english chapter 3

Which of the following are good topic sentences? Select all that apply.

Dieting alone is not sufficient for weight loss. Regular exercise has many health benefits.

One of the three functions of an introductory paragraph is to

provide an overview of the main points the essay will cover. Reason: This forecast function helps readers know what to expect.

The main purpose of the supporting sentences in a paragraph is to

provide material to develop the topic sentence.

What should the concluding sentence of a stand-alone paragraph do?

restate the main idea and opinion from the topic sentence Reason: In a stand-alone paragraph, this sentence is enough of a conclusion.

The main purpose of transitions is to

signal a change of direction or new point in the text. Reason: By bridging ideas, transitions make your writing more coherent for readers.

The purpose of the topic sentence is to

state the main idea of the paragraph. Reason: The topic sentence states the topic together with an opinion or other main idea about the topic.

Which of the following sentences would be the most appropriate for an introductory paragraph?

Last year, motorists and others dumped an estimated 200 tons of garbage along the roadways of our town.

Which of the following transition words will help you show an effect?

consequently Reason: Consequently shows one thing as an effect of another.

Varying sentence structures in a passage

creates interest for readers. Reason: If sentences are all similar in structure, the passage can strike readers as dull.

For a sentence to stand on its own, it should

express a complete thought. Reason: Without a complete thought, a sentence could not stand on its own but would need to be part of another sentence.

The three tasks of the introductory paragraph of an essay are to

give an overview of your main points. state your thesis. grab the reader's attention.

By completing a writing attitude survey, writers can gain a better understanding of

how they function as writers.

Which of the following transition words and phrases will help you indicate time?

in the meantime Reason: This transition phrase helps shows the time relationship between events.

Which of the following should you avoid using in a conclusion? Select all that apply.

new ideas clichés upsetting examples

Which of the following sentences does not belong in the concluding paragraph of an essay on the need to reverse the decline in the honeybee population? (1) We need to act now if we are going to save the honeybee population and our food supply. (2) Honeybees pollinate most of our food crops, yet bee populations have been dying off in alarming numbers, and scientific studies link those deaths to pesticide use. (3) A similar problem is happening with monarch butterflies. (4) Remember that if we don't have enough pollinators to produce the fruits, vegetables, and nuts we rely on, many of us will face severe food shortages. Multiple choice question.

(3) Reason: The essay was on the decline of bees, not butterflies. The conclusion of an essay should not introduce a new idea or focus.

Ava wrote a paragraph on why it is important to have a balanced diet. Which of the following would be a good topic sentence for her paragraph? Multiple choice question.

A balanced diet has many benefits. Reason: This sentence states the topic and main idea of the paragraph. It is a complete sentence, with a subject and a verb.

Identify parts of speech in the following sentence: The red bird sang so loudly it could be heard a block away. The word red is a(n)...... , the word bird is a(n)...... , and the word it is a(n)...... .

Blank 1: adjective Blank 2: noun Blank 3: pronoun

Essays, like most documents that you write, need to have a beginning, a(n)........ , and a(n)....... .

Blank 1: middle or body Blank 2: end, ending, or conclusion

Daniel's instructor told him that although he has written a good paper, he has sometimes failed to maintain unity. When he goes back through his paper, which of the following will Daniel need to do in order to address this comment?

Look for ideas that don't relate to his thesis.

What is the best way to maintain unity in an essay?

Make sure every idea relates to the thesis.

True or false: The forecast function of an essay's introduction is important because it tells the reader what your main sources are. True false question.

False Reason: The forecast gives the reader an overview of the main points you are making in your essay.

Which of the following is a complete sentence? Multiple choice question.

I bought a dozen bagels at the delicatessen. Reason: This has a subject (I) and a verb (bought), and it expresses a complete thought.

Sam's essay has the thesis "Reading to young children is good for parents as well as children." He is writing his conclusion. Which one of the following sentences would be best to include to tie the concluding paragraph to the thesis?

Not only does the child benefit, but parents will see—perhaps to their surprise—how much they benefit from reading to their child.

If a writer does not use transitions in his or her paper, which of the following problems is most likely to result?

Readers will not see the connections between the ideas in the paragraphs.

Which of the following would make the best thesis?

Reducing the amount of sugar we eat has many health benefits.

Which of the following is an incomplete sentence?

Riding a brand-new, bright red bicycle built for two. Reason: This lacks a subject, verb, and complete thought—the elements of a complete sentence.

Ryan's topic sentence is "Team sports have several benefits that individual sports lack." Which of the following sentences could he include in his paragraph as supporting sentences? Select all that apply.

Team sports, but not individual sports, help develop cooperation. Team sports develop social skills in a way individual sports do not.

Which of the following would be the best first sentence for an essay about texting while driving?

Texting while driving is now the leading cause of teen deaths.

Which of the following thesis statements needs to be revised?

The joy of strolling in a well-tended garden. Reason: This needs to be revised to include a verb. Like any complete sentence, a thesis needs to have a subject and verb.

Which statement about sentence variety is correct?

The sentences in a paragraph should vary in length and style. Reason: Varying the length and complexity of one's sentences will create greater interest for the reader.

Which of the following statements always applies to the sentences of a good paragraph?

They all relate to one idea.

What is the advantage of using short sentences?

They can enable you to strongly emphasize a main point. Reason: A short, simple sentence can help to emphasize a key point.

Which of the following best describes an essay?

a group of paragraphs related to a particular subject or theme

Which of the following are effective ways to end a concluding paragraph?

a powerful idea an inspiring quotation a thought-provoking question

Which two of the following does a complete sentence have to have? Select all that apply.

a subject Reason: The subject, part of every complete sentence, is the topic of the sentence. a verb Reason: The verb, part of every complete sentence, is the action of the sentence.

What are the two main components of a topic sentence?

a topic an opinion about the topic

What are the three parts of a typical paragraph?

a topic sentence a concluding sentence main points with supporting sentences

What part of speech shows an action or a state of being?

a verb Reason: Verbs show either action (e.g., jump, surfed) or states of being (e.g., is, was).

Where should the thesis statement usually be located?

after the attention-getter Reason: The thesis should appear in the first or second paragraph, depending on the length of the attention-getter and the length of the essay.

Which of the following are good attention-getting techniques for introductions? Select all that apply.

telling a dramatic story related to the topic sharing an inspirational quotation providing relevant and surprising statistics

What is the relationship between the thesis statement and the concluding paragraph of an essay?

the concluding paragraph should include the thesis statement, but it should be restated in a new way.

What is the advantage of using long sentences?

they can enable you to illustrate the relationships among ideas. Reason: A longer and more complex sentence can show relationships among ideas.

What is the purpose of the body paragraphs in an essay?

to develop the main points

What are the three functions of a concluding paragraph?

to end with a memorable thought to summarize the main points to reword the thesis statement

What is the function of the transitional phrase for instance?

to give examples Reason: For instance signals that what follows will be an example of what preceded.

Which of the following is the main purpose of a thesis statement?

to identify the main idea of the whole essay

What is the function of the transition word however?

to show contrast

The concluding sentence of a paragraph is a reworking of the

topic sentence.

Which of the following are usually included in a body paragraph? Select all that apply.

transitional words and phrases a topic sentence supporting sentences

Luis completed a writing attitude survey. Which one of the following was he hoping to learn from it?

what he feels, believes, and does in connection with writing