Khan Academy Praxis Writing

Praxis Writing: the Basics

Length: 100 minutes, three sections

• Section 1: Multiple choice | 40 minutes
• Section 2: Argumentative essay | 30 minutes
• Section 3: Explanatory essay | 30 minutes

This section of the test is divided into four parts:

• Error identification
• Sentence correction
• Revision in context
• Research skills

Essays

• Argumentative essay (30 minutes)

This essay task will prompt you to discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with a commonly held opinion.

• Source-based essay (30 minutes)

This essay task will prompt you to extract information from two provided sources to identify important concerns related to an issue.

Each candidate essay is evaluated by two graders on a scale of 1 to 6.

• Clarity
• Consistency of point of view
• Organization of ideas
• Strong and specific supporting examples
• Appropriate diction and syntax
• Correct mechanics and usage

Within-sentence punctuation 

Subordination and Coordination 

Parallel structure 

Modifier Placement 

Shifts in verb tense

Pronoun clarity 

Pronoun agreement

Subject-verb agreement 

Noun agreement 

Frequently confused words

Conventional Expression

Logical comparison 

Concision 

Adjective/adverb confusion 

1. Incorrect:The photogr

Negation

What is negation? 

Negation occurs when the meaning of a statement is altered by the addition of negative words like not, never, and no.

1. Incorrect:The photographer didn’t give me no warning when he took the picture.
2. Correct:The photographer didn’t give me any warning when he took the picture.

or

The photographer gave me no warning when he took the picture.

The Praxis Core Writing tests two types of negation error:

• Double negatives

Double negatives occur when multiple negative words are used redundantly.

Negative + “barely” words

Words like barely, scarcely, and hardly suggest an action almost didn’t happen, but ultimately did.

Negative words state that an action didn’t happen at all.

Therefore, combining negative words with words like “barely” creates a contradiction. [Hide example]

1. Incorrect:There was barely no food left in the refrigerator.
2. Correct:There was barely any food left in the refrigerator.

Explanation: “Barely” suggests there was a little food in the refrigerator. “No” suggests there wasn’t any food in the refrigerator. Using both creates a contradiction.

• Top tip: Look for split negatives

Double negatives can be harder to see if they’re split up by a verb phrase or a descriptive aside.

Any time a negative word is underlined, comb closely through the entire sentence to see if another negative word or a “barely” word is hiding anywhere. 

1. Incorrect:Hannah and Jason could not, despite their best efforts, find no trace of the missing car keys.
2. Correct:Hannah and Jason could not, despite their best efforts, find any trace of the missing car keys.

Explanation: A combination of two negative words, even when separated by other phrases, creates a negation error.

Top tip: Fix the common flaw

Negation is a common error type. If a negation error is present, forget anything else that might seem weird to you about the sentence—the choice that fixes the common flaw will be the answer.

Capitalization

What is capitalization? 

Capitalization refers to conventions for when a word should start with a capital (uppercase) letter.

1. Incorrect:Humans are from a planet called earth.
2. Correct:Humans are from a planet called Earth.

Explanation: "Earth" is the name of a specific place. It is therefore a proper noun that must be capitalized.

Capitalize the following words and phrases:

• Proper nouns 

A proper noun is a name or title used for a specific person, place, or organization.

Examples: Batman, South America, U.S. Department of State

• Proper adjectives

A proper adjective is a descriptive word derived from a proper noun.

Examples: Shakespearean, East African, Portuguese

• Capitalize by context

Any word can require capitalization if it appears in the right context.

Even if a word isn't usually capitalized, it needs to be capitalized if it appears in a proper noun phrase. 

1. Incorrect: Madison Square garden is the home of the New York Knicks.
2. Correct: Madison Square Garden is the home of the New York Knicks.

Explanation: "Madison Square Garden" is a proper noun phrase. So even though "garden" is not a proper noun on its own, it must be capitalized in this context.

• Capitalize languages

The names of languages are both proper nouns and proper adjectives. They must be capitalized.

1. Incorrect:The latin phrase "tempus fugit" means "time flies".
2. Correct:The Latin phrase "tempus fugit" means "time flies".

Be careful with directions

Take extra care with cardinal directions (north, southern, etc.).

They are capitalized when they refer to a specific, named region (e.g., the American South).

They aren't capitalized when they describe relative directions (e.g., the southern United States). 

1. Incorrect:Utqiagvik, Alaska is further North than any other city in the United States.
2. Correct:Utqiagvik, Alaska is further north than any other city in the United States.

Explanation: Because "north" isn't part of a place name in this context, it shouldn't be capitalized.

Fix the common flaw

Flawed capitalization is a common error type. If it is present, forget anything else that might seem weird to you about the sentence—the choice that fixes the common flaw will be the answer.

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Apostrophe use

What is apostrophe use? 

Apostrophe use refers to how an apostrophe ( ' ) can be used to show possession.

1. Incorrect: Kens car needed to be cleaned.
2. Correct:Ken's car needed to be cleaned.

What's on the test? 

The Praxis Core Writing tests apostrophe use in the following instances:

• Plural nouns 

Plural nouns do not require an apostrophe.

The plants in the greenhouse are thriving.

• Singular possessive nouns 

Singular possessive nouns require an apostrophe followed by an "s".

The company's most popular products include shampoo and moisturizer.

Note: This rule applies even if the singular noun already ends in "s" (e.g. the rhinoceros's horn).

• Plural possessive nouns

Plural possessive nouns that end in "s" require an apostrophe after the "s".

On many superhero teams, the heroes' costumes are each a different color.

Note: If a plural noun doesn't end in "s", then an "s" should be added after the apostrophe (e.g., the men's swim team).

• Top tip: It's vs its

Whenever you come across “it’s” (with an apostrophe), get rid of the contraction and read it as “it is”.

When you get rid of contractions, usage errors become more obvious. 

1. Incorrect:The dog was chasing it's tail.
2. Correct:The dog was chasing its tail.

Explanation: "The dog was chasing it is tail"? That can't work!

• Top tip: Possessive pronouns

Unlike possessive nouns, possessive pronouns never require an apostrophe.

Possessive pronouns include yours, mine, its, theirs, hers, his, and whose.

• Top tip: Fix the common flaw

Flawed apostrophe use is a common error type. If it is present, forget anything else that might seem weird to you about the sentence—the choice that fixes the common flaw will be the answer.

Our mission is to provide a free, world-class education to anyone, anywhere.