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Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) Writing (English Language Arts - Writing and Language) Syllabus

The Writing (English Language Arts - Writing and Language) syllabus for Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) in full: 4 chapters, 19 topics and 33 sub-topics, every one listed below, plus 51 Writing (English Language Arts - Writing and Language) flashcards with answers.

4Chapters

19Topics

33Sub-topics

51Flashcards

Writing (English Language Arts - Writing and Language) syllabus: all 4 chapters

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics.

The Writing Process and Argumentative Essay
5 topics
- Understanding the TASC Writing Prompt
  - Analyzing source passages provided with the prompt
  - Identifying the writing task and audience
- Planning and Prewriting
  - Brainstorming and outlining
  - Forming a clear, arguable thesis
- Drafting a Coherent Essay
  - Introduction with hook and thesis
  - Body paragraphs with topic sentences and evidence
  - Effective conclusion
- Revising and Editing
  - Improving clarity and word choice
  - Checking organization and transitions
- Using Textual Evidence to Support a Claim
  - Quoting and paraphrasing source material
  - Explaining how evidence supports the claim
Sentence Structure and Grammar
5 topics
- Parts of Speech and Their Functions
  - Nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs
  - Prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections
- Sentence Types and Construction
  - Simple, compound, complex, compound-complex
  - Independent and dependent clauses
- Subject-Verb Agreement
  - Agreement with collective and indefinite subjects
  - Agreement with intervening phrases
- Pronoun Usage and Agreement
  - Pronoun-antecedent agreement
  - Pronoun case and unclear reference
- Verb Tense and Consistency
  - Maintaining consistent tense
  - Forming regular and irregular verbs
Punctuation and Mechanics
4 topics
- Commas, Semicolons, and Colons
  - Commas in series, clauses, and introductory elements
  - Semicolons joining related clauses
  - Colons introducing lists and explanations
- Apostrophes and Possessives
  - Contractions versus possessives
  - Singular and plural possessive forms
- Capitalization Rules
- Quotation Marks and End Punctuation
Effective Language Use and Style
5 topics
- Correcting Common Errors
  - Run-on sentences and comma splices
  - Sentence fragments
  - Misplaced and dangling modifiers
- Conciseness and Eliminating Wordiness
  - Removing redundancy
  - Avoiding awkward constructions
- Transitions and Cohesion
  - Transitional words and phrases
  - Logical flow between sentences and paragraphs
- Parallel Structure
- Maintaining Formal Tone and Style

Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) Writing (English Language Arts - Writing and Language) flashcards — 51 questions with answers

On the TASC Writing test, what does the essay portion ask you to do with the source passage(s)?
Read one or more passages and write an evidence-based argumentative essay that takes a position and supports it using specific details and evidence drawn from the passage(s).
What three things should you identify before you begin a TASC writing prompt?
The topic/issue, the specific task (e.g., argue a position or explain), and the audience/purpose. Pinpointing what the prompt actually demands prevents off-task writing.
What is the difference between an argumentative prompt and an informational/explanatory prompt on the TASC?
An argumentative prompt asks you to take a side and persuade using evidence; an informational/explanatory prompt asks you to convey or analyze information objectively without taking a personal position.
In planning a TASC essay, what is a thesis statement and where does it belong?
A thesis is one sentence stating your central claim or position. It belongs at the end of the introduction so it frames the entire essay.
Name three common prewriting strategies for organizing ideas before drafting.
Brainstorming/listing, clustering or mind-mapping, and outlining. Freewriting is also used to generate ideas quickly.
What is an outline and why is it useful for a timed essay?
An outline is a hierarchical plan of the thesis, main supporting points, and evidence. It keeps the essay focused and logically ordered, saving time during drafting.
What are the standard structural parts of a coherent five-paragraph essay?
An introduction with a thesis, three body paragraphs each developing one supporting point with evidence, and a conclusion that restates the thesis and synthesizes the argument.
What is a topic sentence and what role does it play in a body paragraph?
A topic sentence states the paragraph's single main idea and connects it to the thesis. It tells the reader what the paragraph will prove.
What does coherence mean in essay writing?
Coherence means ideas flow logically and connect clearly from sentence to sentence and paragraph to paragraph, so the reader can follow the argument without confusion.
What is the difference between revising and editing?
Revising changes content and organization (ideas, structure, clarity, evidence); editing fixes surface mechanics (grammar, spelling, punctuation, word choice).
When revising, what are three big-picture questions to ask?
Is the thesis clear and supported? Are paragraphs logically organized? Is there enough relevant evidence and are weak or off-topic ideas removed?
How should textual evidence be introduced and used to support a claim?
State the claim, introduce the evidence (paraphrase or quotation) with a signal phrase, cite the source/passage, then explain how the evidence supports the claim (the 'so what').
What is the difference between quoting and paraphrasing textual evidence?
Quoting uses the source's exact words in quotation marks; paraphrasing restates the source's idea in your own words. Both must be tied back to your claim.
What are the eight traditional parts of speech?
Noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection.
What is the function of an adjective versus an adverb?
An adjective modifies a noun or pronoun (the red car); an adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb (ran quickly, very tall).
What is the function of a preposition, and what is a prepositional phrase?
A preposition shows the relationship of a noun/pronoun to another word (in, on, under, between). A prepositional phrase is the preposition plus its object and any modifiers (under the old bridge).
What is the difference between a coordinating conjunction and a subordinating conjunction?
A coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) joins equal elements; a subordinating conjunction (because, although, when, since) attaches a dependent clause to an independent clause.
What are the four sentence types classified by structure?
Simple (one independent clause), compound (two or more independent clauses), complex (one independent + at least one dependent clause), and compound-complex (two or more independent + at least one dependent clause).
What is the difference between an independent clause and a dependent (subordinate) clause?
An independent clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence; a dependent clause has a subject and verb but cannot stand alone because it begins with a subordinator or relative pronoun.
What is a comma splice and how do you fix it?
A comma splice joins two independent clauses with only a comma. Fix it with a period, a semicolon, a comma plus a coordinating conjunction, or by subordinating one clause.

Show the other 31 Writing (English Language Arts - Writing and Language) flashcards

What is a run-on (fused) sentence?
A run-on joins two or more independent clauses with no punctuation or conjunction between them. Fix it by separating, joining with a semicolon, or adding a comma plus a conjunction.
What is a sentence fragment?
A fragment is a group of words punctuated as a sentence but lacking an independent clause (missing a subject, a verb, or a complete thought), such as 'Because she left early.'
State the basic rule of subject-verb agreement.
A verb must agree in number with its subject: singular subjects take singular verbs (The dog runs) and plural subjects take plural verbs (The dogs run).
In subject-verb agreement, how are subjects joined by 'and' versus 'or/nor' treated?
Subjects joined by 'and' are usually plural and take a plural verb. With 'or'/'nor', the verb agrees with the nearer subject (Neither the boys nor the teacher was late).
Do prepositional phrases between the subject and verb affect agreement?
No. The verb agrees with the true subject, not with a noun inside an intervening phrase (The box of nails IS heavy).
Are most indefinite pronouns like 'each,' 'everyone,' and 'neither' singular or plural for agreement?
They are singular and take a singular verb (Everyone IS welcome; Each of the players HAS a locker).
What is pronoun-antecedent agreement?
A pronoun must match its antecedent in number, gender, and person (A student must bring HIS OR HER ID; The students must bring THEIR IDs).
What is the difference between subjective and objective case pronouns?
Subjective pronouns (I, he, she, we, they, who) act as subjects; objective pronouns (me, him, her, us, them, whom) act as objects of verbs or prepositions.
How do you decide between 'who' and 'whom'?
Use 'who' as the subject of a verb (Who called?) and 'whom' as the object of a verb or preposition (To whom did you speak?). Tip: if 'he' fits use who; if 'him' fits use whom.
What is a vague or ambiguous pronoun reference, and why avoid it?
It occurs when a pronoun could refer to more than one antecedent or to none clearly (e.g., 'They say...'). It confuses the reader; revise so each pronoun has one clear antecedent.
Name the three simple verb tenses and what each expresses.
Present (action happening now or habitually: walks), past (action completed earlier: walked), and future (action yet to occur: will walk).
What does it mean to maintain verb tense consistency?
Keep verbs in the same tense when describing actions in the same time frame; shift tense only when the time of the action actually changes. Avoid unnecessary shifts within a passage.
What is the difference between the simple past and the present perfect tense?
Simple past states a completed action at a definite time (I finished it yesterday); present perfect links a past action to the present or an unspecified time (I have finished it).
When do you use a comma in a compound sentence?
Place a comma before the coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) that joins two independent clauses (The rain stopped, and the sun appeared).
What is the rule for commas after an introductory element?
Use a comma after an introductory word, phrase, or dependent clause that precedes the main clause (After the meeting, we left; Because it rained, the game was canceled).
What is the Oxford (serial) comma rule for items in a series?
Separate three or more items with commas; the Oxford comma is the optional comma before the final 'and' (red, white, and blue). TASC accepts consistent use.
When should you use a semicolon?
Use a semicolon to join two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction (I was tired; I kept working), or to separate list items that already contain commas.
When should you use a colon?
Use a colon after a complete independent clause to introduce a list, explanation, or quotation (Bring three things: a pen, paper, and ID). Do not put a colon directly after a verb or preposition.
How is an apostrophe used to form the possessive of singular versus plural nouns?
Singular nouns add 's (the dog's bone); plural nouns ending in s add only an apostrophe (the dogs' bones); irregular plurals add 's (the children's toys).
What is the difference between 'its' and 'it's'?
'Its' is the possessive of 'it' (the cat licked its paw); 'it's' is a contraction of 'it is' or 'it has' (it's raining). Possessive pronouns never take an apostrophe.
What is the difference between 'your/you're' and 'their/there/they're'?
Your = possessive, you're = you are. Their = possessive, there = place/existence, they're = they are.
List three categories of words that should be capitalized.
Proper nouns and proper adjectives (America, American), the first word of a sentence, and the pronoun 'I'; also titles before names, days, months, and holidays.
What is the rule for capitalizing titles of works?
Capitalize the first and last words and all principal words (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns); do not capitalize short articles, coordinating conjunctions, or short prepositions unless they begin the title.
How do quotation marks work with commas and periods in American usage?
Periods and commas always go inside the closing quotation marks (She said, 'Come here.'). Quotation marks enclose direct quotations and titles of short works.
Do question marks and exclamation points go inside or outside quotation marks?
Inside if they belong to the quotation itself (He asked, 'Are you ready?'); outside if they apply to the whole sentence (Did she really say 'no'?).
What are the three end-punctuation marks and their uses?
Period ends a statement or mild command; question mark ends a direct question; exclamation point ends an emphatic or emotional statement.
What is a misplaced modifier and how do you correct it?
A misplaced modifier is positioned so it seems to describe the wrong word (Running late, the bus was missed). Fix it by placing the modifier next to the word it logically describes (Running late, I missed the bus).
What is a dangling modifier?
A dangling modifier describes a word that is missing from the sentence (After finishing the test, the room was quiet). Fix it by adding the intended subject (After finishing the test, the students found the room quiet).
What is wordiness, and name two ways to make writing more concise.
Wordiness is using more words than needed. Cut redundant phrases (e.g., 'due to the fact that' → 'because') and eliminate empty intensifiers or repetition; prefer active voice and strong verbs.
What is the function of transitions, and give examples for contrast, addition, and cause/effect.
Transitions signal relationships between ideas to create cohesion. Contrast: however, on the other hand; Addition: furthermore, moreover; Cause/effect: therefore, as a result, consequently.
What is parallel structure, and how do you fix a faulty-parallelism error?
Parallel structure uses the same grammatical form for items in a series or comparison. Fix faulty parallelism by matching forms (Not 'She likes reading, to hike, and swimming' but 'She likes reading, hiking, and swimming').

Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) Writing (English Language Arts - Writing and Language) FAQ

What is in the Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) Writing (English Language Arts - Writing and Language) syllabus?

Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) Writing (English Language Arts - Writing and Language) is split into 4 chapters: The Writing Process and Argumentative Essay, Sentence Structure and Grammar, Punctuation and Mechanics and Effective Language Use and Style. Together they contain 19 topics and 33 sub-topics.

How many chapters are in Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) Writing (English Language Arts - Writing and Language)?

4 chapters, containing 19 topics and 33 sub-topics. The largest chapter is The Writing Process and Argumentative Essay, with 5 topics.

Are there flashcards for Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) Writing (English Language Arts - Writing and Language)?

Yes — a 51-card Writing (English Language Arts - Writing and Language) deck, printed in full in the flashcards section of this page and available in the Examius app with spaced repetition. The free plan covers one exam of your choice, including its flashcards; Examius Pro, a one-time purchase, unlocks every other exam and deck.