Claim and Argument Development Flashcards
6 cards from real TDA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Claim and Argument Development flashcards as text
What distinguishes a 'claim' from 'evidence' in a TDA response?
Answer: A claim is the writer's argument or interpretation; evidence is the textual support drawn from the passage
The claim is the writer's original interpretive assertion, while evidence is the specific textual detail that supports that assertion.
What is 'logos' as a rhetorical strategy, and how does recognizing it help in TDA analysis?
Answer: Logos is an appeal to logic through facts, statistics, and reasoning, and identifying it shows how an author builds a rational argument
Recognizing logos helps TDA writers analyze how authors use logical evidence and structured reasoning to persuade their audience.
How should a student respond when the TDA prompt asks them to evaluate the author's argument?
Answer: Assess the strength of the evidence, the clarity of the reasoning, and whether the craft choices effectively support the claim
Evaluating an argument requires analyzing how effectively the author's evidence, reasoning, and craft choices work together to support the central claim.
What is the difference between an 'implicit' and an 'explicit' claim in a text?
Answer: An explicit claim is directly stated; an implicit claim is suggested through evidence and must be inferred
Explicit claims are clearly stated by the author, while implicit claims require readers to draw inferences from the evidence presented.
Which transition best signals that a writer is moving from evidence to analysis in a TDA body paragraph?
Answer: 'This demonstrates that...' or 'This reveals that...'
Phrases like 'this demonstrates' or 'this reveals' signal the shift from quoting evidence to explaining its significance.
A student's body paragraph begins with evidence and ends with a claim. What revision is needed?
Answer: Reorganize so the claim comes first, followed by evidence, and then analysis explaining the connection
A properly structured TDA body paragraph follows the pattern: topic sentence (mini-claim) → evidence → analysis → link back to thesis.
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