GED Reasoning Through Language ArtsExtended Response (Essay)Hard
A student is reviewing an argumentative essay draft. They notice a paragraph that starts by discussing the economic benefits of renewable energy, then abruptly shifts to the health risks of fossil fuels, and finally concludes by reiterating the need for government subsidies for solar panels. This paragraph primarily lacks:
- ASufficient evidence to support its claims.
- BA strong and compelling thesis statement.
- CA clear and consistent organizational structure.
- DFormal language and objective tone.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. A clear and consistent organizational structure.
The paragraph jumps between economic benefits, health risks, and government subsidies without a clear logical flow or connection between these distinct ideas. This indicates a lack of consistent organizational structure within the paragraph.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. While evidence might also be lacking, the primary issue described is the disjointed nature of the topics, not merely the absence of support.
- B. A thesis statement applies to the entire essay, not specifically to the internal coherence of a single paragraph.
- D. The prompt does not provide enough information to assess the language or tone, only the content's flow.
Paragraph Coherence
The quality of a paragraph being logically organized and easy to understand, with all sentences contributing to a single, clear idea or argument.
- Achieved through logical ordering of ideas and smooth transitions.
- Each paragraph should ideally focus on one main point.
- Lack of coherence makes the writing confusing and difficult to follow.
Memory trick: Organize Opinions, Outline Obvious Order.