MTEL Communication Literacy Skills : Writing Practice Test

What type of writing structure emphasizes the action being performed?

1. Descriptive Voice

2. Passive Voice

3. Argumentative Voice

4. Active Voice

The correct answer is: Active Voice

The correct choice emphasizes the action itself and the subject that performs it, which is a hallmark of active voice writing. In active voice, the subject of the sentence is directly involved in the action, making the writing clearer and more dynamic. This structure often leads to more engaging and straightforward sentences that clarify who is doing what. For example, in the sentence "The dog chased the ball," the dog (the subject) is clearly performing the action of chasing, which enhances the immediacy and vividness of the writing. The other options do not emphasize the action in the same way. Descriptive voice focuses more on painting a picture through detailed descriptions rather than on the action itself. Passive voice, on the other hand, often obscures the actor by placing emphasis on the action or the recipient of the action instead, leading to sentences like "The ball was chased by the dog," which can lack clarity. Argumentative voice centers around presenting and defending a position or argument rather than focusing on actions, typically involving reasoning and evidence. Thus, the active voice is clearly the structure that highlights the action being performed most effectively.