California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) English Practice Exam

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Why are signal words important in an argumentative essay?

They help avoid confusion
They increase word count
They summarize arguments
They provide evidence

The correct answer is: They help avoid confusion

Signal words play a crucial role in an argumentative essay as they help clarify the structure and flow of the argument. By indicating relationships between ideas, such as contrast (however, on the other hand) or agreement (similarly, also), these words guide the reader through the reasoning process. This clarity is essential for ensuring that readers can easily follow the author's points without becoming lost in the complexity of the argument. In contrast to simply increasing the word count, as other choices might suggest, or summarizing arguments and providing evidence, signal words are specifically designed to aid comprehension and prevent misinterpretation of an author’s intentions. Their primary function is to organize thoughts and connect ideas in a coherent manner, which elevates the overall persuasiveness of the essay.