JAMS 204 STUDY GUIDE
Which of the following sentences uses correct punctuation for quotations?
"There's a first time for everything," said Janet Yellen, "and I'm happy to be a pioneer on the Federal Reserve."
A question that results in a "yes" or "no" answer is:
A closed-ended question.
What's the best definition of a "nut graph"?
A paragraph that tells readers the point of the story.
What's the best definition of a focus/feature or anecdotal lead?
A short sketch of a compelling person or scene representing a larger story.
A lead that sums up what happened instead of highlighting specifics is called:
A summary lead
In journalistic writing, which of the following sentences is best?
Adrian Anderson bought two pizzas, one candy bar and a soda.
Which of the following sentences is correct?
After reading the magazine article twice, Roland Smith still did not understand the point.
Journalism provides a forum for public discussion. In that role, what are journalists obligated to do?
All of the above
which type of lead raises a red flag to editors?
All of the answers are correct.
The following sentence is incorrect: Mayor Jose Mendoza plans to retire, he's endorsing his chief of staff in the next election. How could you fix it?
All of these answers are correct.
Which of the following sentences features correct punctuation?
Ally Martinez loves playing football (touch, not tackle.)
Which of the following sentences does not make sense because of a misplaced modifier?
Andy said that Tiffany, in spite of her bad grade in social studies, was really a promising student.
Which sentence is the most unbalanced and awkward?
Audrey loves ice skating, skiing and to hop on a snowmobile.
Which of the following is correct?
Because she loves Tom Hanks, she plans to see his new movie the day it opens in Milwaukee.
Commas are used correctly in this sentence. Why are they needed? Lisa Johnson's sister, who has black hair and dark eyes, is flying into Milwaukee on Saturday.
Because the commas set off a clause that is nonessential (or nonrestrictive)
Which one of the following is correct?
Congress voted to pass the new legislation. The vote was unanimous.
In AP Style, some formal titles are abbreviated when used before a name. Which of the following sentences is correct?
Dr. Reinaldo Lewis is an expert in the field of endocrinology.
In AP Style, occupational descriptions are never capitalized. Which of the following sentences is correct?
Eau Claire farmer Brenda Smith declared bankruptcy after struggling for 15 years to turn a profit.
Simple sentences:
Express one idea
"Being as how" is an effective phrase in news writing.
False
"Due to the fact that" is an effective phrase in news writing.
False
If journalists admit they don't know something about a story, it hurts their credibility.
False
In feature news writing, timeliness is not critical.
False
In the inverted pyramid structure, the paragraphs at the bottom reveal the end of the story.
False
Inverted pyramid lead sentences are usually 100-150 words long.
False
Journalism seeks to be the last word -- the absolute truth.
False
Journalists must always be objective.
False
Most of the information in social media and email can be defined as "journalism."
False
Patriotic journalists do not publish information that's overly critical of public officials.
False
The following sentence is correct: The track team took Friday off having run every morning for the last six days.
False
The following sentence uses correct punctuation for quotations: "This is a sad day for Boston", Mayor Menino said.
False
The inverted pyramid structure is used by journalists, but never by public relations professionals or businesspeople.
False
This number is written correctly: 7853
False
When interviewing a person for a news story, it's best to ask the toughest questions first.
False
When using a chronological story structure, writers always start at the beginning.
False
Writing out questions in advance of an interview can be a bad idea because it makes the conversation less spontaneous.
False
Which of the following sentences could be confusing?
For the caddy, watching golf on television is fascinating.
Which of the following sentences uses correct AP Style? Hint: Under "numerals," look for the "millions, billions, trillions" entry.
In the United States, at least 3 million cats are considered strays.
Which sentence is correct?
It was she who won the race.
In AP Style, if a formal title comes after a name in a sentence, it is not capitalized. In this case, commas are often needed to set off the title. Which of the following sentences is correct?
Jason Edwards, assistant manager at the Grafton Costco, was charged with shoplifting.
Which of the following sentences uses correct AP Style? Hint: Look under "dollars" and "cents" in the AP Stylebook.
Just a few years ago, a gallon of milk cost $1.25.
Which sentence is correct?
Lorenzo Garcia is the only one of his teammates who has scored a touchdown in every game so far.
Which of the following sentences is correct?
Maj. Gen. Nikiya Adams is the youngest commander stationed in Turkey.
Which of the following sentences is correct?
Maria Rodriguez is the fastest runner on the track team; she usually takes the early lead and doesn't allow any competitors to catch up.
Which of the following is correct?
Marley Stevens is going to the dance; however, she refuses to wear uncomfortable high heels.
Long titles are easier to read if they're separated by a construction that requires a comma. Which of the following sentences is correct?
Michael Valdez, the Vice Provost for Student Life, decided to close all dorms during the pandemic.
Which sentence contains a change in tense that doesn't make sense?
Nick is a terrible cook and getting a new job at a diner was not going to help.
Which of the following sentences is the most specific?
Nine of the 10 board members voted to fire the executive director.
Which of the following sentences makes the most sense?
On her way home from class, the student found a man's gold necklace.
All of the following sentences can easily be edited for conciseness EXCEPT:
Patrick Jones hiked, biked, paddled and jogged in three Wisconsin counties last weekend.
Which of the following sentences uses hyphens correctly?
Ryan Braun is a well-known baseball player.
Which of the following sentences unnecessarily changes subjects?
School crossing guards are some of the nicest people in town, but sometimes they make mistakes.
In AP Style, some formal titles are abbreviated when used before a name. Which of the following sentences is correct?
Sen. Ron Johnson tested positive for Covid-19 last week.
Which of the following is correct?
Shanaya Ellis lives in Cincinnatti Ohio.
Which sentence is correct?
She and I are heading out to the game.
In AP Style, the rule is to spell out all numbers at the start of sentences. Therefore, which sentence is correct?
Sixty-two puppies were rescued from a farmhouse outside Minneapolis.
In AP Style, formal titles are capitalized only when they come before the name in a sentence. Which of the following sentences is correct?
Springfield Police Chief Sandina Reyes fired the officer who used a racial slur when arresting a suspect.
Which of the following sentences uses correct AP Style? Hint: look under "temperatures" in the AP Stylebook.
Temperatures in the 30s are expected all week.
Which of the following is correct? Hint: use hyphens when the age comes before a noun.
The 17-year-old high school student will be tried as an adult.
Which sentence is correct?
The American Federation of Teachers supports mask mandates.
Which of the following features correct punctuation?
The Republicans have the majority in the Senate. (The election may change that.)
Which of the following sentences is correct? Hint: Under "numerals," look for "dates," or check the separate entries for "months" and "years."
The anniversary is Jan. 10, 1942.
In AP Style, formal titles that a person used to hold are capitalized before their name. However, qualifying words such as "former" or "acting" are not capitalized
The change was ordered by acting Chancellor Tiffany Johnson.
Which of the following sentences uses correct AP Style?
The company sent 97 emails to journalists, hoping for favorable coverage.
Which sentence is correct?
The cost of gasoline hit its peak about seven months ago.
which of the following is a run-on sentence?
The election is over, and it's time to move on.
The subject and verb agree in which one of the following sentences?
The horse's blue ribbon, blanket and saddle were moved to a different stall.
Which of the following sentences uses correct AP Style for addresses? Hint: Under "numerals," look for the "addresses" entry the AP Stylebook, or look under the separate entry for "addresses."
The house at 4122 Stewart St. was destroyed by fire.
The subject and verb agree in which one of the following sentences?
The importance of bicycle helmets and nightlights was the focus at the safety fair.
In AP Style, figures (numerals) are always used for ages, heights, temperatures, lengths, widths, distances, speeds and in other specific instances. Which of the following sentences is correct?
The injured boy is 6 years old.
Passive voice can make "who did what" unclear. Which of the following sentences is written in passive voice?
The keys were lost.
Which of the following uses correct AP Style?
The latte cost $3.
In AP Style, the rule is to spell out numbers one through nine, and use figures (numerals) for 10 and above. Therefore, which of the following is correct?
The mail carrier delivered 12 identical catalogs to one address.
What is the problem with this sentence? After traveling for more than three years, home looked really good.
The meaning is unclear because it has a dangling modifyer.
Which sentence features parallel structure?
The novel was long, complicated and intriguing.
Which sentence is correct?
The number of emergency calls to 911 is down from last year.
Which of the following sentences uses commas correctly?
The oak tree that was struck by lightning last night split down the middle and will have to be cut down.
Which of the following is correct?
The school board refused to pass the new budget; nine members voted against it.
Active voice includes a subject and verb at the start of a sentence, so "who did what" is obvious right away. Which of the following sentences is written in active voice?
The talk show host spread dangerous conspiracy theories.
Which of the following sentences uses commas correctly?
The thieves, who stole my grandmother's car on Friday, were caught driving it the next day in Racine.
The subject and verb agree in which one of the following sentences?
The toughest problem for health care providers are all the insurance plans with different rules.
What's wrong with these phrases: personal friend at this point in time it's difficult in a sense
They include unnecessary words
Which of the following is correct?
Tony lobbed the phone to Louisa, and laughed when she dropped it.
A "tie-back" is a character's recollection of his or her childhood.
True
A focus-structure story often features a person as representative of a larger group or trend.
True
Email can be effective for a Q&A story in which questions and answers are transcribed.
True
Expressing ideas positively rather than negatively usually results in clearer sentences.
True
In a basic news story, quotes should come after the lead, not at the very start of the story.
True
In general, it's good to use only one new idea in each paragraph of an inverted pyramid story.
True
Journalists should be as transparent as possible about their sources and methods of verifying information.
True
Journalists use a scientific approach to reporting stories.
True
One down side to the inverted pyramid structure is that news consumers often stop reading the story halfway through.
True
The comma in this sentence is used correctly: The landscapers dug up all the old bushes, but they did not plant new ones.
True
The following question is open ended: "What are the advantages of light rail?"
True
The semicolon creates a more distinct break in thought than the comma without bringing the sentence to a complete stop.
True
The word "very" is an intensive adverb.
True
Unlike inverted pyramid stories, stories written chronologically need strong endings.
True
Using a quote in the lead is not an effective way to begin an inverted pyramid story.
True
When writing quotes, commas and periods go INSIDE quotation marks.
True
The following question is closed-ended: "Do you support funding for highway expansion?"
True.
Which of the following sentences is correct?
U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore of Milwaukee has served in Congress for many years.
Which sentence is correct?
We true believers have to keep cheering for the Packers.
Which of the following is correct?
Who's joining us for a drink this afternoon?
Which of the following sentences is correct?
Wisconsin's governor did not persuade the Republican legislature that a mask mandate was necessary.
Which sentence is correct?
You're the cutest baby ever!
What's the difference between a chronology story structure and a news narrative story structure?
a news narrative is another name for inverted pyramid structure
The Rocky Mountain News story featured in Chapter 11 is about:
a plane crash
All of the following elements are necessary to tell a chronological story except:
a traditional news lead
All of the following phrases describe "service journalism" except:
action journalism
If you remove a word from this sentence, the meaning stays the same: The condominium complex actually sold for more than the asking price. Which word can you remove without changing the meaning?
actually
Who should journalists be most loyal to?
citizens
Why is the comma used incorrectly here? The fluffy white cat, sat delicately on the arm of the sofa.
commas should not separate subjects and verbs
The main purpose of journalism is to do what?
empower news consumers
What are phrases like this called? friendly fire passed away put to sleep enhanced interrogation techniques
euphemisms
Attribution is used correctly in the following sentence: As the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported last month, seventeen former state workers are under investigation.
false
In some circumstances, it is correct to write, "The bill will make it illegal..."
false
It is acceptable to use quotations gathered by another news outlet such as a newspaper or television broadcast, as long as you use use quotation marks.
false
The following sentence punctuation is correct: "It was the scariest moment of my life", Eliana Morales said.
false
The second time you refer to a source in a hard news story, it's OK to use their first name only. For example: Marcela said it was her worst day ever as a Milwaukee Municipal Court judge.
false
When an interviewee mentions facts or statistics, always use direct quotes to communicate that information.
false
When attributing a quote, always look for alternatives to the boring verb "said."
false
In the body of a story, all of the following can be used to support the writer's main points except:
fiction
Which of the following is correct? Hint: look under Numerals and Sports Scores in the AP Stylebook.
he Hawks defeated the Wolverines 24-6.
In the internet age, the inverted pyramid:
helps speed the dissemination of information
Which of the following is the best reason to use a quote?
it's memorable, interesting or adds fresh information
What are these words examples of? advance warning completely destroyed refer back repeat again
redundancy or repetitiveness
In AP Style, occupational descriptions are never capitalized. Which of the following is an occupational description?
teacher
Which punctuation mark makes an announcement.
the colon
Reporters might choose a "delayed-identification lead" when:
the person involved is not well known
Why might reporters choose to paraphrase quotes?
to convey the meaning in fewer words and clearer language than the source did
Why does this sentence need a comma after the word fever? Before taking aspirin for her fever, Ashley Jones read the directions on the bottle carefully.
to set off the introductory clause
Attribution usually goes after a direct quote (or in the middle if the quote is more than one sentence long).
true
Even if a source says the words "huh" or "you know" repeatedly in a quote, the reporter must include every word.
true
Even if facts are on the record and are general knowledge, you must attribute them.
true
Good reporters use direct quotes to move a story forward, not to repeat information.
true
It is a journalist's job to make their stories interesting.
true
It's okay to drop attribution if you're paraphrasing a speaker.
true
Journalists should report on the successes of people in power as well as the failures and abuses.
true
Partial quotes are usually more effective than complete quotes in a news story.
true
Placement of attribution is correct in the following sentence: "As we pulled up to the building we saw the roof cave in. The fire seemed to blow even higher at that point, and then the building next door started burning," said Deputy Sheriff Lance Jones.
true
When quoting written sources such as studies or reports, the words "according to" make more sense than "said" for attribution.
true
To avoid sexism in a sentence, one solution is to make the subject plural.
true.
Which of the following phrases is NOT redundant:
unexpectedly tasty
In a multiple-element lead, reporters may choose to include news of several actions. If so, verb phrases in the sentence must:
use parallel structure
What is the definition of "paraphrase" in the context of a news story?
using your own words to summarize a speaker's meaning
What makes journalism different from entertainment, advertising or propaganda?
verification of facts
With the flood of information online, journalists are no longer "gatekeepers" deciding what the public will hear about. What is the most important job of journalists?
verify what's reliable and make it easy for people to understand
In AP Style, formal titles (not occupational descriptions) are capitalized if they come before names in a sentence. Which of the following is a formal title?
vice president
Attribution in a news story tells:
where facts or conclusions came from
In an "immediate-identification lead," one of the most important facts is the:
who
Which of the following is plural possessive?
woman's office
