Quiz 02 | Higher Education | Oxford University Press Canada

Question 1:

The specific function of an introduction in an essay is to:
a) Assist the writer in organizing his or her thoughts.
b) Help the writer establish an effective thesis statement.
c) Assist the reader in absorbing the content of the essay.
d) Give a preview of what follows.

Question 2:

The following is true of the 'inverted pyramid structure':
a) It was first employed by priestly scribes in ancient Egypt.
b) You begin with the most specific statement and move to the most general statement.
c) Writers of expository, argumentative, and literary essays often use this model.
d) All of the above are true.

Question 3:

The following characterizes the 'dramatic' approach to introductions:
a) The essay begins with a quotation or a question.
b) The essay begins with a general or universal statement and moves to a specific statement.
c) The essay begins with a statement that taps into an underlying fund of sympathy or shared feeling between writer and reader.
d) None of the above.

Question 4:

The following characterizes the 'emotional' approach to introductions:
a) Since it is not reason-based, it is unsuitable for formal writing.
b) The essay begins with a statement that is neither universal or specific but somewhere between the two.
c) In the introduction, the writer tries to present something shocking.
d) None of the above.

Question 5:

The way that you create reader interest in the introduction of a formal essay:
a) Is by slightly embellishing the truth.
b) Should be relevant to your topic.
c) Is by presenting only the facts.
d) Is by drawing on your life experiences.

Question 6:

Students sometimes overlook this function of introductions:
a) To lead the reader into the essay.
b) To introduce the topic of the essay.
c) To introduce the thesis or main idea.
d) To introduce the writer.

Question 7:

The length of the introduction:
a) Will depend mostly on how much research you've done.
b) Should be as complete as it needs to be but no longer than it has to be.
c) Should never exceed four to five sentences.
d) Should always be as brief as you can make it.

Question 8:

Common ineffective openings may include:
a) A statement that is too general or broad.
b) A statement that can be taken for granted.
c) A statement that is too abrupt.
d) All of the above.

Question 9:

The following sentence is an example of what kind of ineffective opening? 'Everyone these days has used a computer at one time or another.'
a) The too-obvious opening.
b) The too-abrupt opening.
c) The overstated - or a false universal claim.
d) The irrelevant opening.

Question 10:

The following sentence is an example of what kind of ineffective opening? 'Everyone these days has used a computer at one time or another.'
a) The too-obvious opening.
b) The too-abrupt opening.
c) The overstated - or a false universal claim.
d) The irrelevant opening.

Question 11:

The following sentence is an example of what kind of ineffective opening? 'Everyone these days has used a computer at one time or another.'
a) The too-obvious opening.
b) The too-abrupt opening.
c) The overstated - or a false universal claim.
d) The irrelevant opening.

Question 12:

A thesis statement has two parts:
a) The thesis and the statement.
b) The opening and the conclusion.
c) The noun and the verb.
d) The topic and the comment.

Question 13:

There are three different kinds of thesis statements. They include:
a) The simple and the indirect.
b) The simple and the complex.
c) The expanded and the specific.
d) The manageable and the expanded.

Question 14:

Effective thesis statements should be:
a) Specific.
b) Manageable.
c) Interesting.
d) All of the above.

Question 15:

Which of the following is true of a formal outline?
a) An outline shows relationships between ideas and their support.
b) An outline shows relationships between one main idea and other main ideas.
c) An outline shows relationships between sub-points and other sub-points.
d) All of the above.

Question 16:

From the description of the paragraph wrap on page 58, one can conclude:
a) That including a wrap is often a useful strategy in paragraph construction.
b) That including a wrap unnecessarily lengthens the paragraph.
c) That including a wrap is necessary so the reader can remember the main idea in the paragraph.
d) All of the above.

Question 17:

A successful topic sentence:
a) Includes the main idea in the paragraph.
b) Contributes to the paragraph's unity.
c) Is often, but not always, the first sentence.
d) All of the above.

Question 18:

A paragraph in an essay should always be:
a) Between four and seven sentences long.
b) Between two and six sentences long.
c) Between six and twelve sentences long.
d) Sufficiently developed but not so long that it becomes hard to read.

Question 19:

A coherent paragraph is:
a) Focused on one idea.
b) Easy to follow.
c) Challenging or complex.
d) Well-developed.

Question 20:

Of the strategies below, which is the most helpful in creating coherent paragraphs?
a) Repeating key words continually throughout a paragraph.
b) Using synonyms and never repeating the same word twice in a paragraph.
c) Using synonyms and/or repeating key words strategically in the paragraph.
d) If you feel the need to repeat a word, it should be taken as a sign that the paragraph is inadequately developed.

Question 21:

The phrases 'in fact,' 'for example,' and 'such as' are examples of what kind of transition?
a) Limit or concession.
b) Cause and effect.
c) Illustration.
d) Sequence or addition.

Question 22:

The words and phrases 'although,' 'it is true that,' and 'naturally' are examples of what kind of transition?
a) Contrast or qualification.
b) Summary or conclusion.
c) Limit or concession.
d) Cause and effect.

Question 23:

The following is true of transitional words and phrases used in an essay:
a) They can never be overused.
b) They provide a link between ideas which would otherwise seem unrelated.
c) They can assist the reader in moving from one idea to the next.
d) None of the above.

Question 24:

The conclusion of an essay should:
a) Have been prepared for every step of the way.
b) Be predictable but not repetitive.
c) Cause the reader to reconsider the thesis statement in light of how the thesis has been developed.
d) All of the above.

Question 25:

The following is true of circular conclusions:
a) They point to ramifications of the thesis or suggest follow-up research that needs to be done.
b) They close the circle by bringing the reader back to the starting point.
c) They open the circle by leading the reader to points not yet discussed.
d) They continue to circle until the final statement.

Question 26:

The following is true of spiral conclusions:
a) They bring the reader back to the starting point.
b) They present a new point in the final sentence.
c) They do not address the thesis.
d) They point to ramifications of the thesis or suggest follow-up research that needs to be done.

Question 27:

Which of the following should you generally avoid doing in your conclusion?
a) Writing a conclusion much longer than your introduction.
b) Mentioning a new point.
c) Giving an example or illustration to support your thesis.
d) All of the above.

Higher Education

Writing by Choice - Student Quiz - Part 2