Planning and writing the first main paragraph of an essay | Starter Quiz | Oak National Academy

Which of the following was not included in the introduction to our essay?

• subject-specific vocabulary

• formal tone

• evidence

• range of linguistic features

• first person

Answer explanation

Our essay is written in the third person.

Sam says, 'Statistics are the only form of evidence.' What other forms of evidence can we use in an essay?

• explanations

• facts

• our own views

• expert opinions

• references to official reports

Answer explanation

We tend not to show our own opinions in an essay. The argument we are making may be identical to our own beliefs, but we rely on the strength of the logical argument rather than saying what we think ourselves.

Which of these points were not included in our introduction?

• an explanation of what climate change is

• a definition of deforestation

• statistics about the level of deforestation in the Amazon

• an explanation of how deforestation drives climate change

Answer explanation

Starting with an explanation of deforestation and the Amazon is a good way of setting the scene for our essay, giving the reader an idea of the extent of the problem.

What does it mean to orally rehearse a piece of writing?

• read what you have written

• read what your teacher has written

• say out loud what you plan to write

• say your plan out loud

Answer explanation

When we orally rehearse, we are trying to use our plan to come up with coherent sentences and saying these out loud. It will not be perfect, but it means we already have a basic idea before we write - when we have lots more time to improve the idea!

Which linguistic feature has been used here? 'In addition, an area the size of 11 football pitches is lost every minute.'

• relative complex sentence

• formal fronted adverbial

• compound sentence

• fronted adverbial of cause

Answer explanation

A formal fronted adverbial can be used to build on from the last sentence or to show a contrast with the last sentence. In this case, 'In addition,' is used to build on.

Which linguistic feature is used here? 'Deforestation is the removal of trees from an area, allowing it to be used for another purpose.'

• parenthesis in brackets

• adverbial complex sentence

• relative complex sentence

• non-finite (-ing) complex sentence

Answer explanation

A non-finite (-ing) complex sentence contains a subordinate clause that starts with a verb in its -ing form. In this case, 'allowing' starts the non-finite (-ing) subordinate clause.