Writing (Grades 6-8) Flashcards

Which type of writing asks the author to take a position on an issue and support it with evidence and reasoning?

Answer: Argumentative writing

Argumentative writing requires the author to state a claim and back it up with evidence and logical reasoning to persuade the reader.

What is the purpose of a thesis statement in an essay?

Answer: To state the main argument or central claim of the essay

A thesis statement presents the central claim or main argument that the rest of the essay will develop and support.

Which sentence uses correct subject-verb agreement?

Answer: The team plays their best game every Friday.

Collective nouns like 'team' take a singular verb when the group acts as one unit, making 'plays' the correct choice.

In writing, what does 'point of view' refer to?

Answer: The perspective from which a story is told

Point of view refers to the narrator's perspective—first person (I/we), second person (you), or third person (he/she/they)—from which the story is told.

Which revision best improves the vague sentence: 'The weather was bad, so we stayed home'?

Answer: A heavy thunderstorm with lightning forced us to cancel our outdoor plans and stay home.

Adding specific details like 'heavy thunderstorm with lightning' and 'cancel our outdoor plans' creates a much clearer and more vivid sentence.

What is the correct way to punctuate the following sentence: 'Before leaving for school Maria packed her lunch backpack and gym shoes'?

Answer: Before leaving for school, Maria packed her lunch, backpack, and gym shoes.

A comma is needed after the introductory clause 'Before leaving for school,' and commas separate items in the series 'lunch, backpack, and gym shoes.'

Which transition word best shows a contrast between two ideas?

Answer: However

'However' is a transitional word used to introduce a contrasting idea, while 'furthermore' adds information, 'therefore' shows result, and 'similarly' shows comparison.