U2C2L2: Becoming a Better Writer

Question 1

Introduction

Answer 1

The beginning of a paper or written speech.

Question 2

Body

Answer 2

The main part of a paper or written speech.

Question 3

Conclusion

Answer 3

The final part of the paper or written speech; referred to as a summary; a final opinion reached through research and reasoning.

Question 4

Source Cards

Answer 4

Cards used to record the title, author, publisher, copyright date, and place of publication (city and state) of resources being used during research for a project (paper, speech, and so on).

Question 5

Information Cards

Answer 5

Cards used to collect data for a report or paper.

Question 6

Bibliography

Answer 6

List of information sources on a specific subject; description and identification of the editions, dates of issue, authorship, and typography of books or other written materials.

Question 7

Thesis Statement

Answer 7

The main point of a paper that you try to support through research.

Question 8

Entice

Answer 8

To attract or lure; to encourage someone to participate.

Question 9

Plagiarism

Answer 9

The act of copying the ideas or words of another and claiming them as one’s own.

Question 10

What are the several principles that a writer needs for quality?

Answer 10

• Audience level: write for appropriate audience/level
• Concise: brief/essential only
• Clarity: clear/understandable
• Accuracy: only facts and correct grammar
• Unity: adhere to one idea
• Coherence: clear/logical order

Question 11

What are the two examples of the best way to obtain clarity?

Answer 11

• Use short sentences
• Avoid explaining something that the reader already knows

Question 12

What are the elements of a paper?

Answer 12

• Introduction: enticing part that introduces topic
• Body: explains main points and back up with research
• Paragraph: sentences logically arranged on one topic
• Conclusion: pulls paper together

Question 13

What are the parts of a paragraph?

Answer 13

• Topic Sentence: main idea of paragraph
• Paragraph Transition: transition words like firstly
• Paragraph Content: actual research/evidence; give credit with quotes

Question 14

Explain research and describe a source card.

Answer 14

Research is important for learning and gathering information using source cards.

A source card has author’s last name, verse reference/code, page number, the actual note, and whether you paraphrased, quoted, or summarized to correctly cite your paper

Question 15

Subject

Answer 15

Tells what or whom the sentence is about.

Question 16

Predicate

Answer 16

Tells what the subject does.

Question 17

Fragment

Answer 17

A word group that lacks a subject or a predicate.

Question 18

Conjunction

Answer 18

Joining words such as “and” or “but”.

Question 19

Active Voice

Answer 19

A term that indicates that the writer has emphasized the doer of the action.

Question 20

Passive Voice

Answer 20

A term that indicates that the writer has emphasized the receiver of the action.

Question 21

What are 10 pitfalls to avoid in writing? (PART 1)

Answer 21

• Grammatical errors: difficult meaning
• Fragments: lacks subject/predicate
• Run-on Sentences: 2 sentences combined without conjunction/punctuation
• Subject/verb Agreement: agree with number: singular or plural
• Shifts: change in person, number, or tense

Question 22

What are 10 pitfalls to avoid in writing? (PART 2)

Answer 22

• Shifting Voice: change in active (doer) or passive (receiver)
• Faulty Pronoun Reference: not being clear with pronouns
• Wordiness: too many words that don’t contribute to point
• Jargon: Shorthand only known by small number of people
• Overuse of “to be” or “to have”: lacks specificity; was at the door vs. stood at the door

Question 23

What are two reasons to avoid using jargon?

Answer 23

• Your audience may not understand what you are saying or writing.
• Your message will be unclear when you rely on overused phrases as a substitute for original thinking.