Writing Skills & Essay Flashcards

An author opens an essay with a shocking statistic about climate change. In SAT essay terms, this is best described as:

Answer: A pathos strategy using data to intensify urgency

Using alarming data to provoke concern is a pathos strategy, even though statistics are also logical evidence.

Which choice eliminates the comma splice? 'The experiment failed, the scientists redesigned it.'

Answer: The experiment failed, but the scientists redesigned it.

Adding the coordinating conjunction 'but' after the comma correctly joins the two independent clauses.

In the SAT essay rubric, which score category assesses how well you explain the author's use of evidence and reasoning?

Answer: Analysis

The Analysis score evaluates how well you examine the author's argumentative techniques and explain their effects.

Which sentence best avoids wordiness?

Answer: Because it was raining, the game was canceled.

'Because' is a single word that replaces wordy phrases like 'due to the fact that.'

A writer wants to add a sentence that introduces a counterargument before refuting it. Which phrase is MOST appropriate to start that sentence?

Answer: Some might argue that

'Some might argue that' signals the writer is about to present an opposing view before countering it.

Which sentence correctly uses 'who' vs. 'whom'?

Answer: Who did the teacher praise?

'Who' is correct as the subject of the question ('the teacher praised him/her' → 'who').

An SAT passage uses vivid descriptions of polluted rivers and dying wildlife. This is primarily an example of:

Answer: Pathos — evoking emotional response

Vivid imagery of suffering is a classic pathos technique designed to generate empathy and outrage.