ICAS Persuasive and Narrative Writing Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A character in a story is torn between reporting their best friend for breaking a school rule and staying silent to protect the friendship. This dilemma causes the character significant stress and worry. Which type of narrative conflict does this situation primarily represent?
- Character vs. Nature
- Character vs. Society
- Character vs. Character
- Character vs. Self (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Character vs. Self
This is an example of Character vs. Self, also known as an internal conflict. The struggle is taking place within the character's own mind and conscience as they grapple with a difficult moral decision.
Question 2: Which of the following sentences best demonstrates the narrative technique of 'showing, not telling'?
- The room was very cold.
- She was incredibly happy to see him.
- His shoulders slumped and he stared at the floor, avoiding everyone's eyes. (Correct answer)
- The test was extremely difficult.
Correct answer: His shoulders slumped and he stared at the floor, avoiding everyone's eyes.
This sentence 'shows' a character's feelings of defeat or sadness through physical actions and body language, rather than simply 'telling' the reader the emotion. The other options state a fact or feeling directly.
Question 3: An advertisement for a new sports drink includes the line: 'Don't you deserve the best hydration to achieve your peak performance?' What persuasive technique is being used here?
- Appeal to authority
- Rhetorical question (Correct answer)
- Use of statistics
- Repetition
Correct answer: Rhetorical question
This is a rhetorical question, which is a question asked to make a point or create a dramatic effect, rather than to get an answer. The ad expects the audience to mentally agree, reinforcing the persuasive message.
Question 4: A student is writing a persuasive letter to the principal arguing for a new recycling program at school. Which piece of evidence would be the MOST credible and effective to include?
- A quote from a popular celebrity about loving the planet.
- A personal story about how much the student dislikes seeing waste.
- Data from a national environmental agency showing that schools with recycling programs reduce waste by 40%. (Correct answer)
- An opinion from a parent who thinks recycling is a good idea.
Correct answer: Data from a national environmental agency showing that schools with recycling programs reduce waste by 40%.
Data from a reputable source like a national environmental agency provides factual, verifiable evidence, which is the most credible and persuasive type of support for an argument. The other options are based on opinion, anecdote, or unrelated authority.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of a 'call to action' at the end of a persuasive text?
- To introduce the main topic for the first time.
- To present an opposing viewpoint for balance.
- To summarize all the evidence that was presented.
- To tell the reader what specific action they should take next. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: To tell the reader what specific action they should take next.
A call to action is a directive that urges the reader to perform a specific act, such as signing a petition, buying a product, or contacting a representative. Its purpose is to convert the reader's agreement into a concrete action.
Question 6: While both persuasive and narrative writing can be engaging, what is the fundamental difference in their primary goals?
- Narrative writing uses characters, while persuasive writing only uses facts.
- Persuasive writing aims to convince the reader of a viewpoint, while narrative writing aims to tell a story. (Correct answer)
- Narrative writing must be fictional, while persuasive writing must be non-fiction.
- Persuasive writing uses emotional language, while narrative writing is always objective.
Correct answer: Persuasive writing aims to convince the reader of a viewpoint, while narrative writing aims to tell a story.
The core purpose of persuasive writing is to argue a point and convince the audience to agree or take action. The core purpose of narrative writing is to relate a sequence of events and tell a story, whether real or fictional, to entertain or share an experience.
ICAS Persuasive and Narrative Writing Questions and Answers
A character in a story is torn between reporting their best friend for breaking a school rule and staying silent to protect the friendship.
This dilemma causes the character significant stress and worry.
Which type of narrative conflict does this situation primarily represent?