ACT English: Mastering the Production of Writing Questions (copy)

Topic Development

The process of building and explaining the main idea of a paragraph, including chosen details, their specificity, and clarity.

Relevance

The quality of details belonging to a paragraph's focus and purpose rather than wandering into unrelated information.

Controlling Idea

The main idea of a paragraph, either explicitly stated in a topic sentence or implied.

Support

Examples, explanations, evidence, or descriptions that support the controlling idea of a paragraph.

Clarity

The quality of being easily understood, essential for effective writing.

Specificity

The quality of being clear and detailed enough to convey a convincing message.

Unity

The quality of staying focused on a single main idea at both paragraph and passage levels.

Cohesion

The smooth connection between ideas, allowing a reader to follow the writer's thoughts clearly.

Transitions

Words, phrases, or sentences that show the relationship between ideas and help guide the reader through the text.

Effective Introduction

An opening that establishes the topic, signals the passage’s purpose, and sets reader expectations.

Effective Conclusion

A closing that reinforces the main idea, connects to broader implications, and maintains consistent tone.

Logical Organization

The arrangement of ideas in a passage that follows a clear and recognized structure.

Common Organizational Patterns

Structures used in writing such as chronological, process, cause and effect, and problem to solution.

Adding Material

Inserting sentences that provide necessary information to enhance clarity and completeness of a passage.

Revising Material

Modifying sentences that are useful but require clearer, more precise, or better-toned wording.

Deleting Material

Removing sentences that do not contribute positively to the main idea or disrupt the flow.

Local Purpose

The specific aim of a paragraph within a larger passage, as opposed to the overall purpose of the entire text.

Evaluation of Effectiveness

Determining whether a text successfully achieves its writer's goal in terms of clarity, detail, organization, and tone.

Purpose

The primary goal of the writer, which informs what type of content is presented and the way it is structured.

Exam Focus

Common patterns or questions encountered on the ACT English exam, related to topic development and writing effectiveness.