Ch. 1-4 Test Review

List three qualities that help ensure your writing will meet readers' expectations.

1. Fresh thinking 2. Sense of style (including correct use of grammar and punctuation) 3. Effective organization

What are some possible advantages of writing? (1 or 2)

1. It gives writers time to reflect on and research what they want to communicate and then lets then shape and reshape the material to their satisfaction. 2. It makes communication more precise and effective. 3. It provides a permanent record of thoughts, actions, and decisions. 4. It saves the reader's time; we absorb information more swiftly when we read it than when we hear it.

List four common general writing purposes and give an example of each.

1. To inform: a boating enthusiast teaching the class how to handle a skiff 2. To persuade: writing to a state senator arguing for a new job-training program 3. To express yourself: a play 4. To entertain: a parody

List five principles of ethical writing.

1. Writing perceived as truthful should be truthful. 2. Writing meant to be perceived as truthful should tell the whole truth, omitting nothing the reader needs to know in order to are informed decisions. 3. Writing should not be presented as something different from what it is. 4. Writing should be clear to the reader. 5. Writing should not be intended to harm then reader.

What is a discourse community?

A discourse community is a specific community made up of professionals who write about certain topics. (Biologists of similar interest exchanging research.)

What is a portfolio? Why should you assemble a portfolio?

A portfolio is an organized collection of your writing, usually kept in a three-ring binder or folder. A portfolio can be a source of ideas for future writing, and it also allows you to review the progress of your current papers.

What is a Thesis Statement?

A thesis statement presents the main idea of a piece of writing, usually in one sentence.

What is an audience profile and how can it help your writing?

An audience profile is an assessment of the audience to determine what you say and how you say it. It helps improves your writing because different readers call for different approaches.

Explain the acronym FACT as a guide for revision.

Ask yourself first whether the whole essay FITS together, presenting a central point for a specific audience. Then ADD the appropriate sentences, paragraphs, or even pages. As you revise, CUT away clutter. Carefully TEST the organization of your essay.

What goes into creating a good title?

Engaging the reader's interest and connecting the title with the essay; accurate and clever

True or False: We read a college textbook the same way as a novel.

False; We don't read everything the same.

What are some aspects to consider in Understanding the Assignment?

Follow directions, ask questions, make the assignment yours

After revising, you begin proofreading. List the types of errors you should try to find.

Grammar, punctuation, and spelling

What is the difference between a summary and a critique?

In a summary, you are stating facts about the writing. In a critique, you write about what you thought of the writing.

What are the Requirements of a Good Thesis Statement?

It focuses on just one central point or issue, tailors the scope of the issue to the length of the paper, and provides an accurate forecast of what's to come. It is precise, often previewing the organization of the paper.

When can you omit a thesis?

Narratives and descriptions because they merely support some point that is unstated. Some professional writers imply their thesis rather than state it.

Define plagiarism.

Plagiarism is taking material from sources without using proper documentation even if it is in your own words. It is also using another writer's language without using quotation marks. Plagiarism is unacceptable for and writer.

What is revision?

Revision is the final stage of the writing process where you carefully inspect your word choice, organization, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

What should guide your efforts in writing?

Some clear purpose

Give the benefits to peer evaluations.

The best writers cannot always predict how their readers will react to their writing. What seems clear and effective to us can be confusing or boring to our readers. Comments from our peers can frequently launch a more effective essay.

When reading to critique, why might you (i.e. on what grounds) dispute a writer's information?

The essay may contain faulty logic, unreasonable ideas, suspect facts, or unreliable authorities.

What is the function of the introduction? The conclusion?

The introduction acquaints the reader with your topic and sparks the reader's interest. The conclusion wraps up your discussion.

Why should you read your essay several times (3 times)?

To improve the development of the essay as a whole, to strengthen paragraph structure and development, and to sharpen sentences and words

When can you change a thesis?

You can change a thesis anytime before the paper is in final form.

What can you do during a second and third reading to help with difficult material or material you need to know well?

You can read carefully and actively, consider reading as a kind of conversation with the text, master unfamiliar words, take conscious steps to understand difficult material, and pull the entire essay together.

What is your job as a peer editor? And what types of responses are more effective?

Your job is to identify problems, not solve them. Casual observations and vague comments are not effective. Rather, explaining why your comments help the writer revise. Be fair and objective.

List three strategies for Gathering Information.

a. Brainstorming b. Reading c. Talking with others

What are two possible ways to Organize the Information?

a. Formal outline b. Flexible notes

List four steps to help you orient yourself to the reading before you begin reading.

a. Orient yourself to the background of the essay. b. Use the title as a clue. c. Skim to get the gist of the article. d. Make connections with what you have read.

List five strategies for Zeroing in on a Topic.

a. Tapping your personal resources b. Keeping a journal c. Sorting out a subject d. Asking questions e. Freewriting

State the ultimate purpose of writing.

to have an effect on the reader