Deck 22: Academic Writing

Question 1

Which of the following strategies enables a writer to examine each of the elements in academic writing?

A) Analysis
B) Illustration
C) Comparison
D) Justification

Answer 1

A

Question 2

The academic writing strategy that involves showing differences between two or more factors is

A) compare.
B) illustrate.
C) criticise.
D) contrast.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

A literature review

A) is a brief summary of previous research on a topic.
B) showcases the writer's previous research on the topic.
C) is a critical analysis of previous research on a topic.
D) is a reflective piece of writing.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

What is a common mistake in writing complex documents?

A) To write using data
B) To write based on an outline
C) To interpret each part of the question before commencing
D) To write before defining and interpreting each part of the question or problem

Question 5

Academic writers should summarise in order to

A) explain or bring out a particular meaning.
B) provide a brief account or an abridged version.
C) demonstrate a satisfactory reason for an argument.
D) discriminate between two or more factors.

Question 6

The best way to improve the credibility of your argument is to avoid exaggeration and present a balanced rather than a biased view.

Question 7

Critical evaluation involves

A) demonstrating an acceptable reason for an argument.
B) making a point clear through examples.
C) showing similarities and differences between two or more aspects.
D) presenting arguments for and against on both sides of an issue.

Question 8

In academic writing, the problem should be stated in the form of a thesis statement that identifies the issue, problem and gap in knowledge or some other goal to be addressed in the paper.

Question 9

The body of a document contains

A) the structural introduction.
B) the summary of the writing.
C) the research findings and the argument.
D) the elements and the conclusion.

Question 10

A preface thanks mentors, colleagues or institutions who supported the project.

Question 11

Academic writers
E) do not generally read and evaluate what others have said.
F) do not generally seek to understand the main arguments being put forward.
G) use their knowledge, insight and experiences fully in their writings. H. do not analyse ideas to verify or critique the existing body of knowledge.

Question 12

Whatever the type of thinking being used, it is necessary to

A) check if we are arguing from a position of fact, opinion, belief or prejudice.
B) apply and maintain some degree of logic throughout the argument.
C) obtain peers' opinions before considering how we will argue.
D) rely primarily on beliefs and instinct.

Question 13

Which of the following is a technique for sound reasoning?

A) Distinguish between facts, opinions, beliefs and prejudice
B) Form subjective opinions and avoid exaggeration
C) Present advantages and avoid disadvantages and check statistics
D) Support your main ideas with statistics

Question 14

All academic papers should be typed single-spaced.

Question 15

A précis is

A) an explanation of complex terminology.
B) a clear summary of important ideas.
C) an overview of an essay.
D) a quotation at the beginning of a text.

Question 16

Timing organisation for academic writing is often seen as

A) 50% of time on researching, investigating, organising and planning + 20% on writing + 30% on editing, rewriting and proofreading.
B) 30% on researching, investigating, organising and planning + 20% on writing + 50% on editing, rewriting and proofreading.
C) 50% of time on researching, investigating, organising and planning + 25% on writing + 25% on editing, rewriting and proofreading.
D) None of the above

Question 17

In academic writing the key is to

A) prepare an essay question.
B) find existing materials.
C) identify the purpose of a question.
D) prepare an outline.

Question 18

What is critical thinking?

A) Questioning what you read and not necessarily agreeing with it
B) Using a theory based on your own view
C) Looking for reasons for accepting something as being correct or true
D) Criticising the arguments of others and putting your own forward

Question 19

In assessment, marks are awarded

A) primarily for the content.
B) primarily for support for the argument.
C) primarily for literary writing style.
D) for content, the writing purpose, reasoning and style.

Question 20

An epigraph is

A) a list of abbreviations.
B) the same as end matter.
C) a glossary.
D) a quotation at the beginning of a text.

Question 21

An abstract provides a very concise overview of what an essay or article is about.

Question 22

'However, the better approach would be to …' is an example of

A) argument.
B) a linking device.
C) a transitional expression.
D) cause and effect.

Question 23

If an essay describes an object, a person, a place, an experience, an emotion, a situation or an event, it is

A) a narrative essay.
B) an expository essay.
C) a descriptive essay.
D) an argumentative essay.

Question 24

The best essays

A) make links between the thesis statement, evidence and findings.
B) demonstrate clarity, reason and insightfulness.
C) are written clearly, concisely and coherently.
D) All of the above

Question 25

A narrative essay

A) investigates an idea and evaluated evidence.
B) uses storytelling elements.
C) explains a difficult concept.
D) describes an experience or an object.

Question 26

Transitional expressions connect ideas within and between sentences.

Question 27

The paragraph must fulfil the topic sentence to prevent the writer wandering away from the topic.

Question 28

The purpose of an expository essay is to

A) argue for a position based on evaluation, description and logic.
B) focus on explaining different points of view when coming to a position.
C) make a point based on personal experience and knowledge.
D) reveal the emotions involved when coming to a position.

Question 29

'Too much exercise can lead to poor health' in an essay would be a claim of

A) fact or definition.
B) cause and effect.
C) opinion and fact.
D) solutions or policies.

Question 30

The conclusion of a formal piece of writing links the argument and evidence to the original premise, claim or proposition.

Question 31

Transitional expressions

A) connect ideas within and between sentences.
B) express judgement and opinion.
C) are another name for topic sentences.
D) are a form of modality.

Question 32

A topic sentence

A) is the final sentence in a paragraph.
B) signals the main point of the paragraph.
C) supports the main idea in the paragraph.
D) provides examples and evidence.

Question 33

A conclusion is a statement drawn from evidence rather than reasoning.

Question 34

Within universities, plagiarism is regarded as

A) using your own words to state others' ideas.
B) academic dishonesty.
C) creative writing.
D) critical writing.

Question 35

An informal essay that creates an account of personal experience would be a(n)

A) descriptive essay.
B) narrative essay.
C) expository essay.
D) argumentative essay.

Question 36

An argumentative essay requires

A) position, primary research and recommendation.
B) statement of identification, explanation sequences and summary.
C) thesis, different points of view, evidence, critical analysis and convincing conclusion.
D) thesis, main point of view and supporting ideas.

Question 37

In essay writing, analysis refers to the process of examining each of the elements.

Question 38

What are you required to do when you build an argument?

A) Show you have evaluated your side of the argument
B) Anticipate and counter any opposing arguments
C) Shift the focus from your view to others' arguments
D) Present all arguments that you have researched in preparation for the essay

Question 39

An effective conclusion shows that the writer has understood the question and developed an argument to achieve the particular writing purpose.

Question 40

It is unacceptable to discriminate between two or more factors in an essay.

Question 41

Good writers leave enough time to edit well and edit methodically by looking at different aspects such as spelling, structure and content at different passes through the manuscript.

Question 42

Plagiarism is using your ideas or words and passing them off as those of another.

Question 43

An expository essay uses storytelling elements to make a point and is often anecdotal, experiential and personal.

Question 44

Academic argument involves

A) writing on an issue about which you disagree.
B) writing on an issue about which you agree.
C) writing a series of connected ideas that lead from thesis statement to conclusion.
D) writing a series of connected ideas that are controversial.

Question 45

What does an effective argument do?

A) Describes and summarises the information
B) Demonstrates the relationship between sentences
C) Provides evidence and demonstrates a clear connection between the original premise and the conclusion
D) Convinces the reader by providing results from experiments

Question 46

A descriptive essay investigates a topic.

Question 47

The two common standards for citations and bibliographies are the traditional note method and APA.

Question 48

A common structure that works well in academic writing is

A) a three-paragraph structure.
B) a four-paragraph structure.
C) a five-paragraph structure.
D) a six-paragraph structure.

Question 49

What MUST academic writers do when writing?

A) Gather and recall information
B) Describe the information
C) Summarise the information
D) Present an argument and show the relationships between the ideas

Question 50

In academic writing, emotional statements and subjective opinion do not have to be avoided except when they are based on past experience, values and beliefs.

Question 51

An argumentative essay should include both supporting arguments and opposing arguments.

Question 52

Writers make use of evidence in order to refute someone else's argument or create a link between a cause and an effect.

Question 53

The five-paragraph structure includes two evidentiary body paragraphs.

Question 54

There are several levels of editing that can be undertaken in a document. Suggested headings for an editing checklist are

A) first draft edit, second draft edit and final draft edit.
B) structure, content, style, format and mechanics.
C) writing, proofreading, spell-checking and formatting.
D) content draft, structural draft, proofreading and final edit.

Question 55

Rewriting is the final step in the writing process.