Exam Prep Writing About Readings Chapter.4 2nd Edition

Chapter 4

Writing about Readings

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Good writers are __________________.
   1. reluctant readers
   2. average readers
   3. avid readers
   4. recreational readers
2. Completing readings for English class requires __________________.
   1. a quick skim of all assigned materials
   2. doing as much to feel comfortable
   3. focusing on the literature more than the journal articles
   4. thorough reading and note taking on all assigned materials
3. Essays about literature require which of the following?
   1. To read carefully
   2. To comprehend the use of language
   3. To know about life and human behaviour
   4. All of the above
4. We study literature in English classes because it __________________.
   1. is pure fantasy
   2. reflects reality
   3. is meant solely for entertainment
   4. is pure escapism
5. In literature, information is given in what way?
   1. Figuratively
   2. Literally
   3. Literally and figuratively
   4. Secretly
      
6. Thinking critically is crucial to which practice?
   1. Skimming
   2. Reading diligently
   3. Note taking
   4. Referencing sources
7. If you’re asked to make judgments or to draw conclusions, you’re being asked to do what?
   1. Take a stand
   2. Discuss
   3. Argue for or against
   4. Analyze
8. What are you doing when you’re asked to illustrate or demonstrate how something works?
   1. Show
   2. Explain
   3. Examine
   4. Discuss
9. What is having a firm opinion on the topic and explaining your reasons for it?
   1. Arguing for or against
   2. Taking a stand
   3. Developing or expanding upon
   4. Explaining
10. “The Cask of Amontillado” is an example of what type of text?
    1. Novel
    2. Article
    3. Short story
    4. Memoir
11. Which of the following is/are considered work(s) of non-fiction?
    1. Articles
    2. Short stories
    3. Memoirs
    4. A and C
    5. B and C
12. First person I is used to indicate what type of writing?
    1. Fiction
    2. Non-Fiction
    3. It is used in both fiction and non-fiction
    4. It is not used in fiction or non-fiction
13. If the narrator’s name is not revealed in a story told in first-person narration, you should refer to them as __________________.
    1. The author’s name
    2. The narrator
    3. Anonymous
    4. Jane or John Doe
14. When identifying the author in academic essays, you should __________________.
    1. refer to them by full name the first time and then surname after that
    2. always refer to them by their first name and surname
    3. refer to them by their first name
    4. only ever call them the author or the writer
15. What is paraphrasing?
    1. Copying the phrasing of the author
    2. Expressing an author’s idea in your own words
    3. Presenting something verbatim
    4. Changing the author’s original intent
16. How long should a paraphrase be?
    1. Somewhat longer
    2. Much longer
    3. Somewhat shorter
    4. Much shorter
17. Writing in indirect speech does not require you to shift __________________.
    1. verb tense
    2. time markers
    3. word order
    4. register
    5. pronouns
18. Why is it not good to paraphrase by thesaurus?
    1. Doing so is plagiarism
    2. Doing so doesn’t allow you to comprehend the author’s idea
    3. Doings so doesn’t help you retain the information
    4. All of the above
19. How long is the average summary?
    1. 10% of the original length
    2. 25% of the original length
    3. 40-50% of the original length
    4. 75% of the original length
20. How many of the author’s original words should you use in a summary?
    1. One or two
    2. Three to five
    3. No more than ten
    4. None
21. What is the most important quality of a good summary?
    1. Consistency
    2. Coherence
    3. Clarity
    4. Connectivity

1. What is a thesis?
   1. The main topic
   2. The main idea or argument
   3. The methodology
   4. The purpose
2. What should body paragraphs start with?
   1. Analysis
   2. A quotation
   3. A topic sentence
   4. It depends on the paragraph
3. When analyzing a work of fiction, how many aspects of it should you focus on?
   1. 1
   2. 2-3
   3. At least 5
   4. As many as possible
4. What is an inference?
   1. Expanding on information
   2. An educated guess or projection based on evidence
   3. A belief
   4. A brief description
5. What is the most common problem in literary essays?
   1. Students do not provide enough supporting evidence
   2. Students do not cite sources properly
   3. Students rely too much on paraphrasing
   4. Students summarize the story instead of analyzing it
6. Analyzing poetry places a greater emphasis on __________________ than analyzing prose.
   1. theme
   2. point of view
   3. metaphor
   4. setting
7. Something that happens to cause a protagonist to react is called what?
   1. Catalyst
   2. Inciting incident
   3. Rising action
   4. Plot twist
8. What is an archetype?
   1. A building block of writing
   2. The dominant opposition to the protagonist
   3. The main conflict of the story
   4. A recognizable character trait
9. What is the most popular narrative point of view?
   1. First-person narration by main character
   2. First-person narration by a secondary character
   3. Third-person (omniscient)
   4. Third-person (objective)

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does reading go hand in hand with writing? In other words, why does reading help one write better?
2. What are some ways to respond to what other writers have said?
3. Why is it important to understand that literature reflects reality?
4. What does it mean to read diligently?
5. Why is it useful to take notes on what you read?
6. Why is it important to look up words or concepts you do not know?
7. What is the difference between discussing and explaining?
8. What are you required to do when you are asked to examine or investigate?
9. How does autobiographical fiction differ from memoir? Why is it important to note that difference?
10. What are some changes that non-fiction authors can make that blur the lines between fiction and non-fiction?
11. What are some important clues that indicate a work is fiction?
12. Why is it important to not assume that the narrator using first-person I is the author?
13. Why should you avoid using the author’s first (or given) name in academic writing?
14. Why is it useful to paraphrase other authors’ ideas in academic writing?
15. Name at least two of the requirements for writing using indirect speech.
16. Why is it valuable to paraphrase your own ideas or words in essay writing?
17. Name at least two of the characteristics of successful paraphrasing.
18. Why is summarizing an important skill to develop at university and in the workplace?
19. What is the difference between summary and analysis?
20. Why is it valuable to put the article aside while summarizing?
21. What is the difference between a thesis and a topic?
22. Why should you avoid using too many quotations in your essays?
23. Why is summary inadequate in analytical essays?
24. Why is poetry often more difficult to examine and explain than prose?

1. Why are characters the most interesting element in stories?
2. What is the difference between an antagonist and an anti-hero?
3. Why are many themes universal and eternal?