall argument.
Question 5: What is the function of a concluding sentence at the end of a body paragraph in a GLA essay?
- To introduce the next piece of evidence
- To copy the topic sentence word for word
- To wrap up the paragraph's point and connect it back to the broader argument (Correct answer)
- To list additional evidence not yet discussed
Correct answer: To wrap up the paragraph's point and connect it back to the broader argument
A concluding sentence closes the paragraph by reinforcing how the evidence presented supports the overall thesis.
Question 6: Which type of essay requires the writer to present and evaluate multiple perspectives on a debatable topic?
- Narrative essay
- Descriptive essay
- Argumentative or analytical essay (Correct answer)
- Process essay
Correct answer: Argumentative or analytical essay
Argumentative and analytical essays require writers to examine different viewpoints and use evidence to support or refute a debatable claim.
GLA GLA Writing Skills and Composition 1
What is the main purpose of a thesis statement in a GLA writing task?