Composition Exam

Question 1

What are the standard margins for a formal essay?

Answer 1

1 inch

Question 2

What is the standard font size for a formal essay?

Answer 2

12

Question 3

How should a title be formatted in a formal essay? What would it look like?
x Bold or No Bold?
x All Main Words Capitalized? Yes or No?
x Underline or No Underline?
x Complete Sentence or Not a Complete Sentence?

Answer 3

NO bold
Main words ARE capitalized
NO underline
NOT a complete sentence

Question 4

Every solid title has a ______________ and a ________________

Answer 4

Topic and Focus

Question 5

What is the correct format and order for a heading in a formal essay?

Answer 5

Student name, teacher name, class, date

Question 6

What is the correct format for a date in a heading?

Answer 6

11 January 2016

Question 7

For a multiple-page formal essay, what should the pagination look like, and where should it go?

Answer 7

Upper right hand corner, student last name + page #

Question 8

When should you indent in a formal essay and how many spaces?

Answer 8

Beginning of a new paragraph. 5 spaces (one tab). Also indent block quotes

Question 9

In an outline, what is used for topic sentences?

a. Roman numerals (I. II. III. IV.V.)
b. Letters (A. B. C. D. E.)
c. Numbers (1. 2. 3. 4. 5.)

Answer 9

a. Roman Numerals

Question 10

The main argument of an essay (what the paper is trying to prove or show) is called what?

Answer 10

Thesis statement

Question 11

Words or phrases used to help show connections between ideas in an essay are called what?

Answer 11

Transitions

Question 12

The main idea of a paragraph is often stated here

Answer 12

Topic Sentence

Question 13

The thesis statement is generally found where?

Answer 13

End of 1st paragraph

Question 14

This type of essay attempts to explain factual information

Answer 14

Expository

Question 15

This type of essay attempts to convince the reader to do or believe something

Answer 15

Persuasive

Question 16

What are the qualities of a strong thesis?

Answer 16

Reveals topic and what will be said about the topic, creates interest, reveals value, implies approach

Question 17

Name 3 thesis statement styles

Answer 17

Contrast, list, straightforward

Question 18

What should a main body paragraph attempt to accomplish? Name two things

Answer 18

Support thesis, give evidence to prove point

Question 19

What should a topic sentence attempt to accomplish? Name two things

Answer 19

Support thesis statement, focus the topic onto a main idea

Question 20

Name at least 3 styles for an introductory paragraph

Answer 20

Anecdote, background, definition

Question 21

What should a conclusion attempt to accomplish? Name two things

Answer 21

Justify the thesis, review arguments, refer back to introduction

Question 22

When speaking of essays, what does the word unity mean?

Answer 22

Sentences should be unified around a central point or controlling idea

Question 23

(Think Triad) What are the three main aspects of writing?

Answer 23

Content, style, conventions

Question 24

What 3 traits make up quality style?

Answer 24

Sentence fluency, word choice, voice

Question 25

What 3 traits make up quality content?

Answer 25

Ideas, development/support, organization/focus

Question 26

What 2 traits make up Conventions?

Answer 26

Grammar/mechanics, word choice

Question 27

List, in order, the 5 main stages of the writing process

Answer 27

Prewriting, drafting, revising, proofreading/editing, publishing

Question 28

A thesis is to an essay as a topic sentence is to a _____________________

Answer 28

Main Body Paragraph

Question 29

What is the standard line spacing for a formal essay?

Answer 29

Double Spaced

Question 30

During what stage of the writing process would you improve an element of style?

Answer 30

Revising

Question 31

During what stage of the writing process would you improve an element of content?

Answer 31

Revising

Question 32

During what stage of the writing process would you improve an element of conventions?

Answer 32

Editing