EN 104 - English Composition and Writing

Midterm Exam Review - Chapters 1-8

Which is Not true about a text's main point?

A main point is the same as the topic of the reading

A main point may be stated in a single sentence

A text has only one main point

A main point may not be stated directly

A main point is the same as the topic of the reading

What is the purpose of supporting sentences?

• To convey the central idea

• To show the direction of the text

• To give examples, statistics, facts, or definitions

• To show, explain or prove the main point

To show, explain, or prove the main point

Which is a consideration when you pause and think about your readings?

• Find the main idea and support

• Note any examples of an author's or expert's assumptions or biases.

• Paraphrase the writer's points

• Identify the rhetorical context

Note any examples of an author's or expert's assumptions or biases.

Which of the critical writing skills requires you to use words that show what the writer does, or what strategies the writer uses?

• Summarize

• Analyze

• Evaluate

• Synthesize

Analyze

Which is NOT a basic of critical thinking?

• Question assumptions.

• Notice assumptions.

• Consider and connect different points of view.

• Read between the lines.

Read between the lines

What are the four major steps of the critical reading process?

• Preview, Paraphrase, Pause, Read

• Preview, Summarize, Paraphrase, Read

• Preview, Read, Review, synthesize

• Preview, Read, Pause, Review

Preview, Read, Pause, Review

What are the four major skills involved in writing critically about readings and visuals?

• Identifying author, source, biases, and assumptions

• Analyze, Summarize, Synthesize, Evaluate

• Identify main points, identify biases, identify assumptions

• Preview, Read, Pause, Review

Analyze, Summarize, Synthesize, Evaluate

Which of these concepts is associated with previewing the text.

• Identify and paraphrase key points

• Identify author's biases and assumptions

• Identify and underline major support points

• Identify your purpose for reading

Identify your purpose for reading

What is meant by the rhetorical context?

• Title, Headings and Visuals

• Topic, Audience and Purpose

• Topic, Author, and Purpose

• Genre, Author, and Source

Topic, Audience and Purpose

Which is a suitable definition for the task of synthesizing?

• Stripping the information down to its essential elements.

• Making a thoughtful judgment about something based on what you have discovered.

• Breaking down the points or parts of something and considers how they work together to make an impression or convey a main idea

• Pulling together information from additional sources or experiences to make a new point.

Pulling together information from additional sources or experiences to make a new point

What are the stages of the writing process?

Generating ideas, drafting, revising ,editing

Finding and exploring a topic, coming-up with a main idea, drafting, revising

Finding a topic, writing a thesis statement, composing an essay

Considering audience, thinking critically, making a clear definite point

Generating ideas, drafting, revising, editing

According to your textbook, which are elements often evaluated in rubrics?

Tone, cohesiveness, grammar

Main idea, organization, support

grammar, sentence structure, word choice

Introduction, body, Conclusion

Main idea, organization, support

One strategy for narrowing a general topic is-

Questioning assumptions

Exploring the topic

Asking specific questions

Finding interesting and specific details

Questioning assumptions

Which is a feature of a good topic sentence or thesis statement?

It consists of the narrowed topic and the main idea

It states more than one main idea or position about the topic

It states a single main idea or position about the topic

It is an indirect statement about the topic

It states a single main idea or position about the topic

Which is not an  important consideration when evaluating main idea?

It includes my topic and the main idea I want to make about it.

It is something I can show, explain, or prove

It is a thesis statement

It is a complete sentence.

It is a thesis statement

Details that show, explain or prove your main ideas are called-

evidence

Support

Secondary support

Examples

Support

What are primary support?

Specific evidence that support your main idea

Major ideas that support your main idea

Details that show, explain or prove your main idea

Specific details that support your main idea

Major ideas that support your main idea

One way to write a topic sentence or a thesis statement is – 

 Include the general topic and the main idea

Include the general  topic and  details

Include the narrowed topic and support

Include the narrowed topic and the main idea

Include the narrowed topic and the main idea

One major difference between primary and secondary support point is- 

Primary support point is developed into a separate paragraph while secondary support point adds details and examples

Primary support point uses general nouns while secondary support point uses specific details.

Primary support point is more specific than a topic sentence

Primary support point is more specific than secondary support points

Primary support point uses general nouns while secondary support point uses specific details.

What is a draft?

A whole version of all your ideas put together in a piece of writing

​A list of all the ideas to include in your writing

A rough version of your ideas put together in a piece of writing

An edited version of all your ideas presented in your writing.

A whole version of all your ideas put together in a piece of writing

Which is not a basic feature of a good draft paragraph or essay?

It has an introduction which starts with an interesting fact

It has a logical organization of ideas

It has a conclusion that makes an observation about the main idea

It has primary and secondary support that shows, explains, or proves the main idea

It has an introduction which starts with an interesting fact

What are three ways to order ideas?

First to last , last to first, most recent to least recent

 Top to bottom , bottom to top, left to right

Time order, space order, and order of importance

Chronological order, sequential order, numerical order

Time order, space order, and order of importance

Why  is an outline  helpful to writers?

It lists the primary support points for the topic sentence or thesis statement

It provides a map of your ideas that you can follow as you write

It lists the topic sentence (for a paragraph) or thesis statement (for an essay)

It is a good, visual way to plan a draft and arrange your ideas.

It lists the topic sentence (for a paragraph) or thesis statement (for an essay)

What are five strategies for starting an essay?

A.  quotation, example or story, surprising fact, strong opinion, question

B.  brainstorming, clustering, freewriting, listing, discussing

Both A and B

Neither A nor B

A.  quotation, example or story, surprising fact, strong opinion, question

Which aspect of an essay does the following: Refers back to the main idea; sums up what has been covered in the essay; makes a further observation or point?

Concluding sentence

Body paragraphs

Concluding paragraph

Introduction

Concluding paragraph

Which is a feature of an essay’s title?

It summarizes the content of the essay

It hints at the main idea or thesis statement

It repeats the title of the assignment

It repeats the main idea or thesis statement

It hints at the main idea or thesis statement

What are three main areas to focus on in revision?

unity, development, and coherence

main idea, detail, support

clarity, purpose and audience

grammar, word choice and spelling conventions

unity, development, and coherence

What are two strategies for improving coherence?

use transitions and repeat key words

add more details, revise ideas that seem weak and unclear

peer review and give feedback

avoid detours, stick to the main idea

use transitions and repeat key words

What is the process of finding and correcting problems with grammar, word usage, punctuation, and capitalization?

the writing process

the  drafting  process

the  revising process

the editing and proof reading process

the editing and proof reading process

What is narration?  

Writing that tells the story of an event or an experience

Writing that explains a concept or shares information.

Writing that tries to convince the reader of the validity of a certain argument.

Writing that uses imagery to create a picture in the reader’s mind.

Writing that tells the story of an event or an experience

All of the following are ‘basics’ of good narration EXCEPT - 

It organizes events in a logical order.

It includes a main idea.

It includes all the major events of the story.

It excludes supporting details about the major events

It excludes supporting details about the major events

Which of the following suggests that a narrative structure should be used? 

Write your opinion about an incident at the last World Cup.

Provide evidence, statistics, or results for a project

Write a poem about the seasons.

Explain to your boss what happened in the last team meeting.

Explain to your boss what happened in the last team meeting

Which of the phrases below completes the statement? The main idea is_____________________.

the primary support in your essay.

the supporting details of the major event

the major events.

the most important thought to you and the readers.

the most important thought to you and the readers.

The topic sentence in a narration paragraph or the thesis statement in a narration essay usually includes:

A, The topic

B. The main idea.

Both A and B

Neither A nor B

Both A and B

For most narratives, the secondary support______________.

makes up the body of the paragraphs.

forms the topic sentence

states the major events.

informs and entertain the​ reader

makes up the body of the paragraphs.

What type of organization do writers of narration usually use?  

Chronology

All of the above

Cause and Effect

 Problem and Solution

Chronology

When evaluating a narrative piece, which criterion below matches the component of ‘organization’?   

Is the main idea developed with specific support, details, and examples?

Is the writing free of the four most serious errors?

Does the student use transitions (also, for example, sometimes, and so on) to move the reader from one point to another?

Did the student follow the assignment directions?.

Does the student use transitions (also, for example, sometimes, and so on) to move the reader from one point to another?

All of the following are common transitions for narration EXCEPT….  

As a result

Second

Eventually

While

As a result

Which of the following is NOT a common verb tense for narrations? 

Past Progressive

Past Perfect

Simple Present  

Simple Past

Simple Present

What is an illustration?  

Writing that describes events.

Writing that uses examples to support a point.

All of the above .

None of the above

Writing that uses examples to support a point.

To write a good illustration you should include:   

A point to communicate to readers

Details to support the examples.

Specific examples

All of the above

All of the above

In an illustration, the main idea is the __________.

Details

Message

Examples

Events

Message

When writing an illustration essay, the examples (major support points) are the __________________ for individual paragraphs.

Topic sentences

Primary support

Secondary support.

Main idea

Topic sentences

How can writers make their examples clear to a reader?  By using…  

Dialogue

Proper nouns

Sensory details

All of the Above

All of the Above

How is an illustration usually organized? 

A. Order of importance

B, Time order

Both A and B

Not given

Both A and B

Transitions are used to introduce _______________to the reader. 

Examples

Sensory details

Not given

Main ideas

Examples

All of the following would be a common transition in an illustration EXCEPT ...

second,

In addition,

For instance,

Nevertheless

Nevertheless

By using these______, you will gain a better understanding of how the components of good illustration work together to create a successful paragraph or essay.

Critical thinking skills

Four basics of good illustration

Critical writing skills

Rubrics and examples

Rubrics and examples

Which statement  is FALSE about an illustration essay?

It can be used in most communication situations

The point is supported by examples and details.

Paragraphs, lists, and bullets can be used.

The thesis statement is your response to an essay.

The thesis statement is your response to an essay.