SATs Analytical Writing & Argumentation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An author opens an essay by describing a child's tearful first day without school lunch due to debt. Which rhetorical appeal does this primarily use?
- Logos
- Ethos
- Pathos (Correct answer)
- Kairos
Correct answer: Pathos
Appealing to the reader's emotions through a vivid personal scenario is an appeal to pathos.
Question 2: A nutritionist writes: 'As a registered dietitian with 20 years of clinical experience, I can confirm that ultra-processed foods elevate disease risk.' This primarily establishes:
- Pathos
- Logos
- Ethos (Correct answer)
- Anaphora
Correct answer: Ethos
Citing credentials and experience is an appeal to ethos, building the author's trustworthiness.
Question 3: Which of the following is the best example of an analogy used to support an argument?
- Schools without counselors produce anxious students.
- Ignoring students' mental health needs is like ignoring a leaking roof—small problems compound into structural collapse. (Correct answer)
- Mental health resources are expensive but necessary.
- Many students experience anxiety during exam season.
Correct answer: Ignoring students' mental health needs is like ignoring a leaking roof—small problems compound into structural collapse.
An analogy maps a less-familiar concept onto a relatable parallel to clarify and persuade.
Question 4: A passage repeats the phrase 'We cannot wait' at the start of three consecutive sentences. This rhetorical device is called:
- Chiasmus
- Hyperbole
- Anaphora (Correct answer)
- Alliteration
Correct answer: Anaphora
Anaphora is the deliberate repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses to create emphasis.
Question 5: What is the primary effect of ending an argumentative paragraph with a rhetorical question?
- It introduces new evidence for the reader to evaluate
- It signals the writer is unsure of the argument's strength
- It invites the reader to reflect and implicitly accept the argument's conclusion (Correct answer)
- It requires a direct answer in the following paragraph
Correct answer: It invites the reader to reflect and implicitly accept the argument's conclusion
Rhetorical questions engage readers by prompting reflection rather than requesting a literal answer.
Question 6: Which sentence demonstrates the most effective use of concession and rebuttal?
- Some people like homework, but others don't.
- Although critics argue that homework increases student stress, research shows that moderate assignments reinforce learning and build self-discipline. (Correct answer)
- Homework has both advantages and disadvantages that must be considered carefully.
- Homework is important for academic success.
Correct answer: Although critics argue that homework increases student stress, research shows that moderate assignments reinforce learning and build self-discipline.
An effective concession-rebuttal acknowledges the opposing view before countering it with evidence.
Question 7: In SAT argumentative writing, logos refers to an appeal based on:
- The speaker's moral character and credibility
- The audience's emotions and personal values
- Logic, evidence, and rational reasoning (Correct answer)
- The timeliness and relevance of the argument
Correct answer: Logic, evidence, and rational reasoning
Logos persuades through facts, data, statistics, and structured logical reasoning.
SATs Analytical Writing & Argumentation 3
An author opens an essay by describing a child's tearful first day without school lunch due to debt.
Which rhetorical appeal does this primarily use?