Deck 3: Types of Essays

Question 1

All essays are fundamentally __________________.

A) exploratory
B) expository
C) expiatory
D) extroverted

Answer 1

B

Question 2

What type of essay offers reasons to make the reader accept a position, an idea, or a way of acting or thinking?

A) Classification
B) Cause and effect
C) Persuasion or argumentation
D) Instruction

Answer 2

C

Question 3

What type of essay are you writing if you are explaining a scientific division?

A) Process description
B) Classification
C) Illustration
D) Description

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Most English courses require students to write __________________.

A) Personal essays
B) Impersonal essays
C) Subjective essays
D) Passive essays

Question 5

What is an anecdote?

A) A cure for writer's block
B) A comparison of two things for the purpose of clarification
C) A brief story
D) A word, phrase, or sentence formed from another by rearranging its letters

Question 6

When writing in an English class, what tense is recommended?

A) Past
B) Simple past
C) Simple present
D) Present progressive

Question 7

When using description in an essay, it's best to __________________.

A) begin with the complex and move to the simple
B) keep it simple
C) make everything complex and intricate
D) begin with the simple and then move to the complex

Question 8

When should for example and for instance be used in a sentence?

A) In the middle
B) At the beginning
C) At the end
D) A and C

Question 9

A definition essay includes which of the following characteristics?

A) Dictionary meanings
B) Common understandings of terms
C) Etymologies and histories
D) All of the above

Question 10

What is the purpose of a process description essay?

A) Explain how to do something
B) Explain what something is
C) Explain how something works
D) Explain differences or similarities

Question 11

What type of essay explains problems and solutions?

A) Cause and effect
B) Classification
C) Illustration
D) Compare and contrast

Question 12

Writing a comparison essay where you talk about item A first and then go to item B, following the same order of points, is an example of using which method of comparison?

A) Point-by-point
B) Block
C) Brick-by-brick
D) None of the above

Question 13

When writing a comparison essay, it's best to focus on __________________.

A) Generalities
B) Specifics
C) A combination of generalities and specifics
D) Just the main characters

Question 14

In a comparison essay, is it possible to use both the point-by-point and block methods?

A) Never
B) Yes, but only after determining that it is the best method
C) Yes, but only if one is used more than the other
D) B and C

Question 15

In a persuasive (or argument) essay, you may be expected to __________________.

A) present your viewpoint
B) argue something you don't personally agree with
C) define and defend your position
D) All of the above

Question 16

In academic writing, the word argument refers to what?

A) Level of controversy
B) Reason given to something that is true or correct
C) A fight or dispute
D) Evidence for or against a position

Question 17

What is the goal of a persuasive essay?

A) Show how something has come about and what it leads to or results in
B) Analyze literature
C) Convince the reader that the point of view presented is the correct one to take
D) Tells a story, relates an action or an incident

Question 18

Which of the following is an example of a personal opinion?

A) Horror movies matter because they reveal society's collective anxiety.
B) Many people love horror movies.
C) I suggest horror movies are important when they teach a lesson.
D) I love horror movies.

Question 19

In an academic essay, what could you use to support your personal support?

A) Psychological studies
B) Anecdotes
C) Beliefs
D) Alternative facts

Question 20

Academic essay writing mainly uses __________________ reasoning.

A) inductive
B) deductive
C) reductive
D) conductive

Question 21

The inductive reasoning method __________________.

A) moves from general to specific details
B) moves from specific to general details
C) relies on general details only
D) relies on specific details only

Question 22

Which of the following is not a logical fallacy?

A) Appeal to force
B) Argument against the person
C) Abduction
D) Ambiguity

Question 23

Which of the following is an example of begging the question?

A) No cause is good
B) Those who don't support the cause are lazy
C) Three out of four doctors support the cause
D) A good cause is good because it is good

Question 24

Which of the following is an example of overstating the argument?

A) Cell phone addiction can cause neck cramps
B) Cell phone addiction can cause repetitive stress injuries
C) Cell phone addiction can cause brain cancer
D) Cell phone addiction can lead to accidents caused by distraction

Question 25

In a short essay, how much space should you give to opposing points of view?

A) 1-2 sentences
B) 3-5 sentences
C) 6-9 sentences
D) More than 10 sentences

Question 26

When using a dictionary for answering an essay question on a test, it's best to __________________.

A) look up as many words as possible
B) figure out which are the important words that need checking
C) look up words in your essay, not those that appear in the essay question
D) check the spellings of words while you're writing the essay

Question 27

When writing an in-class essay on a test, it's best to use what type of spacing?

A) single spacing
B) double spacing
C) triple spacing
D) outer spacing

Question 28

Unless told otherwise, use a __________________ for writing an essay on a test.

A) pen
B) pencil
C) highlighter
D) fine-point marker

Question 29

If you are not sure what type of essay you're being asked to write, what should you do?

A) Assume it is a persuasive essay
B) Ask your instructor for clarification
C) Double check the assignment sheet and/or syllabus
D) B and C
E) Take a guess and hope for the best

Question 30

When answering an essay question on a test, remember to __________________.

A) Be aware of time constraints
B) Save time for proofreading and correcting
C) Read instructions carefully
D) Take time to brainstorm
E) All of the above

Question 31

If essays are fundamentally expository, what is their main purpose?

Question 32

Why is all writing personal to an extent? Is it a problem that it is?

Question 33

What is the importance of using simple present tense for narration?

Question 34

What's the difference between a classification essay and a definition essay?

Question 35

Name at least two times where description can be valuable in an essay.

Question 36

What is an illustrative essay?

Question 37

Why might it be valuable to include definition in other types of essays beyond a classification or definition essay?

Question 38

Name at least two ways to explain a process in a process description essay.

Question 39

When would it be valuable to include both causes and effects in the same essay?

Question 40

Name at least two signal words to indicate causes and at least two to indicate reasons.

Question 41

What are some of the difficulties of writing a comparison essay?

Question 42

Why should students avoid writing a four-paragraph comparison essay?

Question 43

Why is it important to brainstorm different points of comparison when writing a comparison essay?

Question 44

What can strengthen your argument in a persuasive essay?

Question 45

Why is deductive reasoning recommended for academic essay writing?

Question 46

Name at least two examples of logical fallacies. Say why each can hurt your argument.

Question 47

Why is it important to not overstate your argument?

Question 48

What are some ways to avoid exaggeration in essay writing?

Question 49

Why is it useful to mention opposing arguments in your persuasive essay?

Question 50

What are some ways to distinguish between opposing viewpoints and your own?

Question 51

What are some of the significant differences between writing an in-class versus an out-of-class essay?

Question 52

What are some of the potential drawbacks of using pencil for in-class essay writing? In other words, why might professors prefer pen to pencil?

Question 53

Why is it best to proofread for mistakes after you've written your exam question essay?

Question 54

What are the expectations of a final exam essay? How might you fulfill them?

Question 55

Why is it so important to know which type of essay you are being asked to write?