STAAR Writing Practice

What is an extraneous sentence?

• A sentence that supports the main idea of a paragraph.

• A sentence that is not necessary to the main idea or argument of a paragraph and can be removed without losing the overall meaning.

• A sentence that introduces a new topic unrelated to the paragraph.

• A sentence that summarizes the main idea of the paragraph.

What is the role of a topic sentence in a paragraph?

• It provides a summary of the entire paragraph.

• It introduces the main idea of the paragraph and sets the tone for the information that follows.

• It lists all the details that will be discussed in the paragraph.

• It serves as a conclusion to the paragraph.

What is a compound sentence?

• A sentence that contains only one independent clause.

• A sentence that contains at least two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction.

• A sentence that contains a dependent clause and an independent clause.

• A sentence that is always long and complex.

What is the importance of word choice in writing?

• It determines the length of the writing.

• It affects the tone, clarity, and impact of writing, making it essential for effective communication.

• It is only important for poetry and creative writing.

• It has no significant effect on the overall message.

What does it mean to improve sentence structure?

• Rearranging words or phrases to enhance readability and ensure grammatical correctness.

• Using complex vocabulary to impress the reader.

• Writing longer sentences to convey more information.

• Eliminating all punctuation for a more fluid reading experience.

What is a thesis statement?

• A sentence that summarizes the conclusion of an essay.

• A sentence that expresses the main idea or argument of an essay or paper.

• A question that guides the research process.

• A statement that provides background information on a topic.

What is the purpose of revising a sentence?

• To make the sentence longer and more complex.

• To improve clarity, coherence, and overall effectiveness of the writing.

• To add more adjectives and adverbs to the sentence.

• To change the sentence's tense and voice.

What is a run-on sentence?

• A sentence that contains only one independent clause.

• A sentence that is too long and needs to be shortened.

• A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined without proper punctuation or conjunction.

• A sentence that uses too many conjunctions.

What does clarity in writing mean?

• Clarity in writing means that the ideas are expressed in a way that is easy to understand, with no ambiguity or confusion.

• Clarity in writing refers to the use of complex vocabulary to impress the reader.

• Clarity in writing is about using as many words as possible to explain a point.

• Clarity in writing means that the text is visually appealing and well-formatted.

What is the purpose of a concluding sentence?

• To introduce a new idea in the paragraph.

• To summarize the main idea of the paragraph and provide closure to the reader.

• To provide examples that support the main idea.

• To ask a question that engages the reader.