Create Cohesion Among Claims and Evidence

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7th Grade Writing › Create Cohesion Among Claims and Evidence

Questions 1 - 10
1

A student used the transition word therefore in this sentence:

"Many students currently get only 15 minutes to eat, and long lunch lines take up most of that time; therefore, the school should extend lunch to 30 minutes."

What relationship does therefore show in this argument?

It introduces a counterargument that disagrees with the claim.

It introduces a specific example that proves the claim.

It shows cause-and-effect, linking the problem to the conclusion/claim.

It adds another unrelated reason of equal importance.

Explanation

This question tests using words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion (smooth flow, connected ideas) and clarify relationships among claim(s), reasons, and evidence in argumentative writing—employing transitions making explicit how evidence supports reasons, how reasons support claim, how ideas connect. The transition "therefore" is a cause-and-effect connector that shows the logical conclusion drawn from the presented problem. In this sentence, the student first establishes the problem (only 15 minutes to eat with long lines taking up most of that time), then uses "therefore" to introduce the logical solution or claim (extend lunch to 30 minutes). This creates cohesion by making explicit the causal relationship between the identified problem and the proposed solution. Option A is incorrect because "therefore" doesn't introduce opposition. Option C is wrong because "therefore" shows logical consequence, not addition. Option D is incorrect because "therefore" introduces conclusions, not examples. Understanding how different transitions function helps writers create clear logical connections in their arguments, with "therefore," "thus," and "consequently" showing that what follows is a logical result or conclusion based on what came before.

2

A student is revising an argumentative paragraph. Read the draft:

"Our school should start 30 minutes later. Many students are tired in first period. A district nearby moved its start time later and reported fewer tardies. Students also get more sleep. Teens need about 8–10 hours of sleep."

Which revision best improves cohesion by adding transitions that clearly connect the claim, reasons, and evidence?

"Our school should start 30 minutes later because many students are tired in first period. For example, a district nearby moved its start time later and reported fewer tardies. Additionally, students would get more sleep; specifically, teens need about 8–10 hours of sleep."

"Our school should start 30 minutes later however many students are tired in first period. Therefore, a district nearby moved its start time later and reported fewer tardies. On the other hand, students also get more sleep."

"Our school should start 30 minutes later. Many students are tired in first period. A district nearby moved its start time later and reported fewer tardies. Students also get more sleep. Teens need about 8–10 hours of sleep."

"Our school should start 30 minutes later. Many students are tired in first period, also a district nearby moved its start time later. Also students get more sleep. Also teens need about 8–10 hours."

Explanation

This question tests using words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion (smooth flow, connected ideas) and clarify relationships among claim(s), reasons, and evidence in argumentative writing—employing transitions making explicit how evidence supports reasons, how reasons support claim, how ideas connect. Option B effectively uses transitions like "because" to link the claim to its reason, "For example" to introduce supporting evidence, "Additionally" to add another reason, and "specifically" to provide detailed evidence about sleep needs. These varied transitions create a logical flow that clearly shows how each piece of evidence supports the reasons, and how the reasons support the main claim about later school start times. Option A lacks any transitions, making the ideas feel disconnected and choppy. Option C uses contradictory transitions like "however" and "on the other hand" that suggest opposition rather than support, creating confusion about how the ideas relate. When revising arguments, choose transitions that accurately reflect the logical relationships between your ideas—causal transitions for reasons, exemplification transitions for evidence, and additive transitions for multiple supporting points.

3

Read this argumentative paragraph:

"Students should be allowed to carry water bottles in class. Water helps people focus. A study at a nearby middle school found that students who drank water during class reported fewer headaches. Teachers worry about spills."

Which sentence, if added after the third sentence, would best improve cohesion by acknowledging the counterargument and connecting it back to the claim?

"Additionally, headaches are unpleasant."

"In conclusion, spills are important."

"However, this concern can be addressed by requiring bottles with secure lids, so students can stay hydrated without making a mess."

"Water bottles come in many colors."

Explanation

This question tests using words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion (smooth flow, connected ideas) and clarify relationships among claim(s), reasons, and evidence in argumentative writing—employing transitions making explicit how evidence supports reasons, how reasons support claim, how ideas connect. The paragraph presents an argument for allowing water bottles, provides supporting reasons and evidence, then mentions a counterargument (teachers' concern about spills). Option B effectively acknowledges this counterargument with "However" and then reconnects to the main claim by offering a solution that addresses the concern while maintaining support for the original position. This creates cohesion by showing the writer has considered opposing views and can respond to them constructively. Option A is irrelevant to the argument about water bottles in class. Option C doesn't address the counterargument or create connections between ideas. Option D is grammatically awkward and doesn't effectively link the counterargument back to the main claim. When writing arguments, acknowledging and addressing counterarguments with appropriate transitions strengthens your position and creates a more cohesive, balanced argument.

4

Choose the best transition to introduce a counterargument (claim→counterargument relationship).

“Students should be allowed to redo major tests. ______, some people argue that retakes are unfair to students who studied the first time. Still, retakes can be limited to students who complete extra practice first.”​

However,

Similarly,

Therefore,

For example,

Explanation

This question tests using words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion (smooth flow, connected ideas) and clarify relationships among claim(s), reasons, and evidence in argumentative writing—employing transitions making explicit how evidence supports reasons, how reasons support claim, how ideas connect. The sentence structure requires a transition that signals a shift from the claim (students should redo tests) to acknowledging an opposing viewpoint (retakes are unfair), which is a counterargument relationship. "However" correctly indicates this contrast, showing that what follows opposes or challenges the initial claim, creating cohesion by explicitly marking where the writer acknowledges opposing views. "For example" (A) would wrongly suggest the counterargument supports rather than challenges the claim, "Therefore" (C) would incorrectly imply the counterargument is a logical conclusion from the claim, and "Similarly" (D) would mistakenly suggest agreement rather than opposition. When introducing counterarguments in argumentative writing, use contrasting transitions like "however," "on the other hand," "nevertheless," or "yet" to clearly signal the shift to opposing viewpoints, maintaining cohesion while showing you've considered multiple perspectives.

5

A student is adding a second reason to support a claim. Which transition best clarifies that the new sentence is an additional reason (reason→reason relationship)?

Claim: “Our town should build more bike lanes.”

Reason 1: “Bike lanes make commuting safer.”

______, “bike lanes can also reduce traffic congestion because more people choose to bike for short trips.”​

As a result,

For example,

Additionally,

In contrast,

Explanation

This question tests using words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion (smooth flow, connected ideas) and clarify relationships among claim(s), reasons, and evidence in argumentative writing—employing transitions making explicit how evidence supports reasons, how reasons support claim, how ideas connect. The student needs a transition that signals the addition of a second, separate reason supporting the claim about bike lanes—moving from safety (Reason 1) to traffic reduction (Reason 2). "Additionally" correctly indicates that what follows is another distinct reason that adds to the argument, creating cohesion by explicitly showing the accumulation of support for the claim. "In contrast" (B) would wrongly suggest the reasons oppose each other, "For example" (C) would incorrectly imply the second reason is evidence for the first rather than a separate point, and "As a result" (D) would mistakenly suggest the second reason is caused by the first. When building arguments with multiple reasons, use additive transitions like "additionally," "furthermore," "also," or "moreover" to clearly signal that each reason independently supports the claim, creating a cohesive structure that strengthens the overall argument.

6

Determine which transition best clarifies that the second sentence is specific evidence supporting the first sentence.

"Community service should be required in middle school because it builds empathy. ________, a local volunteer coordinator reported that students who served weekly were more likely to include new classmates at school."

On the other hand,

Meanwhile,

Specifically,

Therefore,

Explanation

This question tests using words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion (smooth flow, connected ideas) and clarify relationships among claim(s), reasons, and evidence in argumentative writing—employing transitions making explicit how evidence supports reasons, how reasons support claim, how ideas connect. The second sentence provides specific evidence from a volunteer coordinator that directly demonstrates the general claim about empathy-building—"Specifically" signals this relationship by indicating that what follows is a concrete, particular example of the broader concept. This transition creates cohesion by making explicit that the coordinator's observation about inclusive behavior is specific evidence supporting the reason that community service builds empathy, which supports the claim about requiring service. Answer A correctly uses "Specifically" to introduce supporting evidence, while Answer B "On the other hand" would signal contrast, Answer C "Therefore" would indicate a conclusion rather than evidence, and Answer D "Meanwhile" would suggest simultaneous but unrelated events. When moving from general reasons to specific evidence in arguments, use transitions like "specifically," "in particular," or "for instance" to signal that you're providing concrete support. These transitions help readers understand the hierarchical relationship between broad claims and specific proof, strengthening your argument's credibility through clear evidence presentation.

7

Select the best transition to connect Reason 2 to the claim by showing it is an additional, same-side reason.

"Claim: Students should have a weekly study hall period.

Reason 1: It gives students time to ask teachers for help.

Evidence: A school in the next district reported fewer missing assignments after adding study hall.

____ Reason 2: It also gives students time to plan long-term projects instead of rushing the night before."

Nevertheless,

Additionally,

For instance,

As a result,

Explanation

This question tests using words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion (smooth flow, connected ideas) and clarify relationships among claim(s), reasons, and evidence in argumentative writing—employing transitions making explicit how evidence supports reasons, how reasons support claim, how ideas connect. The argument structure requires a transition that signals Reason 2 is an additional benefit supporting the same claim about study halls—"Additionally" serves this purpose by indicating this is another positive reason alongside Reason 1. This additive transition creates cohesion by making clear that both reasons work together to support the claim: study halls help with teacher assistance AND with project planning, building a stronger cumulative case. Answer B correctly uses "Additionally" to show same-side support, while Answer A "Nevertheless" would signal contrast, Answer C "For instance" would introduce an example rather than a new reason, and Answer D "As a result" would indicate consequence rather than addition. When presenting multiple reasons supporting the same claim, use additive transitions like "additionally," "furthermore," "moreover," or "also" to signal that you're building your case with complementary points. This helps readers understand that each reason strengthens rather than contradicts the others, creating a unified, persuasive argument.

8

Identify the function of the underlined transition in this argument.

“Students should have a short break between classes. As a result, fewer students would arrive late, since crowded hallways would have more time to clear.”

What relationship does the underlined transition signal?

It signals a cause-and-effect relationship (a result of the previous idea).

It adds an unrelated new topic.

It gives a specific example to illustrate a statistic.

It introduces a counterargument that disagrees with the claim.

Explanation

This question tests using words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion (smooth flow, connected ideas) and clarify relationships among claim(s), reasons, and evidence in argumentative writing—employing transitions making explicit how evidence supports reasons, how reasons support claim, how ideas connect. The transition "As a result" signals a cause-and-effect relationship, indicating that what follows is a consequence or outcome of what came before. In this argument, the break between classes (cause) would lead to fewer late arrivals because hallways would have time to clear (effect). Choice B correctly identifies this cause-and-effect function, while A incorrectly suggests counterargument, C wrongly claims unrelatedness, and D mistakenly identifies it as exemplification. Understanding transition functions helps writers choose the right connectors: use "as a result," "consequently," or "therefore" for effects; "for example" or "for instance" for illustrations; "however" or "on the other hand" for contrasts.

9

Which revision best improves cohesion by adding connecting language that clarifies how the reasons relate to the claim?

Original:

“School libraries should stay open after school. Students need a quiet place to work. The library has free internet. Some students don’t have reliable Wi-Fi at home.”

“School libraries should stay open after school. Students need a quiet place to work, and the library has free internet, and some students don’t have reliable Wi-Fi at home.”

“School libraries should stay open after school. Students need a quiet place to work. The library has free internet. Some students don’t have reliable Wi-Fi at home.”

“School libraries should stay open after school because students need a quiet place to work. Additionally, the library has free internet; for example, it can support students who don’t have reliable Wi-Fi at home.”

“School libraries should stay open after school. Meanwhile, students need a quiet place to work. However, the library has free internet.”

Explanation

This question tests using words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion (smooth flow, connected ideas) and clarify relationships among claim(s), reasons, and evidence in argumentative writing—employing transitions making explicit how evidence supports reasons, how reasons support claim, how ideas connect. Cohesive arguments use transitions to explicitly connect claims to reasons and reasons to evidence, creating a logical flow rather than a disconnected list. Choice C effectively uses "because" to link the claim to the first reason, "Additionally" to introduce a second supporting reason, and "for example" to show how the Wi-Fi issue illustrates the internet access benefit. Choice A lacks any connecting language, B overuses "and" without clarifying relationships, and D uses inappropriate transitions ("Meanwhile" and "However") that suggest contrast or simultaneity rather than support. When revising for cohesion, use causal transitions ("because," "since") to connect reasons to claims, additive transitions ("additionally," "furthermore") to introduce new supporting points, and exemplifying transitions ("for example," "specifically") to introduce evidence.

10

Choose the transition that best shows a cause-and-effect relationship between the evidence and the claim.

“Cafeterias should label foods with common allergens. Some students have severe allergies, and even small amounts can cause dangerous reactions; ______, clear labels can prevent accidental exposure.”​

for instance

however

therefore

meanwhile

Explanation

This question tests using words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion (smooth flow, connected ideas) and clarify relationships among claim(s), reasons, and evidence in argumentative writing—employing transitions making explicit how evidence supports reasons, how reasons support claim, how ideas connect. The sentence structure presents evidence (students have severe allergies causing dangerous reactions) followed by a conclusion that supports the claim (labels can prevent exposure), requiring a cause-and-effect transition. "Therefore" correctly signals that the need for clear labels is a logical consequence of the allergy danger described in the evidence—because allergic reactions are dangerous, therefore labels are necessary. "For instance" (B) would wrongly suggest an example rather than a conclusion, "however" (C) would incorrectly signal contrast when the ideas support each other, and "meanwhile" (D) would inappropriately suggest simultaneous but unrelated events. When evidence leads to a logical conclusion that supports your claim, use cause-and-effect transitions like "therefore," "thus," "consequently," or "as a result" to make the reasoning explicit and strengthen the argument's cohesion.

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