Written Test Analytical Writing 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is an example of an ad hominem fallacy?
- The study was conducted with too small a sample size to be valid.
- You can't trust her argument about tax policy because she once filed late taxes. (Correct answer)
- The conclusion contradicts evidence presented in the introduction.
- The policy has been tried before and produced mixed results.
Correct answer: You can't trust her argument about tax policy because she once filed late taxes.
Ad hominem attacks the person making the argument rather than the argument itself.
Question 2: What is the primary function of a counterargument paragraph in an analytical essay?
- To confuse the reader about the writer's position
- To acknowledge opposing views and then refute or qualify them (Correct answer)
- To concede that the thesis may be wrong
- To provide background information about the topic
Correct answer: To acknowledge opposing views and then refute or qualify them
Engaging counterarguments demonstrates critical thinking and strengthens the essay by preemptively addressing objections.
Question 3: Which type of evidence is generally considered most authoritative in analytical writing?
- Personal experience of the writer
- Anecdotes shared by acquaintances
- Peer-reviewed empirical studies (Correct answer)
- Opinions expressed in popular media
Correct answer: Peer-reviewed empirical studies
Peer-reviewed empirical studies have been scrutinized by experts and follow systematic methods, making them the most reliable evidence type.
Question 4: A paragraph that begins with a topic sentence, provides evidence, and ends without linking back to the thesis is missing:
- A transitional phrase
- A concluding or synthesis sentence (Correct answer)
- An introductory hook
- A parenthetical citation
Correct answer: A concluding or synthesis sentence
The final sentence of a body paragraph should connect the evidence back to the essay's central argument.
Question 5: In the context of analytical writing, 'synthesis' means:
- Summarizing one source in detail
- Creating a fictional scenario to illustrate a point
- Combining ideas from multiple sources to form a new insight (Correct answer)
- Quoting two sources back to back without analysis
Correct answer: Combining ideas from multiple sources to form a new insight
Synthesis weaves multiple sources together to build a coherent argument rather than merely reporting each source in isolation.
Question 6: Which revision most clearly improves the vague claim: 'Many people think the law is unfair'?
- Some people feel that the law might possibly be a bit unfair in certain ways.
- A 2023 Gallup poll found that 67% of Americans consider the mandatory minimum sentencing law unjust. (Correct answer)
- The law is unfair to many people in the country today.
- People have different opinions about whether the law is fair or not.
Correct answer: A 2023 Gallup poll found that 67% of Americans consider the mandatory minimum sentencing law unjust.
Replacing vague language with a specific, sourced statistic makes the claim precise and credible.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes 'deductive reasoning' in analytical writing?
- Building a general conclusion from many specific observations
- Applying a general principle to a specific case to reach a conclusion (Correct answer)
- Choosing evidence that only supports one side of an argument
- Predicting outcomes based on historical trends alone
Correct answer: Applying a general principle to a specific case to reach a conclusion
Deductive reasoning moves from a general premise to a specific conclusion, as in the classic syllogism form.
Written Test Analytical Writing 3
Which of the following is an example of an ad hominem fallacy?