RICAS Evidence-Based Writing 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student is revising an essay and notices two ideas in one paragraph are only loosely connected. What is the best strategy?
- Delete the second idea entirely without replacement.
- Add a transitional sentence that explicitly links the two ideas. (Correct answer)
- Start a new essay from scratch.
- Move both sentences to the conclusion.
Correct answer: Add a transitional sentence that explicitly links the two ideas.
A transitional sentence clarifies the logical relationship between ideas, improving paragraph coherence.
Question 2: Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?
- Running through the park, Maria spotted a rare bird.
- After finishing the report, it was submitted to the manager. (Correct answer)
- Exhausted from the hike, the campers fell asleep quickly.
- Having studied all night, she felt confident about the exam.
Correct answer: After finishing the report, it was submitted to the manager.
The report cannot finish itself; the modifier 'After finishing the report' has no clear subject performing the action.
Question 3: A student writes an essay claiming that homework should be banned. A classmate argues that homework helps reinforce learning. Which strategy should the student use to address this counterargument?
- Ignore the counterargument and repeat the original claim.
- Acknowledge the counterargument, then explain why the evidence still supports banning homework. (Correct answer)
- Change the essay's thesis to agree with the classmate.
- Remove all evidence from the essay to avoid conflict.
Correct answer: Acknowledge the counterargument, then explain why the evidence still supports banning homework.
Acknowledging and then refuting a counterargument demonstrates critical thinking and strengthens the writer's position.
Question 4: Read this sentence: 'The students was excited about the field trip.' What is the error?
- Incorrect punctuation after 'students'
- Wrong verb tense—should be 'will be'
- Subject-verb disagreement—should be 'were' (Correct answer)
- Misplaced modifier before 'excited'
Correct answer: Subject-verb disagreement—should be 'were'
The plural subject 'students' requires the plural verb 'were,' not the singular 'was.'
Question 5: Which type of evidence would be MOST persuasive in a research essay arguing that exercise improves academic performance?
- A personal anecdote about a student who exercises and gets good grades.
- A peer-reviewed study tracking 500 students' grades before and after an exercise program. (Correct answer)
- A blog post written by a fitness enthusiast.
- An opinion column in a school newspaper.
Correct answer: A peer-reviewed study tracking 500 students' grades before and after an exercise program.
Peer-reviewed research with a large sample size provides the most credible, data-backed support for an academic argument.
Question 6: A student's essay introduction ends with this thesis: 'Social media has both benefits and drawbacks.' Why is this an ineffective thesis statement?
- It is too long and should be shorter.
- It is a factual statement that everyone agrees with, not an arguable claim. (Correct answer)
- It uses informal language inappropriate for an essay.
- It mentions too many topics at once.
Correct answer: It is a factual statement that everyone agrees with, not an arguable claim.
An effective thesis makes a specific, arguable claim; stating that something has both benefits and drawbacks is obvious and not debatable.
Question 7: Which revision of the following sentence uses the most active and precise language? Original: 'A decision was made by the committee to cancel the event.'
- The event's cancellation was decided upon.
- The committee decided to cancel the event. (Correct answer)
- Cancellation of the event was the committee's decision.
- It was decided that the event would be cancelled.
Correct answer: The committee decided to cancel the event.
Active voice places the subject (the committee) before the verb (decided), making the sentence direct and clear.
RICAS Evidence-Based Writing 3
A student is revising an essay and notices two ideas in one paragraph are only loosely connected.
What is the best strategy?