Academic Writing & Argumentation Flashcards

Which of the following BEST describes the purpose of a topic sentence in a TOEFL Writing body paragraph?

Answer: To introduce the main idea of that paragraph and connect it to the thesis

A topic sentence introduces the main idea of a body paragraph and shows how that idea supports the overall thesis, giving the paragraph its direction and focus.

Which transition signal is used to show CONTRAST between two ideas in academic writing?

Answer: Nevertheless

'Nevertheless' signals contrast or concession — it introduces an idea that contradicts or qualifies what came before.

In the TOEFL Integrated Writing task, approximately how long should your response be?

Answer: 150–225 words

ETS recommends 150–225 words for the Integrated Writing task, which allows enough space to address all three lecture points without padding.

What is the best way to show strong argumentation in a TOEFL Academic Discussion post?

Answer: State a clear claim and support it with a specific, developed example

Strong argumentation means stating a clear claim and backing it with a specific, well-developed example — one strong point supported thoroughly outscores a list of unsupported assertions.

Which sentence correctly uses the passive voice in an academic writing context?

Answer: The results were analyzed by the research team after the experiment concluded.

'The results were analyzed by the research team' is correct passive voice: subject (results) + to be (were) + past participle (analyzed) + optional agent (by the research team).

In TOEFL Academic Writing, what is the function of a 'hedging' expression such as 'it could be argued that'?

Answer: To soften a claim and acknowledge it may not be universally true

Hedging expressions soften claims, signaling that the writer acknowledges limitations, uncertainty, or the possibility of other valid perspectives.