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Reasoning and Organization MC Answers

8 min read•june 18, 2024

AP English Language ✍🏽

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Answers and Review for Multiple Choice Practice on Reasoning and Organization

⛔STOP!⛔ Before you look at the answers make sure you gave this practice quiz a try so you can assess your understanding of the concepts covered in unit 1. Click here for the practice questions: AP English Lang Reasoning and Organization Multiple Choice Questions !

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Facts about the test: The AP English Language exam has 45 multiple choice questions and you will be given 60 minutes to complete the section. That means it should take you around 3 minutes to complete 4 questions.*The following questions were not written by College Board and although they cover information outlined in the AP English Language Course and Exam Description the formatting on the exam may be different.

1. Reasoning involves

A. Showing the audience how you process your argument

B. Showing how the evidence supports the claim

C. Showing the negatives of opposing arguments

D. All of the above

Explanation: Reasoning should be thought of as the logical path that moves from claim to evidence to the link between each of these elements. Show the negatives of the opposition is also part of reasoning because it helps to serve as evidence for a claim.

📄 Read: AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay Practice

2. Which of the following best describes the methods of development?

A. The text structure used to serve a specific purpose in the arrangement of the argument's parts.

B. The intentional use of words and phrases to create a certain impact on the audience.

C. The element that moves the speaker to the action of creating a given argument.

D. The application of the rhetorical appeals when spread equally through the argument.

Explanation: The methods for development include the approaches to structure the reasoning of the argument such as definition, description, comparison, cause-effect, or narration.

🎥 Watch: Practice with Argument

3. Coherence should occur both within consecutive sentences and within consecutive paragraphs.

A. TRUE

B. FALSE

Explanation: "True - Essential Knowledge REO - 1.N states, ""Coherence occurs at different levels in a piece of writing. In a sentence, the idea in one clause logically links to an idea in the next. In a paragraph, the idea in one sentence logically links to an idea in the next. In a text, the ideas in one paragraph logically link to the ideas in the next."""

📄 Read: AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay Practice

4. To effectively use methods of development, a speaker must consider all of the following EXCEPT____.

A. The speaker should consider the evidence that will best support the claim.

B. The author should consider how to frame his/her appearance for delivery of the argument.

C. The speaker should consider what the audience likely thinks about the topic.

D. The speaker should consider the purpose of the specific chunk of the argument.

Explanation: While the author's appearance when presenting an argument does matter, it does not clearly connect with the methods of development as those are about the structured cohesion that is present in the text.

🎥 Watch: Practice with Argument

5. Evidence to support a claim should be directly quoted when

A. The original text uses the best version to communicate the idea

B. The speaker wants to disagree with the ideas presented in the text

C. There is a need to specifically clarify components in the argument

D. All of the above

Explanation: While quotations should be used sparingly and there should definitely be more of your commentary/analysis than borrowed words, there are times when quotations are appropriate: when the original text says it best, when a disagreement is being expressed, when evidence needs to be specifically clarified.

📄 Watch: 🌶️ AP Lang Cram Review: RA Evidence and Commentary

6. A line of reasoning is

A. the logical sequencing of an arguments claims, evidence, and commentary/analysis.

B. use of appeals to impact the emotions of the audience and move them to a desired outcome.

C. the commentary added to an argument after the first delivery failed at achieving the purpose.

D. a "conversation" between conflicting perspectives regarding the given topic.

Explanation: The phrase "line of reasoning" refers to the path by which the argument in reached, thus creating a logical sequence of each element of the text.

🎥 Watch: 🌶️ AP Lang Cram Review: Types of Claims and Line of Reasoning (Thesis Statement + Outlining)

7. Which of the following best describes classical structure?

A. Organizational technique based on understanding all of the facts about an issue before one can come to any reasonable conclusions or positions.

B. Organizational technique focused on paragraphs built from claims, evidence, and reasoning through commentary and analysis.

C. Organizational technique involving progress from intro and background to position and proof to conclusion.

Explanation: Classical Structure is based on Aristotle's original Canons of Oration and moves through the basic structure of introduction, body, and conclusion. Each segment serves a specific purpose: intro with background and context, body with position and proof (including opposition), and conclusion with a call to act.

🎥 Watch: 🌶️ AP Lang Cram Review: Argumentative Structures (Classical + Toulmin)

8. Which of the following best describes the Toulmin Model?

A. Organizational technique involving progress from intro and background to position and proof to conclusion.

B. Organizational technique focused on paragraphs built from claims, evidence, and reasoning through commentary and analysis.

C. Organizational technique based on understanding all of the facts about an issue before one can come to any reasonable conclusions or positions.

Explanation: Toulmin's Model was originally created to help students break down existing arguments, but the essential elements of claim, evidence, and reasoning can also be used to frame paragraphs within an existing argument.

🎥 Watch: 🌶️ AP Lang Cram Review: Argumentative Structures (Classical + Toulmin)

9. Which of the following best describes the Rogerian structure?

A. Organizational technique based on understanding all of the facts about an issue before one can come to any reasonable conclusions or positions.

B. Organizational technique focused on paragraphs built from claims, evidence, and reasoning through commentary and analysis.

C. Organizational technique involving progress from intro and background to position and proof to conclusion.

Explanation: The Rogerian Method still allows for the intro, body, and conclusion, but the focus in primarily on complete understanding of all parts of the issue before coming to a position. In many cases, this results in consensus, so it is not generally suggested as a structure for the AP Lang exam.

🎥 Watch: 🌶️ AP Lang Cram Review: Argumentative Structures (Classical + Toulmin)

10. Reasoning in an argument includes cohesion

A. within sentences

B. between different sentences

C. within paragraphs

D. All of the above

Explanation: "Essential Knowledge: ""REO-1.N: Coherence occurs at different levels in a piece of writing. In a sentence, the idea in one clause logically links to an idea in the next. In a paragraph, the idea in one sentence logically links to an idea in the next. In a text, the ideas in one paragraph logically link to the ideas in the next.""

🎥 Watch: Practice with Argument

11. Organization of an argument can effectively place the thesis statement in the introduction of a text, near the end of the text, or, in some cases, not directly state the thesis at all.

A. TRUE

B. FALSE

Explanation: True - Reasoning generally does progress from the thesis to the evidence, but there are many strong examples of the evidence being presented with the thesis only stated explicitly at the end of the text. In some cases, the thesis is only implied, leaving the audience to come to the desired conclusion through carefully planned claims and evidence.

🎥 Watch: Practice with Argument

12. Which of the following best describes narration as a method of development?

A. Writers offer details about real-life experiences and offer reflections and insights on the significance of those experiences

B. Writers present a cause, assert effects or consequences of that cause, or present a series of causes and the subsequent effect(s).

C. Writers present a category of comparison and then examine the similarities and/or differences between the objects of the comparison.

D. Writers relate the characteristics, features, or sensory details of an object or idea, sometimes using examples or illustrations.

Explanation: "Essential Knowledge: ""REO-1.I: When developing ideas through narration, writers offer details about real-life experiences and offer reflections and insights on the significance of those experiences.""

🎥 Watch: Practice with Argument

13. Which of the following best describes cause-effect as a method of development?

A. Writers present a cause, assert effects or consequences of that cause, or present a series of causes and the subsequent effect(s).

B. Writers offer details about real-life experiences and offer reflections and insights on the significance of those experiences

C. Writers relate the characteristics, features, or sensory details of an object or idea, sometimes using examples or illustrations.

D. Writers present a category of comparison and then examine the similarities and/or differences between the objects of the comparison.

Explanation: "Essential Knowledge: ""REO-1.J: When developing ideas through cause-effect, writers present a cause, assert effects or consequences of that cause, or present a series of causes and the subsequent effect(s).""

🎥 Watch: Practice with Argument

14. Which of the following best describes comparison-contrast as a method of development?

A. Writers relate the characteristics, features, or sensory details of an object or idea, sometimes using examples or illustrations.

B. Writers offer details about real-life experiences and offer reflections and insights on the significance of those experiences

C. Writers present a category of comparison and then examine the similarities and/or differences between the objects of the comparison.

D. Writers present a cause, assert effects or consequences of that cause, or present a series of causes and the subsequent effect(s).

Explanation: "Essential Knowledge: ""REO-1.K: When developing ideas through comparison-contrast, writers present a category of comparison and then examine the similarities and/or differences between the objects of the comparison. When analyzing similarities and/or differences, like categories of comparison must be used.""

🎥 Watch: Practice with Argument

15. Which of the following best describes definition-description as a method of development?

A. Writers present a category of comparison and then examine the similarities and/or differences between the objects of the comparison.

B. Writers present a cause, assert effects or consequences of that cause, or present a series of causes and the subsequent effect(s).

C. Writers offer details about real-life experiences and offer reflections and insights on the significance of those experiences

D. Writers relate the characteristics, features, or sensory details of an object or idea, sometimes using examples or illustrations.

Explanation: "Essential Knowledge: ""REO-1.L: When developing ideas through a definition or description, writers relate the characteristics, features, or sensory details of an object or idea, sometimes using examples or illustrations.""

🎥 Watch: Practice with Argument

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