CAEC Writing Preparation Course: Position and support

1. Question 1 of 16

   In a persuasive essay, what does it mean to 'take a position'?

   • ADescribe both sides fairly without choosing either one
   • BSay clearly whether you agree or disagree with the issue
   • CList facts about the topic without giving any opinion at all
   • DTell a story about your childhood that relates to the topic
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   Answer: B. Say clearly whether you agree or disagree with the issue

   The rubric rewards taking a position in agreement or disagreement with the issue.

2. Question 2 of 16

   What is a thesis statement?

   • AThe title that you put at the top of your essay page
   • BA quotation from an expert that you use to open the essay
   • COne or two sentences that state your position and main reasons
   • DThe final sentence, where you thank the reader for reading
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   Answer: C. One or two sentences that state your position and main reasons

   The thesis tells the reader your position. A strong thesis also hints at your main reasons.

3. Question 3 of 16

   Prompt: 'Should our town build a new skate park?' Which is the strongest thesis statement?

   • AIn this essay, I will talk about skate parks and about what different people in our town think of them.
   • BSkate parks are places where people can ride skateboards and scooters.
   • COur town should build a skate park because it would give young people a safe place to be active.
   • DSome people in town like skate parks, and some people do not like them.
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   Answer: C. Our town should build a skate park because it would give young people a safe place to be active.

   It takes a clear position and gives a reason. The others only describe the topic or avoid choosing a side.

4. Question 4 of 16

   In a persuasive essay, what is an 'argument'?

   • AA list of the hardest words that the writer has used
   • BAn angry disagreement between the writer and the reader
   • CA reason that explains why your position is right
   • DA heading that tells the reader what the essay is about
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   Answer: C. A reason that explains why your position is right

   Arguments are the reasons that support your position. Each one needs support.

5. Question 5 of 16

   Reason: 'A four-day work week would lower stress.' Which sentence is the best support for this reason?

   • AMost people in Canada have some kind of job, and many of them work five days a week.
   • BI really think that a four-day week is a very good idea for everyone who works.
   • CStress is something that people at many different jobs talk about a lot these days.
   • DWhen my cousin's clinic tried four-day weeks, staff said they felt more rested and took fewer sick days.
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   Answer: D. When my cousin's clinic tried four-day weeks, staff said they felt more rested and took fewer sick days.

   A specific example connected to the reason is good support. The others are vague or off topic.

6. Question 6 of 16

   Which of these is good support for an argument?

   • AA sharp insult aimed at the people who disagree with you
   • BA specific example that shows the reason is true
   • CRepeating the thesis statement again in slightly different words
   • DAn interesting fact about a completely different topic
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   Answer: B. A specific example that shows the reason is true

   Support should be appropriate and connected to the writer's arguments, as the rubric says.

7. Question 7 of 16

   Which statement is an overgeneralization that would weaken an essay?

   • ALast month, my bus was late four times.
   • BEveryone hates riding the bus.
   • CMany riders say the bus is often late in winter.
   • DSome riders would pay more for faster service.
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   Answer: B. Everyone hates riding the bus.

   'Everyone' is a sweeping claim that is easy to disprove. The rubric names overgeneralized support as a weakness.

8. Question 8 of 16

   Why is it a good idea to mention an opposing view in a persuasive essay?

   • AIt shows you understand the issue is complex, and lets you answer the other side
   • BIt is required, or the whole essay automatically gets zero points
   • CIt makes the essay longer without needing any extra thinking
   • DIt lets you change your position halfway through the essay
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   Answer: A. It shows you understand the issue is complex, and lets you answer the other side

   Outcome 1.1 asks you to address the significance and complexity of the issue. Answering the other side shows this.

9. Question 9 of 16

   Opposing view: 'A community garden would cost the town money.' Which is the best rebuttal?

   • AThat is a silly thing to say, and anyone who says it is simply wrong.
   • BMoney is not important when it comes to making a town a better place.
   • CThe start-up cost is small, and volunteers would do most of the work after the first year.
   • DGardens are green and pretty, and everyone in town enjoys looking at them.
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   Answer: C. The start-up cost is small, and volunteers would do most of the work after the first year.

   A good rebuttal admits the point and then answers it with a reason. Insults and vague claims do not persuade.

10. Question 10 of 16

    You can see good points on both sides of the issue. What should you do?

    • ARefuse to choose a side, since both sides have some good points
    • BWrite about a different issue that is much easier to decide on
    • CSwitch sides in each paragraph so that both views get equal space
    • DChoose the side you can support best, and recognize the other side briefly
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    Answer: D. Choose the side you can support best, and recognize the other side briefly

    The rubric expects you to take a position. You can still acknowledge the other side to show you understand the issue.

11. Question 11 of 16

    Which sentence best explains why an issue is important (its significance)?

    • AI have ridden a city bus before, many times, and I usually sit near the back of the bus.
    • BIf the bus route is cut, many seniors will have no way to get to medical appointments.
    • CBus routes in most towns are given numbers, and some of them also have names on the signs.
    • DBuses are usually large vehicles with many seats, and most of them are painted bright colours.
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    Answer: B. If the bus route is cut, many seniors will have no way to get to medical appointments.

    It shows who is affected and why it matters, which addresses the significance of the issue.

12. Question 12 of 16

    Which reason is circular (it only repeats the position)?

    • AUniforms are a good idea because students spend less time choosing clothes.
    • BUniforms are a good idea because having uniforms is a good thing.
    • CUniforms are a good idea because they make it easier to spot visitors in the school.
    • DUniforms are a good idea because they cost families less than buying many outfits.
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    Answer: B. Uniforms are a good idea because having uniforms is a good thing.

    A circular reason says the same thing twice and gives the reader no new reason to agree.

13. Question 13 of 16

    After you give an example, what should usually come next?

    • AA sentence explaining how the example proves your point
    • BA question for the scorer to think about after reading
    • CA second example on a completely different topic, to add variety
    • DThe conclusion of the essay, so the paragraph ends quickly
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    Answer: A. A sentence explaining how the example proves your point

    Explain the link between the example and your argument so the reader sees why it matters.

14. Question 14 of 16

    A writer argues that the library should open on Sundays, then adds, 'Hardly anyone uses the library anyway.' What is the problem?

    • AThe writer used a statistic instead of an example
    • BThe sentence is much too short to count as support
    • CThe support contradicts the writer's own argument
    • DThere is no problem, since this sentence is strong support
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    Answer: C. The support contradicts the writer's own argument

    If hardly anyone uses the library, opening on Sundays makes less sense. The rubric lists contradictory support as a weakness.

15. Question 15 of 16

    Which kind of support is safest to use in a timed essay?

    • AFacts that you are not sure are true but that sound impressive
    • BClear examples and explanations from everyday life
    • CExact statistics that you make up so that they sound official
    • DQuotations that you invent and credit to well-known experts
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    Answer: B. Clear examples and explanations from everyday life

    Invented numbers or quotes are inappropriate support. Honest, specific examples and clear reasoning are more convincing.

16. Question 16 of 16

    For a 75-minute essay, how many main reasons is a practical number to develop?

    • AOne sentence that lists all of the reasons at once
    • BEight or more reasons, each in one short line
    • CAs many reasons as you can possibly list in the time
    • DTwo or three, each well supported
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    Answer: D. Two or three, each well supported

    Two or three reasons, each with support and explanation, give depth without running out of time.

Keyboard: 1–4 to answer, Enter for the next question.

The real test: 55% on each CAEC test