Make It Formal
In this essay about a poetry club, which of the following claims to introduce the topic is written in a formal tone?
a. Having a poetry club would mean that we're the best middle school anywhere!
b. If we do not add any other clubs this year, we need to make sure a poetry club is allowed at the middle school.
c. Middle school students would benefit from a poetry club because reading poetry helps them gain the skills to succeed in high school English.
d. Would you like to see a poetry club happen at Scripps Middle School?
c. Middle school students would benefit from a poetry club because reading poetry helps them gain the skills to succeed in high school English.
True or false: A claim should be arguable and based on opinions and personal experiences.
False
A claim should be arguable and based on reasoning and evidence.
What is the purpose of a conclusion?
a. to introduce new evidence
b. to wrap up your main ideas
c. to only show the argument of the other side
b. to wrap up your main ideas
What is the subject of this sentence:
The quiet students read their books during silent reading time.
a. students
b. books
c. the quiet students
d. reading time
c. the quiet students
Which sentence is punctuated properly?
a. My brother, Owen, plays trumpet.
b. My brother Owen, plays trumpet.
c. My brother, Owen plays trumpet.
d. My brother Owen plays trumpet.
a. My brother, Owen, plays trumpet.
In this essay about a homework, which of the following counterclaims/rebuttals to the claim that homework is a not a useful tool is written in a formal tone?
a. Opponents may argue that homework is a useful tool because it provides students with practice for a test. This is wrong because students don't do it.
b. Homework is a useful tool because kids can do stuff outside school, but kids already have other stuff to do.
c. Some say homework is a useful tool because kids don't have jobs and school is their job, but this is totally wrong because some kids do have jobs!
d. Others argue that homework is a useful tool because it helps students to learn the material outside of school. However, students already practice the content at school.
d. Others argue that homework is a useful tool because it helps students to learn the material outside of school. However, students already practice the content at school.
Which of the following is the best example of a strong claim?
a. Schools shouldn't have dress codes because they're bad.
b. Schools should have dress codes because they're good and students like them.
c. Schools should not have dress codes because they are biased against teenage girls.
d. Schools should have dress codes.
c. Schools should not have dress codes because they are biased against teenage girls.
What would be the best concluding sentence to this argument?
a. Nonetheless, the methods that scientists have developed that can act as alternatives to animal testing need to be explored to limit this usage.
b. This being said, animal testing is bad and needs to be gotten rid of because there are other alternatives.
c. This argument is true, which makes it difficult to decide whether
d. While this is true, animal testing for makeup and other things should not be used because it is immoral.
a. Nonetheless, the methods that scientists have developed that can act as alternatives to animal testing need to be explored to limit this usage.
After school, I went to the park.
The underlined phrase is a:
a. phrase
b. clause
c. sentence
a. phrase
My favorite zoo exhibit, the penguin exhibit, was closed the last time I went.
the penguin exhibit*
*It also functions as an adjective because it describes the word animal!
List three criteria of writing with a formal tone (there are a bunch!).
-Removing bias
-Not using the first or second person
-Removing contractions
-Avoiding slang
-Taking out jokes
-Punctuating with periods
-Not using rhetorical questions
Our math teacher has said that homework is necessary because it allows students to practice skills they learn in class. However, homework can be very overwhelming for students. When students are overwhelmed, they don't perform as well on their work.
Which of the following sentences could be added to the paragraph as a claim?
a. Students oppose having to do homework.
b. Giving homework has serious disadvantages.
c. The teacher believes homework is necessary.
d. Doing work outside of school can overwhelm students.
b. Giving homework has serious disadvantages.
What would be the best conclusion to this argumentative essay?
a. Overall, smoking is bad for you, and more people need to be informed about its risks. There are not many good aspects of it.
b. In all, smoking's negative aspects outweigh the positives. Therefore, it needs to be gotten rid of to avoid people further being hurt by it.
c. Smoking can have positives, too. It depends on who you ask.
d. In conclusion, we should try to limit how much people smoke so they can be healthier and save money.
b. In all, smoking's negative aspects outweigh the positives. Therefore, it needs to be gotten rid of to avoid people further being hurt by it.
When I got home from school, I ate a snack.
The underlined phrase is a:
a. phrase
b. clause
c. sentence
b. clause
Which sentence is punctuated properly?
a. John loved to read, but he was excited to see the new Percy Jackson TV show, without reading the books.
b. John loved to read but he was excited to see the new Percy Jackson TV show, which he did not read the books.
c. John loved to read but he was excited, about the new Percy Jackson TV show which he did not read the books for.
d. John loved to read, but he was excited to see the new Percy Jackson TV show, which he did not read the books for.
d. John loved to read, but he was excited to see the new Percy Jackson TV show, which he did not read the books for.