Essay Writing Skills Quiz

What is the primary purpose of a thesis statement in an essay?

• To summarize the conclusion of the essay

• To provide a list of sources used in the essay

• To state the main argument or claim of the essay

• To introduce the background information on the topic

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a strong thesis statement?

• It is specific and focused.

• It is a question.

• It clearly states the writer's position.

• It can be supported with evidence.

When organizing ideas in an essay, what should each paragraph ideally support?

• The thesis statement

• The previous paragraph

• A new thesis statement

• A random idea

What is the purpose of incorporating evidence in an essay?

• To fill up space

• To contradict the thesis statement

• To support the claims made in the essay

• To introduce new topics

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

Which of the following is NOT a way to incorporate evidence into an essay?

• Quoting directly from a source

• Paraphrasing ideas from a source

• Making up evidence to support your argument

• Summarizing information from a source

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

What is the purpose of using transitions between paragraphs in an essay?

• To confuse the reader

• To create a visual break in the text

• To show the relationship between ideas

• To introduce new topics without context

Which of the following is an example of a proper citation in MLA format?

• (Smith, p. 23)

• (Smith 23)

• [Smith, 23]

• Smith (23)

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.1

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

Why is it important to cite sources in an essay?

• To make the essay longer

• To give credit to the original authors of ideas and information

• To show that the writer did a lot of reading

• To make the essay more difficult to read

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RL.4.1

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

Which of the following is NOT a type of essay?

• Argumentative

• Expository

• Narrative

• Summarization

In an argumentative essay, what is the purpose of the counterargument paragraph?

• To weaken the essay's thesis

• To provide a balanced view by acknowledging opposing viewpoints

• To distract the reader from the main argument

• To introduce new, unrelated evidence