Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) English Language Arts / Literacy: Writing and Language Flashcards

24 sample cards from the English Language Arts / Literacy: Writing and Language deck

Sampled from the end of the deck, so these are different cards from the ones shown on the syllabus page.

1. What is meant by 'clarity and style' in writing?

   Expressing ideas clearly and precisely while using word choice, sentence variety, and tone appropriate to the task, purpose, and audience.

2. What is precise language (word choice)?

   Using specific, exact words and domain-specific vocabulary instead of vague or general terms to convey meaning accurately.

3. What is sentence variety and why does it matter?

   Using a mix of sentence lengths and structures (simple, compound, complex); it makes writing more engaging and improves flow and readability.

4. What is the difference between formal and informal style?

   Formal style avoids slang and contractions and uses precise, objective language appropriate for academic writing; informal style is conversational and casual.

5. What is the difference between active and passive voice?

   In active voice the subject performs the action ('The student wrote the essay'); in passive voice the subject receives the action ('The essay was written by the student'). Active voice is usually clearer and more direct.

6. What is wordiness (redundancy) and how is it fixed?

   Using more words than needed to express an idea; it is fixed by removing repetitive or unnecessary words to make sentences concise.

7. What are the parts of speech?

   Noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection.

8. What is subject-verb agreement?

   The grammar rule that a verb must match its subject in number: singular subjects take singular verbs and plural subjects take plural verbs.

9. What is pronoun-antecedent agreement?

   A pronoun must agree with its antecedent (the noun it refers to) in number and gender, e.g., 'Each student brought his or her book.'

10. What is a run-on sentence and how is it corrected?

    Two or more independent clauses joined without proper punctuation or conjunction; it is corrected with a period, semicolon, or a comma plus a coordinating conjunction.

11. What is a sentence fragment?

    An incomplete sentence that lacks a subject, a verb, or a complete thought, and cannot stand alone.

12. What is a comma splice?

    The error of joining two independent clauses with only a comma; fix it with a period, semicolon, or a comma plus a coordinating conjunction.

13. What is a dangling or misplaced modifier?

    A modifier that is not clearly or logically connected to the word it should describe; it is fixed by placing the modifier next to the correct word.

14. What are the coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS)?

    For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.

15. What is parallel structure?

    Using the same grammatical form for items in a series or comparison, e.g., 'reading, writing, and speaking' rather than 'reading, writing, and to speak.'

16. When should a semicolon be used?

    To join two closely related independent clauses, or to separate items in a list when the items themselves contain commas.

17. When is a colon used?

    After an independent clause to introduce a list, explanation, quotation, or example.

18. What are the main uses of the apostrophe?

    To show possession (the dog's bone) and to form contractions (do not = don't); it is not used to make ordinary nouns plural.

19. How are quotation marks used in writing?

    To enclose direct quotations and titles of short works; periods and commas are placed inside the closing quotation mark in American English.

20. What are the general rules of capitalization?

    Capitalize the first word of a sentence, the pronoun 'I,' proper nouns (specific names of people, places, organizations), and important words in titles.

21. What is the difference between 'their,' 'there,' and 'they're'?

    'Their' shows possession, 'there' refers to a place or is an existential subject, and 'they're' is the contraction of 'they are.'

22. What is the difference between 'your' and 'you're'?

    'Your' shows possession ('your book'); 'you're' is the contraction of 'you are.'

23. What does 'Knowledge of Language' mean as a PARCC scoring/skill area?

    The ability to use language effectively and to apply standard English conventions of grammar, usage, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling correctly in writing.

24. Why does command of conventions (grammar, punctuation, spelling) matter in writing assessments?

    Correct conventions ensure the writing is clear and the reader can follow the meaning without confusion; errors can obscure ideas and lower the Knowledge of Language and Conventions score.

What this deck covers

English Language Arts / Literacy: Writing and Language flashcards FAQ