Writing Application: Persuasive with exam review

two

A good persuasive argument has at least _________ pieces of evidence. A) two B) three C) four D) five

dissect the opposite viewpoint.

A persuasive essay should always A) dissect the opposite viewpoint. B) ignore the opposing side's position. C) present a strong case for both sides of an argument. D) acknowledge that the opposition has some strengths your side is missing.

gets the audience's attention.

A strong introduction for a persuasive essay establishes the issue, gives the writer's position, and A) describes the opposing position. B) gets the audience's attention. C) summarizes a convincing argument. D) appeals to the reader's logic.

main idea.

Each body paragraph must present a new A) anecdote. B) main idea. C) point of view. D) thesis statement.

Add statistics from a study comparing grade averages in schools that do and do not allow cell phones.

Read this paragraph from a student's persuasive essay. The most important reason to ban cell phones from the classroom is that students who are texting or playing games on their phones are not engaged in what they are there to do in the first place. Classrooms are for learning. Many of my friends play on their phones most of the time the teacher is talking and miss the information they should be getting in class. What would be the BEST improvement to this student's paragraph? A) Add a transition between the second and third sentences. B) Add statistics from a study comparing grade averages in schools that do and do not allow cell phones. C) Add more detail to the anecdote, such as the specific names of students who use their phones during class time. D) Eliminate all personal information; what the writer's friends do is not really relevant to the argument.

Controversy regarding long-term effects and the abuses of privilege by some students have resulted in a trend toward schools banning cell-phone use in classrooms; however, I believe that this is a matter of personal choice and freedom, and that schools should not ban phones for those who use them responsibly.

Read this thesis from a student's persuasive essay. I believe that schools should not ban cell phones from the classroom. Which of the following is the BEST improvement on this thesis? A) America is a free country where individual liberty is cherished and valued. High school students should have the same rights as everyone else. B) For many reasons, I believe that schools should not ban cell phones from the classroom. I like to have my phone with me, and my parents want to be able to reach me at any time. Furthermore, if the office takes up the phones, that's just another job for the secretaries. C) A study conducted by the National Communication Company found that students who used cell phones were no more likely to have lower grades than those who did not own cell phones. Therefore, there is no good evidence that having a phone in class affects learning. D) Controversy regarding long-term effects and the abuses of privilege by some students have resulted in a trend toward schools banning cell-phone use in classrooms; however, I believe that this is a matter of personal choice and freedom, and that schools should not ban phones for those who use them responsibly.

convince the audience of a particular stance on a controversial issue.

The purpose of a persuasive essay is to A) relate a true story in a detailed and engaging manner. B) build a fact-based objective report about a particular issue. C) delivera detailed narrative using imagery and figurative language. D) convince the audience of a particular stance on a controversial issue.

readdresses the thesis in light of evidence provided in the essay.

The strongest conclusion to a persuasive essay A) restates the thesis so that it is the final thought in the reader's mind. B) revises the thesis based on arguments presented in the essay. C) readdresses the thesis in light of evidence provided in the essay. D) presents at least three final, dramatic pieces of evidence to support the thesis.

take a clearly stated position on a concisely explained issue.

The thesis for a persuasive essay should A) utilize a startling fact or statistic to gain the reader's attention. B) employ a variety of credible sources that back the position. C) take a clearly stated position on a concisely explained issue. D) explain the problem in great detail and include the other argument.

present a new argument to the audience.

Transition words are used in persuasive essays to A) introduce the thesis statement. B) let readers know what happened next. C) present a new argument to the audience. D) show readers that you have an in-depth knowledge of the subject.

deliberate and interesting

Which of the following BEST describes elements that make a strong essay? A) short and to the point B) personable and entertaining C) deliberate and interesting D) broad in scope and direction

An effective persuasive argument can use factual evidence and emotional appeals as support for its subpoints.

Which of the following is a true statement? A) An effective persuasive argument can use factual evidence and emotional appeals as support for its subpoints. B) An effective persuasive argument must rely solely on the use of facts, statistics, and other logical appeals. C) An effective persuasive argument is always emotional and somehow tugs on the reader's heartstrings. D) An effective persuasive argument relies more on facts and statistics than on any need for formal organization.

Ask yourself: is the ease of going to bed without brushing my teeth worth the risk of painful infection or stained, ugly teeth?

Which of the following is an appeal to logic? A) Four out of five dentists state that flossing twice a day can prevent up to 80% of all cavities. B) My friend's father is a dentist, and he always says to his patients, "Ignore your teeth, and they'll go away!" C) During my childhood, my mother always drummed into me the concept of brushing my teeth at least twice a day in order to have a "happy smile." D) Ask yourself: is the ease of going to bed without brushing my teeth worth the risk of painful infection or stained, ugly teeth?

Our freedom to access the Internet in any way we please could soon be lost forever—just another area of our lives controlled by the government.

Which of the following is an example of a strong emotional appeal? A) While it is true that the Internet has many questionable Web sites, parents can use monitoring software to control their children's access. B) Our freedom to access the Internet in any way we please could soon be lost forever—just another area of our lives controlled by the government. C) The First Amendment to the Constitution guarantees that "Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech." D) The best approach to monitoring Internet usage for adults is to allow them to control their own Web-surfing practices.

A woman sitting next to me on the bus talked so loudly on her cell phone that passengers were covering up their ears with their hands.

Which of the following is an example of an anecdote? A) A woman sitting next to me on the bus talked so loudly on her cell phone that passengers were covering up their ears with their hands. B) An article in Psychology reports that cell-phone use in public places has ironically increased people's feelings of isolation and disconnectedness. C) The Harvard Center for Risk Analysis reports that cell-phone use results in $43 billion in losses due to accidents that occur while talking on the phone. D) Cell-phone technology has revolutionized the way people communicate by allowing instant contact, assisting in emergency response, and aiding the rise in telecommuting.

While cell phones provide many substantial benefits to society, like any technological development, they bring risks along with rewards. Concerns about the long-term effects of cell-phone use on children are serious enough to merit laws that restrict cell-phone use by people under eighteen."

Which of the following is the BEST conclusion for a persuasive essay? A) Cell phones are really important. They help people communicate a lot. There is evidence that states that people under eighteen might be hurt by them. That's why people should pass a law that says minors can't have cell phones. B) While cell phones provide many substantial benefits to society, like any technological development, they bring risks along with rewards. Concerns about the long-term effects of cell-phone use on children are serious enough to merit laws that restrict cell-phone use by people under eighteen." C) A final reason to keep cell phones from minors is that they don't really need them. As my mom always says, in her day they didn't have cell phones anyway, so why do we think we need them? You can always use the phone in the office at school to call your parents if you need them. And that will save you lots of money. D) As the thesis of this paper stated, cell phones provide great benefits to society by allowing for improved communication, especially in emergencies. However, you can see by my brother's experience that they can also be harmful to people younger than eighteen. That's why I think we need to support laws that prevent kids from having them.

The journal Epidemiology reports that children who used cell phones three times a day were 80 percent more likely to have attention and behavioral problems.

Which of the following is the BEST example of statistical evidence? A) When my brother started using a cell phone, his grades declined and he became argumentative and irritable. B) Cell phones provide many positive benefits such as allowing people to connect with each other no matter where they are. C) Many studies have tried to find links between the radiation emitted by cell phones and rising behavioral problems in adolescents. D) The journal Epidemiology reports that children who used cell phones three times a day were 80 percent more likely to have attention and behavioral problems.

sarcastic

Which of the following tones is NOT effective for convincing people that they should subscribe to your perspective? A) informal B) emotional C) sarcastic D) intellectual

finally, another, however

Which of these is a list of transition words? A) felt, saw, believed B) study, statistic, fact C) found, listed, revealed D) finally, another, however

the need for regulations prohibiting cell phones in classrooms

Which of these would be the BEST topic for a persuasive essay? A) the long-term effects of cell-phone use on brain development B) the ways in which cell phones have affected personal interaction C) the need for regulations prohibiting cell phones in classrooms D) a comparison of the features and costs of different cell phones