Quiz ANSWERS: Do You Know How to Write an Essay?

Editing ok

Here are the answers (in blue) to the quiz about how to write an essay. (You can read a sample essay at this link. Free videos and PowerPoints about essay writing are available at this link.)

1.  The title of an essay should

a)     be underlined

b)    have quotation marks

c)     end with a period

d)    none of these  (If you’re not publishing the essay, don’t use any unnecessary punctuation in the title)

2.  The first sentence in an essay MUST

a)     get readers interested  (the only job the first sentence MUST do)

b)    state your point of view

c)     provide background

d)    all of these

3.  Suppose you were writing an essay about your job last summer. Which sentence would work best for the beginning of your essay?

a)     Most people have held at least one job.

b)    I had the perfect job last summer.

c)     It was June 8, and I had almost given up hope of finding a good summer job.  (This is the most interesting sentence, so it’s a good one for the start of your essay.)

d)     My job as a resort swim instructor paid well.

4.  Which is the best thesis statement (main point) for the essay about your summer job?

a)    Most people have held at least one job.  (A fact, and a boring one at that.)

b)    I had the perfect job last summer. (This is a strong point that you can develop in your essay: reasons why the job was wonderful.)

c)     It was June 8, and I had almost given up hope of finding a good summer job.

d)     My job as a resort swim instructor paid well.  (This is a sub-point that you can develop in a paragraph.)

5.  A topic sentence (the first sentence in a paragraph) should

a)     state a fact  (belongs in the body of the paragraph, not the first sentence)

b)    provide interesting detail  (belongs in the body of the paragraph, not the first sentence)

c)     predict what the paragraph is about

6.  Which is the best topic sentence (first sentence in a paragraph)?

a)     Most people have held at least one job.

b)    I had the perfect job last summer.

c)     It was June 8, and I had almost given up hope of finding a good summer job.

d)     My job as a resort swim instructor paid well.  (Supports your thesis – it was the perfect job – and tells what the paragraph will be about – all the money you made.

7.  The most general sentence in an essay should be the

a)     thesis  (everything that comes after will support your thesis. If you’re writing about the perfect job, you’ll give details about why it was perfect: fun, nice people, good pay, and so on.)

b)    topic sentence

c)     conclusion

d)    climax

8.  Effective transitions include

a)     Most important  (A good essay should build to a climax.)

b)    Finally (“Finally” and “Last but not least” are too weak to serve as effective transitions.)

c)     Last but not least

d)    a, b, and c

9.  Suppose you were writing a paragraph about why you liked your job last summer. Which sentence would appear first in your paragraph?

a)    I made so much money that I was able to pay off my car loan.

b)    The pay was much better than I expected.  (This sentence supports your thesis – it was a great job – and predicts what will follow – details about all the money you made.)

c)     In addition to my salary, I often received tips from grateful parents.

d)     My boss encouraged me to work extra hours evenings and weekends.

10.  Suppose you were writing a paragraph about making a lot of money at  your job last summer. Which sentence should appear last in your paragraph?

a)    I made so much money that I was able to pay off my car loan.  (The end of a paragraph should offer details to support the point you’re making.)

b)    The pay was much better than I expected.

c)     In addition to my salary, I often received tips from grateful parents.

d)     My boss encouraged me to work extra hours evenings and weekends.

Click here for free videos and PowerPoints that will help you plan and write an effective essay.

 

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.