STAT Personal Perspective Essay Writing 4

Question 1

A student's personal perspective essay repeatedly uses passive voice ('It was believed that...', 'It is thought that...'). What is the main drawback?

Accepted Answer

It distances the writer from their own claims, weakening their personal voice

Answer

Passive constructions obscure the agent of action and dilute the personal stance that a perspective essay demands.

Question 2

When selecting an example to support a point in a personal perspective essay, what criterion is most important?

Accepted Answer

The example should directly illustrate the point being made

Answer

Relevance is paramount; an example that directly supports the claim builds the argument, while a tangential one — however vivid — weakens it.

Question 3

Which revision most improves the vague sentence: 'My experience changed me a lot.'?

Accepted Answer

Volunteering at the shelter forced me to confront assumptions about poverty I had never questioned.

Answer

Specific language that names the experience and the nature of the change creates a precise, credible claim.

Question 4

In a personal perspective essay, what is the risk of including too many examples without explanation?

Accepted Answer

The reader may lose track of the central argument because no single example is developed

Answer

Listing examples without analysis produces a superficial essay; depth on fewer examples is stronger than breadth without explanation.

Question 5

A personal perspective essay prompt states: 'Some argue that competition is harmful; others see it as essential. Discuss your view.' Which response strategy is weakest?

Accepted Answer

Arguing that both views are equally valid and reaching no conclusion

Answer

A response that presents both sides with equal weight but reaches no conclusion fails to demonstrate a personal perspective.

STAT - Special Tertiary Admissions Test Practice Test

STAT - Special Tertiary Admissions Test Practice Test

STAT Personal Perspective Essay Writing 4