Mastering the Writing Process

What is a thesis statement and why is it important?

• A thesis statement is a summary of the main point of an essay, and it is important because it guides the direction of the writing.

• A thesis statement is a detailed outline of an essay.

• A thesis statement is only necessary for research papers.

• A thesis statement is a list of references used in an essay.

Draft a thesis statement for an essay about climate change.

• Climate change poses an unprecedented threat to global ecosystems and human societies, necessitating immediate and collective action to mitigate its effects and transition to sustainable practices.

• Climate change is a natural phenomenon that does not require human intervention.

• The effects of climate change are exaggerated and do not impact daily life.

• Climate change is primarily a political issue rather than an environmental one.

List three ways to organize ideas logically in an essay.

• Random selection

• Alphabetical order

• Personal anecdotes

• 1. Chronological order 2. Thematic organization 3. Cause and effect structure

What is the purpose of editing for grammar?

• To add more complex vocabulary.

• To make the writing more entertaining.

• To ensure the writing is longer.

• The purpose of editing for grammar is to improve clarity and correctness in writing.

Identify the grammatical error in the following sentence: 'She go to the store yesterday.'

• She going to the store yesterday.

• She gone to the store yesterday.

• The correct sentence is 'She went to the store yesterday.'

• She goes to the store yesterday.

What does it mean to revise for clarity?

• To revise for clarity means to shorten the text without changing meaning.

• To revise for clarity means to edit writing to make it easier to understand.

• To revise for clarity means to add more complex vocabulary.

• To revise for clarity means to change the topic entirely.

Rewrite the following sentence for clarity: 'The book that I read was interesting.'

• I found the book I read to be interesting.

• The book I read was too long.

• I did not enjoy the book I read.

• The book I read was boring.

How do you properly cite a book in MLA format?

• Last Name, First Name. *Title of Book*. Publisher, Year.

• *Title of Book* by First Name Last Name, Publisher, Year.

• Last Name, *Title of Book*, Year, Publisher.

• First Name Last Name, *Title of Book*, Year, Publisher.

What is the difference between a primary and secondary source?

• Primary sources are always digital; secondary sources are always print.

• Primary sources are original materials; secondary sources analyze or interpret those materials.

• Primary sources are summaries; secondary sources are detailed accounts.

• Primary sources are outdated; secondary sources are current information.

Why is it important to cite sources in your writing?

• Citing sources is only necessary for academic papers.

• Citing sources makes your writing longer and less clear.

• It is important to cite sources to give credit, enhance credibility, verify information, and avoid plagiarism.

• Citing sources is optional if you have a strong opinion.