CAEC Writing Preparation Course: Organizing a persuasive essay

1. Question 1 of 16

   What are the three main parts of a persuasive essay?

   • AA title, a list of points and a signature
   • BA greeting, a personal story and a goodbye
   • CA question, an answer and a short summary at the end
   • DIntroduction, body paragraphs and conclusion
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Introduction, body paragraphs and conclusion

   A clear essay has an introduction with the thesis, body paragraphs with reasons, and a conclusion.

2. Question 2 of 16

   Where does the thesis statement usually go?

   • AIn the last sentence of the essay and nowhere else
   • BIn the introduction, often near the end of it
   • CIn the middle of the second body paragraph
   • DOnly in the title, so that the reader sees it first
   Show answer

   Answer: B. In the introduction, often near the end of it

   Placing the thesis in the introduction tells the reader your position right away.

3. Question 3 of 16

   What is a topic sentence?

   • AThe last sentence of the whole essay
   • BAny sentence in the paragraph that has a comma in it
   • CThe sentence that states the main idea of a paragraph
   • DA sentence that asks the reader a question to answer
   Show answer

   Answer: C. The sentence that states the main idea of a paragraph

   Each body paragraph should open with a topic sentence that names the reason the paragraph will support.

4. Question 4 of 16

   Which transition word or phrase is best for adding another point?

   • AAs a result
   • BHowever
   • CFor example
   • DIn addition
   Show answer

   Answer: D. In addition

   'In addition' adds a point. 'However' shows contrast, 'as a result' shows effect and 'for example' introduces an example.

5. Question 5 of 16

   Which transition is best for showing a contrast?

   • AOn the other hand
   • BFirst of all
   • CAs a result
   • DIn addition to this
   Show answer

   Answer: A. On the other hand

   'On the other hand' signals a different or opposite idea.

6. Question 6 of 16

   Which transition best shows a result?

   • AMeanwhile
   • BTherefore
   • CAlso
   • DFor instance
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Therefore

   'Therefore' shows that one thing happens because of another.

7. Question 7 of 16

   Which sentence is the topic sentence of this paragraph?

   (1) A later start time would help students learn. (2) Teenagers often find it hard to fall asleep early. (3) When classes begin at 8 a.m., many students arrive tired and struggle to focus. (4) My school's cafeteria sells good soup. (5) Starting at 9 a.m. would give students more time to rest before they need to think hard.

   • ASentence 1
   • BSentence 5
   • CSentence 3
   • DSentence 2
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Sentence 1

   Sentence 1 states the main idea. The other sentences give support for it.

8. Question 8 of 16

   Which sentence does not belong in this paragraph?

   (1) A later start time would help students learn. (2) Teenagers often find it hard to fall asleep early. (3) When classes begin at 8 a.m., many students arrive tired and struggle to focus. (4) My school's cafeteria sells good soup. (5) Starting at 9 a.m. would give students more time to rest before they need to think hard.

   • ASentence 2
   • BSentence 3
   • CSentence 5
   • DSentence 4
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Sentence 4

   Sentence 4 is about cafeteria food, not start times. Unrelated sentences break the focus of a paragraph.

9. Question 9 of 16

   What should a strong conclusion do?

   • ACopy the introduction word for word so the reader remembers it
   • BIntroduce a brand-new reason that was not discussed in the body
   • CRestate the position in new words and end with a strong final thought
   • DApologize to the reader for any mistakes made in the essay
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Restate the position in new words and end with a strong final thought

   The rubric looks for a distinct closure. A conclusion sums up and leaves the reader with something to think about or do.

10. Question 10 of 16

    Which sentence is the best closing sentence for an essay supporting a community garden?

    • AAlso, parking can be quite expensive in some of the bigger cities in Canada.
    • BCouncil should vote yes, so the empty lot can start feeding families next spring.
    • CThat is all I have to say about gardens and about parking lots in our town.
    • DGardens have many plants in them, and some of them also have colourful flowers.
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Council should vote yes, so the empty lot can start feeding families next spring.

    It ends with a clear call to action tied to the position. The others are flat, obvious or start a new topic.

11. Question 11 of 16

    Which opening sentence would best catch a reader's attention?

    • ABuses are a kind of public transportation that many towns and cities have.
    • BThis essay is about buses and the people who ride them every single day.
    • CI am going to write about a topic that I think is interesting to many people.
    • DImagine waiting forty minutes in the snow for a bus that never comes.
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Imagine waiting forty minutes in the snow for a bus that never comes.

    A vivid scene draws the reader in. The others announce the topic without interest.

12. Question 12 of 16

    A body paragraph talks about cost, then safety, then noise, then cost again. How should the writer fix it?

    • AAdd more commas so that the ideas are clearly separated
    • BMake every sentence in the paragraph a little shorter
    • CGive each main idea its own paragraph
    • DMove the whole paragraph to the very end of the essay
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Give each main idea its own paragraph

    Each body paragraph should focus on one main idea. Mixing ideas makes the discussion disjointed.

13. Question 13 of 16

    These sentences are out of order. Which order is most logical?

    (A) Finally, the garden would bring neighbours together. (B) First, a garden would give families fresh, low-cost vegetables. (C) Our town should turn the empty lot into a community garden. (D) Second, it would teach children where food comes from.

    • AC, A, D, B
    • BB, D, A, C
    • CA, B, C, D
    • DC, B, D, A
    Show answer

    Answer: D. C, B, D, A

    Start with the position (C), then use the order words First (B), Second (D) and Finally (A).

14. Question 14 of 16

    Why should you make a short outline before you start writing?

    • ASo that you can skip writing a conclusion at the very end
    • BBecause scorers mark the outline instead of the essay itself
    • CTo use up planning time that you would not need anyway
    • DSo your ideas follow a logical order and stay focused on your position
    Show answer

    Answer: D. So your ideas follow a logical order and stay focused on your position

    Planning helps you focus and organize your writing for persuasion, which is part of outcome 2.3.

15. Question 15 of 16

    What is a good last sentence for a body paragraph?

    • AA sentence that starts a brand-new reason for the next paragraph
    • BA sentence that links the paragraph's point back to your position
    • CA question with no answer, to leave the reader guessing
    • DAn exact copy of the paragraph's topic sentence, word for word
    Show answer

    Answer: B. A sentence that links the paragraph's point back to your position

    Linking back to the thesis reminds the reader why the reason matters.

16. Question 16 of 16

    Which outline is best organized for a persuasive essay?

    • AAn introduction; a long story about your weekend; a conclusion of one short line
    • BFive body paragraphs that all repeat the same reason, with no examples and no thesis
    • CIntro with thesis; reason 1 with example; reason 2 with example; answer to the other side; conclusion
    • DConclusion first; then reason 2; then the introduction; then reason 1 at the very end
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Intro with thesis; reason 1 with example; reason 2 with example; answer to the other side; conclusion

    It moves logically from position, to reasons with support, to the other side, to a clear closure.

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