Sophomore English Writing Basics

MLA stands for Modern Language Association. The Modern Language Association is an organization that develops guidelines for academic writing, including formatting and citation styles. When completing citations in MLA format, you are expected to follow the guidelines set by this association.

A claim is a statement that can be proven true with evidence and analysis. This means that it is a statement that can be supported by factual information and logical reasoning. Unlike a statement that often misleads the reader or a statement used by the author of a novel to begin a story, a claim is based on evidence and can be examined and evaluated for its validity. It is not a statement that the reader argues against, but rather one that can be substantiated through research and critical thinking.

Analyzing means to explain the significance or importance of the evidence in an insightful way. This involves going beyond simply summarizing the passage or restating the thesis. It requires providing a deeper understanding of the evidence by offering thoughtful explanations and interpretations. This type of analysis helps the audience gain a better understanding of the topic and its implications.

In a constructed response essay, effective evidence is crucial to support the claims made. A quote from the passage would be considered as effective evidence because it directly references the original source and provides specific information to back up the argument. By using a quote from the passage, the writer can demonstrate that they have thoroughly read and understood the material, and are using it to support their own ideas and arguments. This adds credibility and validity to the essay, making the evidence more persuasive and convincing to the reader.

For a claim to be effective it needs to be specific to the purpose for writing, and also remain analytical (not personal).

The writer has forgotten to underline the book title in the thesis statement.

An effective constructed response essay will include an introduction, CEA body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

The correct answer is "Then I saw her around the corner" (Smith 101). This citation is in correct MLA format because it includes the quotation marks around the quoted text, the author's last name followed by the page number in parentheses, and the punctuation is placed inside the closing quotation marks.

In a constructed response essay, the average number of paragraphs is typically four. This is because a well-structured essay generally consists of an introduction paragraph, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph. The introduction paragraph introduces the topic and provides background information, while the body paragraphs present the main arguments or points supported by evidence. The conclusion paragraph summarizes the main points and provides a closing statement. Therefore, four paragraphs is a reasonable average for a constructed response essay.

A thesis statement is a concise summary of the main point or argument of an essay or research paper. It typically includes the author's name, the title of the passage or novel being discussed, the purpose for writing, and the essential details to be discussed. These elements are important because they provide the reader with a clear understanding of what the essay or paper will be about. The favorite part of the story and a CEA paragraph are not typically included in a thesis statement as they are not directly related to the main argument or point being made.

This question is asking for the literary devices that can be found within a passage. Literary devices are techniques used by writers to enhance their writing and create specific effects. Metaphor, simile, personification, imagery, symbolism, mood, and tone are all examples of literary devices. These devices help to create vivid and engaging descriptions, convey deeper meanings, and evoke emotions in the reader. The title, conclusion, and author are not considered literary devices as they serve different purposes in a passage.