KSA Writing 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which element is most important in a strong concluding paragraph?
- Introducing a new argument
- Restating the thesis and summarizing key points (Correct answer)
- Listing all the evidence used
- Asking the reader a question to start a debate
Correct answer: Restating the thesis and summarizing key points
A strong conclusion restates the thesis and summarizes key points to reinforce the essay's main argument for the reader.
Question 2: What is the term for the central argument or position in an argumentative essay?
- Topic sentence
- Thesis statement (Correct answer)
- Hook
- Counterargument
Correct answer: Thesis statement
The thesis statement presents the central argument or position that the entire essay works to support.
Question 3: When revising a draft, a student should focus on:
- Correcting spelling errors only
- Improving ideas, organization, and clarity (Correct answer)
- Changing the topic entirely
- Adding more sentences to every paragraph
Correct answer: Improving ideas, organization, and clarity
Revision focuses on higher-order concerns such as improving ideas, organization, and clarity, rather than surface-level corrections.
Question 4: Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?
- Running quickly, Maria crossed the finish line.
- Running quickly, the finish line was crossed. (Correct answer)
- Maria, who runs quickly, crossed the finish line.
- The finish line was crossed by Maria, who ran quickly.
Correct answer: Running quickly, the finish line was crossed.
In 'Running quickly, the finish line was crossed,' the modifier 'running quickly' incorrectly appears to describe the finish line rather than Maria.
Question 5: What is the main purpose of using textual evidence in a written response?
- To make the response longer
- To support and validate the writer's claims (Correct answer)
- To show the reader the writer has read the text
- To replace the writer's own analysis
Correct answer: To support and validate the writer's claims
Textual evidence supports and validates the writer's claims by grounding arguments in specific details from the source material.
Question 6: Which of the following is an example of a compound sentence?
- She studied hard for the test.
- Because she studied hard, she passed the test.
- She studied hard, and she passed the test. (Correct answer)
- Studying hard, she passed the test with ease.
Correct answer: She studied hard, and she passed the test.
A compound sentence joins two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction; 'She studied hard, and she passed the test' fits this pattern.
Question 7: Which writing technique involves presenting an opposing viewpoint and then refuting it?
- Anecdote
- Counterargument (Correct answer)
- Simile
- Parallelism
Correct answer: Counterargument
A counterargument acknowledges an opposing viewpoint and then refutes it, strengthening the writer's own argument.
KSA Writing 2
Which element is most important in a strong concluding paragraph?