This document contains 50 multiple choice questions about writing arguments, using evidence, avoiding plagiarism, grammar, and citation styles. The questions cover topics like the components of a rational appeal argument, logical fallacies, sentence structure, punctuation rules, paraphrasing and quoting sources, and defining key concepts in writing such as audience and purpose.

1. Question 1
__________ are the key points or general ideas you will use to
defend your conclusions when constructing a rational appeal
argument.
Answer Propositions
Reasons
Questions
Bullet points
.
2 points
Question 2
Which of the following is NOT an example of a good cause-and-
effect topic?
Answer The causes of the American Civil War
The consequences of immigration legislation
The reason that so many Americans are in debt
Why coffee tastes so good
.
2 points
Question 3
Which of the following statements about causation is FALSE?
Answer Cause and effect are inseparably linked and together
make up causation.

2. Causation is a type of cause.
Causation helps us explain the actions and attitudes of groups.
Causation can help to anticipate government politics.
.
2 points
Question 4
Which of the following does NOT describe an argument?
Answer A verbal shouting match with someone
A paper grounded on logical, structured evidence
A paper that attempts to convince the reader to accept an
opinion
A full exploration of an issue, considering other's
perspectives
.
2 points
Question 5
When you are given a reading assignment and you are orienting
your reading, which of follow is NOT a question that you would
ask of the text?
Answer Why am I reading this material?
Is it essential to my studies that I read the entire article, or
can I skim the material?
How well do I need to know the material in the article?
What kind of reading does the material suggest?
.
2 points

3. Question 6
When writing a rational appeal argument, primary source
information:
Answer comes from documents or other materials produced by
individuals directly involved with the issue.
can be a real waste of time because it is not as good as an
expert's opinion.
must always be included in every argument.
often detracts from the argument that you are trying to make
because you have to spend so much time explaining it.
.
2 points
Question 7
Which of the following is a CORRECT use or omission of a
comma?
Answer Cars, and trucks met at the Burger Palace for the
weekly car show.
That piece of pottery was crafted by a very influential artist.
There will always be more things to do, so, let's go have fun
today.
Traveling home for the holiday, is so stressful.
.
2 points
Question 8
When writing in the humanities:
Answer one might focus on the study of human behavior.
one investigates phenomena using the scientific method.

4. one records and speculates about the growth, ideas, and
emotions of human beings.
one uses only quantitative data.
.
2 points
Question 9
Which of the following demonstrates the CORRECT use of a
semicolon?
Answer Although Jenna worked out every morning; she often
ate unhealthy food in the afternoon.
Kristin struggled with a cold for several weeks; weakening
her resolve to finish the project.
Marisa was always a good runner in high school; it was no
surprise to anyone when she received a scholarship to run in
college.
Unsure about the quality of the movie; the three friends
decided to go to the lake instead.
.
2 points
Question 10
Which of the following statements about an APA references
page is FALSE?
Answer The entire page should be double-spaced.
The title "Works Cited" should be centered at the top of the
page.
All margins should be set at 1".
The second and proceeding lines of each citation should be

5. indented 0.5" or 5-7 spaces.
.
2 points
Question 11
Which of the following is NOT a principle of ethical writing?
Answer Writing perceived as truthful should be truthful.
The writing does not omit information in a way that misleads
the reader.
The clarity of the writing is sometimes impacted by the
necessity to persuade.
Writing should not be intended to harm the reader.
.
2 points
Question 12
When revising your paper with a computer, which of the
following is good advice for improving your efficiency?
Answer Keep only one copy of your paper; multiple versions
can become confusing.
Allow the word processing program you use to control how
you revise because the program is the authority.
Revise on the screen only.
When you have finished, read through the entire paper at least
once to check the coherence of your draft.
.

6. 2 points
Question 13
Which of the following is NOT a fallacy?
Answer Non sequitur
Card stacking
Funny man
Post Hoc
.
2 points
Question 14
Which of the following is NOT a sentence fragment?
Answer The weeds grew.
While looking into the cupboard.
But has no connection.
Is the best I've seen.
.
2 points
Question 15
Which of the follow is NOT considered to be evidence in a
rational appeal?
Answer Established truths
Opinions of authorities
Primary source information
An over-heard conversation

7. .
2 points
Question 16
Which of the following does NOT describe the author of an
ethical appeal argument?
Answer Sarcastic and arrogant
Pleasant and fair-minded
Decent with genuine concern for the topic
A commitment to the truth
.
2 points
Question 17
Which of the following is NOT a question that you might ask
yourself to gain a better understanding of the writing situation?
Answer When is the assignment due?
Does the assignment require research?
What are your feelings about the assignment?
Who will read your writing?
.
2 points
Question 18
Which of the following is a CORRECT use or omission of a
comma?
Answer His lips were dry, and cracked from the dry heat.
Susan's scratched, broken glasses were found lying on the
floor.
Betty was always a sweet, old lady.
The man seemed bound, and determined to see the wrong
righted.
.

8. 2 points
Question 19
Which of the following would qualify as a question to be asked
before the formation of an argument?
Answer What was the Emancipation Proclamation?
Who is responsible for the housing market crash of 2008?
Which is better-a Mac or a PC?
What causes the cost of diamonds to be so high?
.
2 points
Question 20
Which of the following syllogisms are logically flawed?
Answer All men are mortal; Thomas is a man; therefore,
Thomas is mortal.
No books from Mouse Publishing House were printed in May;
this book was printed in May; therefore, it cannot have been
published by Mouse Publishing House.
All fish live in water; Jewel is a fish; therefore, she lives in
water.
All democrats are against immigration reform; Senator Smith
is a democrat; therefore, Senator Smith is against immigration
reform.
.
2 points
Question 21
A student may be guilty of plagiarism if he or she:
Answer gives attribution to an author from which he or she
takes material.
does not accurately represent a source's information.
documents a source.

9. properly quotes lifted materials.
.
2 points
Question 22
Which of the following demonstrates an INCORRECT use of
APA convention?
Answer The author of the source is not listed: (Anonymous,
para. 13).
In-text citation for a corporate author: (PETA, 2010).
Indirect sources: Smithson has long argued against what he
calls "the downfall of American morality" (as cited in Johnson,
2004, p. 39).
Translated works: (Foucault, 1972/trans. 2010).
.
2 points
Question 23
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of all effective
paragraphs?
Answer Cohesiveness or unity
A solid topic sentence
Careful and perceivable organization
The inclusion of a supportive quotation from an outside
source
.
2 points
Question 24
Which of the following is NOT a question that you would ask
when evaluating evidence for a rational appeal argument?
Answer How credible are the sources of the information?
Will the evidence play a big role in your paper?

10. How reliable is the evidence?
How well established is the evidence?
.
2 points
Question 25
When considering a rational appeal argument, statistics:
Answer are data showing how much, how many, or how often.
are always trusted, so they should always be used.
are always clear to readers.
are always from reliable sources, never from your own
investigations.
.
2 points
Question 26
Which of the following uses of an adjective or an adverb is
CORRECT?
Answer Eating good is always Uncle Bill's motivation.
Knowing her studies well was her focus.
I want to go to see that movie so bad.
He felt badly because of his cold.
.
2 points
Question 27
Which of the following adjective or adverb double comparisons
is CORRECT?
Answer He was the most smartest man I ever knew.
Lindsey watched the scariest movie ever.
When I was in Europe, I went to the most coolest sites there
were.
I was the more littler of my brothers and sisters.

11. .
2 points
Question 28
When organizing your draft, you want to avoid:
Answer creating labeled flexible notes.
developing a rough plan-a list of points in order.
holding yourself to that draft and rigidly refusing to revise.
writing a quick draft to find your focus and pattern.
.
2 points
Question 29
Which of the following BEST describes personal experience, a
kind of evidence used in rational appeal arguments?
Answer The only kind of personal experience is your own.
Using personal experience as your evidence is the only
evidence that you will need to be persuasive.
Personal experience can deliver an argumentative message
more forcefully than other kinds of arguments.
Readers always accept personal experience as quality
evidence.
.
2 points
Question 30
Which of the following demonstrates a CORRECT use of
quotation marks?
Answer My mother often said something like "life is hard."
"When you come for dinner," she said insistently, "we will
catch up on all our lost years."
I was the only one to read Shakespeare's "MacBeth" as a
comedy.

12. He questions everything, often saying "What do you mean by
that"?
.
2 points
Question 31
Which of the following statements about plagiarism is TRUE?
Answer Plagiarism is a somewhat serious offense.
The academic world is committed to protecting ethics and
integrity in the transmission of information.
Freedom of information and inquiry come with the obligation
of academic dishonesty.
Documentation styles exist as a way of complicating student's
academic lives.
.
2 points
Question 32
Which of the following is NOT a type of definition you might
use in a definition essay?
Answer Essential definition
Synonyms
Extended
Antonyms
.
2 points
Question 33
Which of the follow is NOT a mixed sentence?
Answer An idea like that one would be a great situation in
which to be.
An extension is when an instructor gives you more time to
complete an assignment.

13. The reason that I was late getting to your party was because
my car had a flat tire.
These regulations were established to help curb trafficking.
.
2 points
Question 34
Which of the following demonstrates the CORRECT use or
omission of an apostrophe?
Answer These contributions are all hers.
When businesses's refer customers, they often strengthen their
own business.
The childrens' toys were all over the house, even in the fish
tank.
Its such a good idea that we are going to fund the whole
project.
.
2 points
Question 35
Which of the following is NOT a step in taking a first look at
your writing?
Answer Applying principles of good writing
Knowing your discourse community
Knowing your audience and purpose
Annotating source material
.
2 points
Question 36
Which of the following demonstrates the CORRECT use or
omission of a colon?
Answer James and I agree on many things, but there is one

14. thing on which we will never agree: politics.
The three things I like to do at the beach are: go swimming,
pick up shells, and make sand castles.
While traveling through Northern Washington State, we
encountered many wild animals mainly deer and birds.
The train was wonderful: and also exciting.
.
2 points
Question 37
Which of the following demonstrates a CORRECT use of APA
convention?
Answer Two or more references within the same parenthetical
citation: (Phillips, Toliver, 2009, 2001).
Multiple sources in a single sentence: Hampton (1982) often
argued against trade relations with Communist countries, there
are other studies that suggest that these relations are necessary,
Jones (1983).
Paraphrase of a work by one author: Ellison (1952) wrote that
the only means for understanding the place of the black man in
society is to understand that all of the roles prescribed to him
are false and oppressive.
An embedded quote: While Logi (2003, p. 247) contends that
states' rights should remain the center of political debate, he
also concedes that "when a nation is at war, then the focus
should be on that effort."
.
2 points
Question 38
Which of the following is a CORRECT use or omission of a
comma?
Answer I am going to the store to buy bread milk and cheese.
She wants to see the Grand Canyon scale the mountain, and

15. go scuba diving.
Jeremy was often described as chipper, well dressed, and on
time.
They ate expensive food that they could not afford, and had
desserts they could not pronounce, and danced the night away.
.
2 points
Question 39
Which of the following demonstrates a grammatically
CORRECT use of numbers?
Answer Ben has one thousand seven hundred and fifty two
comic books in his collection.
She was born on February fourteenth, 1990, making her a
Valentine's Day baby.
400 people showed up for the convention.
Only 36% of students own their own home while attending a
university program.
.
2 points
Question 40
When considering the effectiveness of your sentences, you
should try to:
Answer include wordiness in your sentences, as this often
makes your prose sound smarter.
ensure that all of your sentences are the same level of
complexity and length.
avoid fragments in all situations, as they are always
conversational.
keep sentence-level parallelism in mind at all times.
.
2 points

16. Question 41
Which of the following is NOT a double negative?
Answer I am not unsure about which was correct.
He was not hardly ever at home.
Sandra did not do nothing for a living.
Henry cannot go with us to Canada.
.
2 points
Question 42
Which of the following statements BEST describes inductive
reasoning?
Answer Inductive reasoning makes conclusions provable, but
rarely makes them probable.
Induction is rarely achieved when a general claim is
supported by specific evidence.
All inductive evidence only makes supported conclusions
likely.
When you are using induction, it is not necessary to establish
the credibility of your evidence.
.
2 points
Question 43
Which of the following statements about working with the goals
and requirements of the disciplines is TRUE?
Answer Academic writers always compose entirely out of
their personal experience.
The methodology of a discipline is the way its practitioners
study their subjects.
A primary source can never be a work of art.
Secondary sources are always works of art.
.

17. 2 points
Question 44
Which of the following is a CORRECT use or omission of a
comma?
Answer December 24, 1981, is my date of birth.
November 9, 1989 is the day often credited with being the day
that the Berlin Wall fell.
She often loved to spend the fall in Vancouver BC.
Send your complaints to 115 Singapore Drive Bickersdale,
Minnesota, 83917.
.
2 points
Question 45
When writing a summary about what you have read, which of
the following should your summary NOT do?
Answer Provide a context for the essay
Introduce the author of the essay
Argue against the source's argument
State the author's main claim (thesis) and main points of the
essay
.
2 points
Question 46
Which of the following statements about arguments is TRUE?
Answer They always involve a direct conflict.
They are always about something that has not yet been
decided.
They always call for some kind of action on the part of the
reader.
They try to establish some common ground with the audience.

18. .
2 points
Question 47
Which of the following is NOT an academic genre?
Answer A blog
Research reports
Literary analyses
Peer review
.
2 points
Question 48
Which of the following statements about plagiarism is TRUE?
Answer When things are properly cited, the reader will know
which material is from the student writer and which is from the
source.
It is better to be told about plagiarism when you do it, rather
than to train yourself to recognize and avoid it.
Misattribution is the word-for-word copying of a source.
Common knowledge is knowledge that people gain from using
common sense.
.
2 points
Question 49
Which of the following is an authoritative opinion that would
strengthen your argument if you were writing a rational appeal?
Answer Your neighbor, Ms. Betty, who has lived in the area
for a few years, speaking about the weather changes
Your fifth-grade teacher discussing for collective bargaining
rights for teachers
A concerned citizen charged up about the recent tax hikes

19. Dr. Phillips, whose life's work has been studying Social
Security, arguing against the newly proposed measures to
change the retirement age
.
2 points
Question 50
Which of the following is NOT an effective use of the
emotional appeal to write an argument?
Answer Using hungry children to make a case about
supporting local school-lunch programs
Using a gaunt, sickly cat as the face of an appeal for people to
adopt pets only if they are prepared to take on the responsibility
Using a college student with a lost cell phone who wants to
call home for an argument about free long distance service from
dorm rooms
Using a thirsty homeless veteran as an argument for why
veterans should receive greater benefits in the U.S.