LEAP Writing Evidence-Based Claims 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Read this sentence: 'Many experts agree that climate change is real.' What improvement would make this stronger evidence?
- Replace 'many experts' with 'some scientists'
- Add 'in my opinion' before 'many experts'
- Name specific organizations or cite a specific study with findings (Correct answer)
- Remove the claim and replace it with a quote from a classmate
Correct answer: Name specific organizations or cite a specific study with findings
Replacing vague references like 'many experts' with named, credible sources makes evidence more verifiable and persuasive.
Question 2: In a LEAP essay, what does 'text-based evidence' specifically mean?
- Any fact the writer already knows from memory
- Evidence drawn directly from the provided reading passage(s) (Correct answer)
- Statistics found on the internet during research
- The writer's personal opinions supported by feelings
Correct answer: Evidence drawn directly from the provided reading passage(s)
On LEAP assessments, text-based evidence refers to details, quotes, or data taken directly from the provided source texts.
Question 3: Which writing technique is used when a student restates evidence in their own words rather than quoting it directly?
- Citing
- Plagiarizing
- Paraphrasing (Correct answer)
- Annotating
Correct answer: Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing means expressing source material in your own words while retaining the original meaning, still requiring a citation.
Question 4: A student claims: 'Social media negatively affects teens.' Which of the following is the STRONGEST supporting evidence?
- I personally feel worse after using social media.
- My friend told me she gets sad when she sees other people's posts.
- A 2021 Journal of Adolescence study found a 30% increase in anxiety among daily social media users aged 13–18. (Correct answer)
- Social media companies make a lot of money.
Correct answer: A 2021 Journal of Adolescence study found a 30% increase in anxiety among daily social media users aged 13–18.
The peer-reviewed journal study provides specific, measurable, and credible data directly tied to the claim about teens.
Question 5: What is the main difference between a claim and a fact in argumentative writing?
- A claim is always shorter than a fact
- A claim requires evidence and can be debated; a fact is verifiable and widely accepted as true (Correct answer)
- A fact needs a citation but a claim does not
- There is no difference; the terms are interchangeable
Correct answer: A claim requires evidence and can be debated; a fact is verifiable and widely accepted as true
A claim is an arguable assertion that needs evidence to be proven, while a fact is an accepted truth that can be independently verified.
Question 6: A student writes a paragraph with three quotes in a row and no commentary. What is the primary problem?
- The paragraph has too many sentences
- The quotes are probably too long
- There is no analysis connecting the quotes to the claim (Correct answer)
- The student should have used paraphrases instead
Correct answer: There is no analysis connecting the quotes to the claim
Evidence without analysis is called 'quote dumping'; the writer must explain how each piece of evidence supports the claim.
Question 7: Which element is NOT a required component of a strong evidence-based body paragraph?
- A clear topic sentence stating the paragraph's claim
- At least one piece of supporting evidence
- Analysis explaining how the evidence supports the claim
- A personal anecdote from the writer's life (Correct answer)
Correct answer: A personal anecdote from the writer's life
Strong evidence-based paragraphs require a claim, evidence, and analysis; personal anecdotes are generally not required and may weaken academic arguments.
LEAP Writing Evidence-Based Claims 3
Read this sentence: 'Many experts agree that climate change is real.' What improvement would make this stronger evidence?