What are the two main purposes of the writing process you should demonstrate on a constructed-response essay?

• A. Present a topic and background information with minimal analysis.
• B. Develop a clear claim or thesis and support it with relevant evidence and reasoning; revise for coherence and correctness.
• C. Write as many paragraphs as possible without a thesis.
• D. Focus on narration rather than argument and evidence.

Answer: (B)

A constructed-response essay should present a clear claim or thesis and support it with relevant evidence and reasoning, then be revised for coherence and correctness. The thesis states your position or the point you’re arguing, and the evidence from the text or prompt shows why that claim is true. Your reasoning connects each piece of evidence to the claim, showing how the support builds a persuasive argument. Revision helps tighten the argument, fix any gaps in logic, improve flow, and correct grammar and mechanics so your ideas come through clearly.

Reasoning through why this fits: you’re not just retelling events or listing details; you’re taking a position and using specific, text-based evidence to explain why that position matters. The other options miss the need for a debatable claim, solid analysis, and a revision step, so they don’t demonstrate the purposeful argument and careful writing expected in a constructed-response essay.