Sentence Form and Structure
What is the purpose of a paragraph topic sentence?
To state the paragraph's main idea and guide supporting sentences.
Which transition word best shows cause: "however," "because," or "meanwhile"?
"because"
In the sentence "The student was pragmatic about the deadline," what does "pragmatic" most nearly mean? (choose: idealistic, practical, emotional)
Practical.
What is the central idea of a paragraph that explains why recycling reduces landfill waste? (one short sentence)
Recycling reduces landfill waste by diverting materials from trash to reuse or processing.
What does "rhetorical" mean in the context of writing? (one short sentence)
Related to persuasion or effective use of language to influence an audience.
Define "chronological order" in one sentence.
Arranging events in the order they happened.
Choose the transition that signals contrast: "therefore," "but," or "next"?
"but"
Define "connotation" in one short sentence.
The emotional or cultural meaning associated with a word beyond its literal definition.
Identify which detail is most likely supporting evidence for the main idea: A paragraph claims school sports improve teamwork. Which detail best supports it:
(A) a list of team practice times
(B) a student quote about cooperation
(C) a description of the gym floor
— B — a student quote about cooperation.
Name THREE rhetorical DEVICES authors use to persuade readers (NOT a rhetorical appeal- Logical, Emotional, Credible) and give one sentence example.
Vivid Description
Personal Testimoney
Emotionally Charged Word Choice
Juxtaposition
Allusions
Expertise
Well-Respected Organization
Allusions
Rhetorical Questions
Facts
Data
Statistics
Logical Deduction
Identify the structure: A passage that introduces a problem, lists the causes, and then suggests solutions is organized as what?
- Compare and Contrast
- Explain and describe
- Cause and effect
- Sequence
Cause and effect
In one sentence, explain why transitions are important between paragraphs.
They guide the reader between ideas and show relationships, making writing coherent.
In context: "After the fall, she was resilient." Choose the best synonym for "resilient": fragile, strong, adaptable.
Adaptable.
Explain the difference between a main idea and a supporting detail in one sentence.
Main idea = central point; supporting detail = evidence or example that backs it up.
Explain in one sentence how comparing two passages' arguments requires synthesis, and is used by authors to create what?
*Hint- what is the definition of synthesis
Synthesis requires identifying each argument's claim and combining their evidence to form a broader conclusion.
Explain how an author’s choice to use short, choppy sentences vs. long, complex sentences might affect the reader’s perception of pace (2 sentences).
Short sentences speed up pacing and create urgency; long sentences slow pace and allow more detail.
Replace the underlined transition with a stronger choice: "She missed the bus. So, she walked."
"Therefore, she walked." (or "Consequently, she walked.")
Explain how context clues can help determine the meaning of an unfamiliar word (1–2 sentences).
Use nearby words, examples, or antonyms/synonyms to infer meaning.
Read this short summary:
"The passage argues that screen time affects sleep, lists several studies, and suggests limits for teens."
State the central idea and one supporting detail you would expect to find (2 sentences).
— Central idea: Screen time negatively affects sleep in teens. Supporting detail: A study showing later bedtimes or reduced REM.
Given two short claims:
Passage A uses emotional stories about families;
Passage B uses statistical studies.
1) What appeal is passage A aiming at?
2) What appeal is passage B aiming at?
How would you synthesize (combine) their rhetorical devices to say which is more persuasive for a general audience? (2 sentences)
Passage A- Emotional Appeal
Passage B- Logical Appeal
A's emotional stories build empathy; B's statistics add credibility.
For general readers, combining emotion with facts is often most persuasive.
A passage alternates between two characters' perspectives every other paragraph. Name this narrative structure and explain one advantage of using it (2–3 sentences).
Alternating/dual perspective; advantage: shows different viewpoints and builds complexity or tension
Given two sentences: "The city expanded rapidly. Public transport couldn't keep up." Provide a transition phrase to show cause and effect and rewrite the combined sentence.
"Because of this," or "As a result," — e.g., "Because public transport couldn't keep up, the city experienced congestion." (shows cause-effect)
Read the sentence: "His perfunctory apology did little to mend the relationship." Based on context, what does "perfunctory" mean and why? (1–2 sentences)
"Perfunctory" = done with minimal effort or care; context: the apology was insincere so it didn't help.
Given a paragraph with multiple facts, describe a quick strategy to identify the central idea (2–3 steps).
Strategy: identify topic sentence, look for repeated words/phrases, and note concluding sentence that summarizes.
You have two short sources:
one argues that community gardens reduce crime using neighborhood testimonies, the other provides a city-wide crime statistic showing small change.
Write a two-sentence synthesis that combines these sources and evaluates their relative strengths.
Synthesis example: "Neighborhood testimonies suggest community gardens help reduce local tensions (strong qualitative evidence), but city-wide statistics show only a small overall decrease in crime; together these sources indicate that gardens may have meaningful local impact even if effects are limited at scale."