Writing 6Name:
Ramirez
Final Exam Practice: Writing Issues
The questions on the exam will be very similar (but much shorter). I suggest you study this in a group! The final exam will also include grammar questions.
Paragraph and Essay Basics
- What is the definition of a paragraph?
- What is the importance of the topic sentence?
- In what academic situations may you write paragraphs?
- What's the difference between academic and non-academic writing?
- What is an essay – fact or imagination or something else?
- What are the 2 necessary parts of a thesis statement?
- Where do we usually find the thesis statement?
- Where do we usually find the topic sentences?
- Explain the difference: "topic" and "topic sentence."
- Explain the difference: "thesis statement" and "topic sentence."
- Please explain the “hamburger model.” What does this explain?
- Tell me 4 kinds of supporting details.
- What is a hook?
- Tell me three good ways to write a hook.
- Conclusions usually are one of four styles. What are they? What information do they give?
- Give an example of a transition that introduces a conclusion OTHER THAN “In conclusion,--”
- What should all conclusions do?
- Write an example of a Direct (or Stated) thesis statement and an example of an Indirect (or Implied) thesis statement.
- What is a title? How is it formatted, and what are the differences between a good title and a weak title?
- What is an indent? How do you create an indent on the computer? What does it mean?
- What are the steps of the writing process?
- Tell me some facts about brainstorming.
- What does "MOPS" mean?
- What are Roman numerals?
- What is an outline?
Response Writing
- What are your goals in response writing?
- What MUST you state at the beginning of response writing?
- Should you give your opinion when writing a response?
- Should you describe or explain the thing you're responding to?
- Write a thesis statement for a response paper.
Process Writing (or ‘Process Analysis’)
- Give some topics that would be good for a process essay.
- Give some topics that would be BAD for a process essay, and explain why.
- Write a thesis statement for a process essay.
- How is process writing organized?
- What are the most important transitions for process writing?
- Process writing tells the reader the steps to follow to do something. What else should it include?
- What types of transition word are used in this writing?
Description Essays
- What’s the goal of this kind of writing?
- What are the three most common types of topics?
- What are the two most common ways to organize the supporting details?
- A good description will include the five ______plus ______.
- Should this writing tell your opinion of the good points and bad points of the topic?
- Try choosing a topic and writing a brainstorm for it.
- What special type of word does good description include?
- What are the 5 senses?
- Write some adjectives that could be used for descriptive writing.
- What is “tone”?
- What are stative verbs? Why are stative verbs related to description writing?
- How is a description different from a narrative?
Comparison Essays
- Explain the “point-by-point” method and write an example outline for it.
- Explain the “block” method and write an example outline for it.
- Which method is better for a simple topic? for a complex topic?
- Can you write about both similarities and differences in 1 essay – in general? In Level 6?
- Write 3 transition words that show similarity.
- Write 3 transition words that show contrast.
- Write a Venn diagram brainstorm for the topic “A Chihuahua or a Cat as a Pet?”.
- Write a Direct thesis statement on the topic above, then write an Indirect (Implied) thesis statement on the same topic.
- What is "parallel organization"?
- Should this writing tell your opinion of the good points and bad points of the topic?
Sentence Structure
Underline the subject(s) and circle the verb(s) in the following sentences.
1. Michael lives in North Portland.
2. Molly and Cheyenne are his dogs.
3. He rides to work and walks in the evening.
4. I called my parents on the phone and talked to them for an hour.
5. The young boy and his mother are from California.
6. I ate a sandwich and an apple for lunch.
7. I love cooking but hate cleaning.
8. Computers and cell phones are modern inventions.
9. I asked a question about the homework.
10. I ate cookies and drank tea in the afternoon.
Indicate if each sentence is simple (S) or compound (C). If it is compound, add a comma.
____ 1. My black dog and my red cat are sitting in front of the fireplace and sleeping.
____ 2. She is very beautiful but she isn’t very nice.
____ 3. The evil policeman gave the friendly teacher a speeding ticket.
____ 4. This weekend he will snowboard and ski.
____ 5. They don’t like cleaning their house or grocery shopping.
____ 6. The diligent student studied hard and did all his homework so he got an “A”
in the class.
____ 7. Susan listens to jazz or rap music in the evenings.
____ 8. He isn't done yet.
____ 9. They ate dinner at an expensive restaurant and danced at a popular club on
Friday night.
____ 10. Jackie Chan and Eddie Murphy act on TV and in the movies.
____ 11. In the winter, the little birds fly to my house and eat bird food.
____ 12. The young people in the dirty house on our street always have loud parties
at night.
____ 13. This summer she will fly to Europe and backpack in the Alps or she will fly
to Nepal and climb Mt. Everest.
____ 14. Max needs money for a new car so he got a part-time job.
____ 15. The students love Oregon but hate the rain.
____ 16. The man on the radio played romantic songs in the evening and dance
songs in the morning.
____ 17. She loves dogs but she hates cats.
____ 18. The young boy watched TV for 5 hours so his mother became angry at him.
____ 19. The pretty woman in the red dress read a sad book about love and cried.
____ 20. She loves dogs but hates cats.
SIMPLE/COMPOUND/COMPLEX PRACTICE
Tell whether each sentence is a simple (S) sentence, compound (CP), or complex (CX).
____ 1. As soon as I make enough money, I will retire and live “the good life.”
____ 2. Jack is studying in the corner of the library at the table next to the window.
____ 3. Because it was raining, I stayed at home and read a funny book.
____ 4. He will be in very good shape after he trains for the marathon.
____ 5. If I get paid tomorrow, I will go shopping.
____ 6. They are very smart although they don’t like to do homework.
____ 7. He expressed his opinion to the women, but they didn’t understand him.
____ 8. She doesn’t like alcohol, yet she drank wine and beer with dinner.
____ 9. The woman in the red sweater is sitting by the man with the blue coat.
____ 10. Because Susan is shy, she doesn’t like parties.
____ 11. Since I am hungry, I will eat my lunch.
____ 12. I listen to the radio while I cook dinner.
____ 13. I walk my dog in the morning before I come to work.
____ 14. She loves the Pacific Northwest although she misses Midwest snow.
____ 15. I will go on vacation as soon as classes end.
FRAGMENTS and RUN-ONS
Identify the sentences below. F=fragment, RO= run on OK=correct
_____1. She can do it next week.
_____2. After the movie was over, we went to dinner.
_____3. The people who helped us last winter.
_____4. The bus came my friend got on it.
_____5. Whenever you want to come over.
_____6. I went to the animal fair, the birds and the beasts were there, the big baboon by the light
of the moon was combing his auburn hair.
_____7. The tragedy in New York one of the worst in U.S.history.
_____8. The book in the bedroom on the shelf by the window.
_____9. I want to go to the university, I want to study medicine or physical therapy.
_____10. When you go to school you learn study habits youlearn how to take a test.
_____11. Pets that are cute in the pet store often become unmanageable at home.
_____12. Twice a year clocks are adjusted this causes confusion for some people.
_____13. By studying the nutrition labels on food and calculating the amount of calories and
grams consumed daily.
_____14. Alex explained that because of the cost of postage, he will no longer send Christmas
cards.
_____15. Laws protecting whales from becoming endangered have been passed by many
nations in recent years, some nations, however are reluctant to enforce laws.
_____16. Being very tall an advantage when playing basketball.
_____17. Montreal, the largest city in Quebec, where French can be heard inboth business and
social settings.
_____18. Many libraries are taking steps to preserve their old and valuable books.
_____19. Although the Olympic committee vetoed the idea of recognizing the sport.
_____20. Luis demonstrated how to make tortillas, he prefers them to bread or rice.