Essay Caveats

Essay Caveats

Tips On Things to Avoid When Writing an Essay

Multiple Select

Which groups of words use 1st-person pronouns?

• in my opinion

• I think that the theme is ...

• I believe that the author...

Multiple Select

Which of the sentences uses 1st-person pronouns which a writer wants to avoid in an essay?

• Harper Lee showed the prevalence of racism in the book.

• I wanted to show how racism existed in the setting of the book.

• My hope is that people will recognize the racism that existed in the book

• Our examples included how racism existed in the setting.

Multiple Choice

Why do you want to avoid using 1st-person pronouns in an essay?

• An essay shouldn't refer to the writer, only to the points being made.

• An author never wants to refer to himself/herself under any circumstances.

• An essay should always refer to the author because that is who came up with the thought.

Multiple Choice

Which group of words uses 2nd-person pronouns, which a writer wants to avoid if possible?

• The author's theme is easily seen...

• The writer of this passage...

• As you can see ...

Fill in the Blanks

How do writers cheat on using 1st-person pronouns in an essay?

Poll

Which sounds more confident?

• You should hire me for this job.

• I think you should hire me for this job.

• I believe you should hire me for this job.

Multiple Select

Who is "the writer" in an essay?

• me

• myself

• I

• None of the above

Multiple Choice

How do writers cheat on using 2nd-person pronouns in an essay, but still make the same mistake?

• In my opinion

• As the reader can see

• I think

Multiple Choice

Why do you want to avoid an expansive thesis statement?

• It makes the essay harder to read.

• It makes a promise that the writer has to deliver.

• It creates a longer paper.

Multiple Select

Which of the following statements makes an expansive thesis statement?

• Binge watching is harmful because it causes mental health problems.

• Binge watching is harmful because of many different reasons.

• Binge watching is bad for you because it causes several different problems.

• Binge watching is harmful because it can cause mental health issues, physical health problems, and detract from the enjoyment of the show.

Multiple Choice

Why do you want to avoid a negative thesis statement?

• You can't prove a "negative" in language.

• You don't want your points to be negative about an idea.

• You don't want to promise more than you can deliver.

Fill in the Blanks

What does D-T-A-P-I-P mean?

Fill in the Blanks

In essay writing, what does "T.A.P." mean?

Multiple Select

Which groups of words should be avoided when writing an essay?

• In this paper

• In these pages

• In conclusion

• All of the choices use groups of words that should be avoided.

Multiple Choice

What is an example of a writer using "inexact" words?

• The author proves this point when she says...

• The writer shows that trait when he states...

• The author shows this when she...

Multiple Choice

Which group of words switches verb tenses?

• We are going to the game, but when it was over, we lost.

• He left the game with friends, but they went home early.

• We left at halftime, but we lost anyway.

• We are leaving at the half, but I hope that we don't lose.

Multiple Select

Why do you want to vary your word choice?

• It keeps the essay from being too repetitive.

• It keeps the language from getting boring to the readerr.

• It creates a different way of saying something so that the point might hit home with different readers.

• All of the choices are correct.