AP Lang Topic Sentences, Evidence, and Commentary

Which of the following topic sentences effectively links to the purpose of the text without merely repeating the thesis statement?

• "Chisholm establishes her ethos as an American citizen to gain credibility."

• "By establishing her ethos as an ordinary citizen, Chisholm reminds her audience that she understands the plight of her 'fellow citizens,' who would benefit from a shift in funds from supporting a foreign war to solving domestic problems."

• "Chisholm's ethos is evident in her speech as she gains credibility."

• "Chisholm's speech is about American values and credibility."

Identify the problem with the following topic sentence: "Chisholm establishes her ethos as an American citizen in order to gain credibility."

• It is too long and complex.

• It repeats the thesis statement with slightly different wording.

• It does not relate to the purpose of the text.

• It uses incorrect grammar.

Which of the following examples demonstrates the use of sufficient evidence without over-quoting?

• "Chisholm criticizes policy by quoting multiple sources extensively."

• "Chisholm questions the administration’s policy on financing war machines, asking 'what kind of values can be involved in spending $9 billion' on 'weapons when several thousand disadvantaged children in the nation’s capital get nothing.'"

• "Chisholm uses a single quote to support her entire argument."

• "Chisholm's speech is filled with numerous quotes that do not relate to her main point."

Evaluate the following commentary: "Chisholm asserts that American values have taken a wrong turn: 'We Americans have come to feel that it is our mission to make the world free. We believe we are the good guys everywhere.'"

• The commentary is too vague and lacks evidence.

• The commentary effectively connects the evidence to the claim in the topic sentence.

• The commentary is irrelevant to the topic sentence.

• The commentary is too brief and lacks depth.

Which of the following statements best demonstrates strategic thinking in developing commentary?

• "Chisholm's speech is about American values."

• "Chisholm's use of ethos is evident in her speech."

• "Chisholm's critique of American policy highlights the hypocrisy in claiming to promote freedom abroad while neglecting domestic issues, thus urging a reevaluation of national priorities."

• "Chisholm quotes several historical figures to support her argument."

Analyze the following topic sentence: "Chisholm's speech addresses the need for change in American foreign policy."

• It is too broad and lacks specificity.

• It effectively links to the purpose of the text.

• It repeats the thesis statement.

• It is irrelevant to the main argument.

Which of the following is an example of over-quoting in a body paragraph?

• "Chisholm questions the administration’s policy on financing war machines."

• "Chisholm asserts that American values have taken a wrong turn."

• "Chisholm quotes Calvin Coolidge, saying 'the business of America is business.'"

• "Chisholm includes multiple lengthy quotes that do not directly support her main argument."

Determine the effectiveness of the following topic sentence: "Chisholm's speech is about the importance of American values."

• It is effective because it is concise.

• It is ineffective because it is too vague and does not link to the purpose.

• It is effective because it repeats the thesis statement.

• It is ineffective because it is too specific.

Which of the following strategies can improve the logical progression of ideas in a paragraph?

• Using unrelated quotes to add variety.

• Ensuring each piece of evidence directly supports the topic sentence.

• Including as many quotes as possible.

• Using complex vocabulary to impress the reader.

What is the primary purpose of a topic sentence in a body paragraph?

• To summarize the entire essay.

• To introduce a new idea unrelated to the thesis.

• To link the paragraph's content to the thesis and guide the reader.

• To provide a conclusion for the paragraph.