Writing & Language Arts Flashcards

What is the difference between a primary source and a secondary source?

Answer: Primary sources are original documents; secondary sources analyze or interpret primary sources

Primary sources are original materials (diaries, speeches, data), while secondary sources analyze, interpret, or summarize primary sources.

Which text structure best explains why something happened and what resulted from it?

Answer: Cause and effect

Cause and effect text structure explains why events occur and what consequences or outcomes they produce.

What does 'citing textual evidence' mean in an essay?

Answer: Using quotes or specific references from the text to support a claim

Citing textual evidence means directly quoting or specifically referencing passages from the source text to back up claims.

What is the purpose of including a counterclaim in argumentative writing?

Answer: To acknowledge the opposing viewpoint and then refute it

A counterclaim acknowledges the opposing viewpoint and then addresses or refutes it, which strengthens the overall argument.

Which figurative language device makes a direct comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'?

Answer: Metaphor

A metaphor directly states that one thing IS another, creating a comparison without comparative words like 'like' or 'as.'

What is the purpose of transition words like 'first,' 'next,' and 'finally' in writing?

Answer: To connect ideas and show the relationship or sequence between them

Transition words act as signposts that connect ideas, guide readers through the text, and clarify the relationship and order of information.

When writing an informational text, which characteristic is most important for the language used?

Answer: It should be objective, clear, and formal

Informational writing should use objective, clear, and formal language to present facts and information accurately and without personal bias.