Essay writing quiz
Topic sentences, theses, hooks, conclusions and poem forms: check what you know, with an explanation after every answer.
1. Which sentence works best as a topic sentence?
Answer: Teenagers who get enough sleep tend to focus better in class.. It names a topic (sleep) and makes a point that the rest of the paragraph can support with evidence. See the full explanation.
2. What are the two parts of a good topic sentence?
Answer: A topic and a controlling idea. The topic says what the paragraph is about; the controlling idea says what you will claim or explain about it. See the full explanation.
3. How is a topic sentence different from a thesis statement?
Answer: A topic sentence covers one paragraph, while a thesis covers the whole essay.. The thesis states the main point of the essay; each topic sentence develops one part of it. See the full explanation.
4. What is the main job of a concluding sentence?
Answer: To wrap up the main idea of the paragraph. A concluding sentence closes the paragraph by restating its main idea or drawing a conclusion from it. See the full explanation.
5. Topic sentence: "Learning to swim keeps children safe." Which concluding sentence works best?
Answer: A few months of lessons can protect a child around water for life.. It restates the idea in new words. The first copies the topic sentence, and the third adds a new point. See the full explanation.
6. Why should you usually avoid "In conclusion" at the end of a body paragraph?
Answer: It makes the reader think the whole essay is ending.. The phrase signals the end of an essay, so using it in the middle confuses the reader. See the full explanation.
7. What are the three main parts of an introduction paragraph?
Answer: Hook, background and thesis. The hook draws the reader in, the background gives context, and the thesis states the main point. See the full explanation.
8. Where does the thesis statement usually go in an introduction?
Answer: At the end. Readers expect the thesis as the last sentence, after the hook and background have set it up. See the full explanation.
9. Which opening is the strongest hook for an essay about school gardens?
Answer: Last spring, a patch of weeds behind our gym produced forty pounds of tomatoes.. It is specific, surprising and connected to the topic. The other two are overused, empty openings. See the full explanation.
10. In CER, what does the reasoning do?
Answer: Explains why the evidence supports the claim. Reasoning connects the evidence to the claim, usually by applying a rule or concept. See the full explanation.
11. Which is the strongest claim for the question "Do plants grow taller with more light?"
Answer: Plants grow taller when they get more light.. It answers the question directly in one sentence. The third option is evidence, not a claim. See the full explanation.
12. Which sentence is evidence?
Answer: The plant by the window grew 12 centimeters, while the plant in the closet grew 2.. Evidence is specific data. The first sentence is reasoning, and the third is a claim. See the full explanation.
13. Which question makes the best topic for an argumentative essay?
Answer: Should middle schools start after 8:30 a.m.?. Reasonable people disagree about it, and it can be supported with evidence. The other two have no real debate. See the full explanation.
14. What is the purpose of the counterargument paragraph?
Answer: To state the strongest opposing view fairly and explain why your position still holds. Answering the best objection shows you have thought the issue through, which makes readers trust you. See the full explanation.
15. Which sentence is the strongest thesis?
Answer: Elementary schools should limit homework to twenty minutes a night, because young children learn more from play, reading and sleep.. It takes a clear, specific position and names the reasons the essay will defend. See the full explanation.
16. What separates a narrative essay from a short story?
Answer: A narrative essay is true and reflects on what the experience meant.. Both tell stories, but a narrative essay is true and usually states its meaning. See the full explanation.
17. Which topic is the best size for a narrative essay?
Answer: The afternoon I got lost on a hiking trail. A single moment or afternoon can be shown in detail; whole years turn into lists of events. See the full explanation.
18. Which sentence shows rather than tells?
Answer: My eyes kept closing on the bus ride, and my head bumped the window twice.. It gives specific details that let the reader see the tiredness instead of naming it. See the full explanation.
19. Which appeal uses facts, numbers and reasons?
Answer: Logos. Logos is the appeal to logic. Ethos builds trust in the writer, and pathos stirs emotion. See the full explanation.
20. Which is the strongest call to action?
Answer: Sign up for a library card this week and borrow one new book.. It tells the reader exactly what to do and when, so it is easy to act on. See the full explanation.
21. "Everyone in my class has a phone, so you should buy me one" is an example of which weak argument?
Answer: Bandwagon. It claims something is right because many people do it, which is the bandwagon fallacy. See the full explanation.
22. What should the first sentence of a summary include?
Answer: The title, author and main idea. Opening with the title, author and main idea tells the reader at once what the text is and what it says. See the full explanation.
23. Which of these belongs in a summary?
Answer: The text's main supporting points. A summary keeps the main points and drops opinions and most examples. See the full explanation.
24. Which tense is usually used to summarize a text?
Answer: Present tense, as in "Park explains". The present tense is the usual convention for discussing what a text says. See the full explanation.
25. How many body paragraphs does a five-paragraph essay have?
Answer: Three. The five paragraphs are one introduction, three body paragraphs and one conclusion. See the full explanation.
26. Which thesis works best for a five-paragraph essay?
Answer: Owning a dog adds exercise, routine and responsibility to a family's life.. It states a claim and names three points, one for each body paragraph. See the full explanation.
27. Why are the points "fun, enjoyable and entertaining" a weak plan?
Answer: They mean nearly the same thing, so the paragraphs would repeat each other.. Each body paragraph needs a different point; overlapping points lead to repetition. See the full explanation.
28. What is the main job of a hook sentence?
Answer: To make the reader want to keep reading. The hook catches the reader's interest so they continue into your introduction and thesis. See the full explanation.
29. Which is the weakest hook?
Answer: Since the beginning of time, people have eaten bread.. It is vague and overused. The other two are specific and interesting. See the full explanation.
30. What should come right after the hook in an introduction?
Answer: A bridge that connects the hook to the background and thesis. A bridge sentence keeps the hook from feeling stuck on and leads the reader toward your thesis. See the full explanation.
Pick an answer to start.