The Writing Process, Part 1
Tips and Tricks
Examination Basics
This particular examination will start you out small, with four short-answer questions and two paragraphs. As you move through the writing assignments, the requested responses will become longer and more involved, so you want to be sure you master the skills in this unit before moving on to the next.
Let's get started!
Question 1 - 10 points
Part A asks you to identify and write out the topic sentence of the given paragraph.
Part B asks you to identify and write out the sentence that is unrelated to the topic and can be eliminated.
(Remember to use the key words in the question to access the appropriate sections of your study unit!)
Question 2 - 10 points
When you are writing out your four responses, take them one at a time and ask yourself, "Is _____ something I would LOOK FOR during proofreading?" If the answer is no, or if you're just not sure, you should probably revise that response. It's important, also, to distinguish between the editing/revision process and the proofreading process; they are separate and deal with different aspects of your writing.
As with any examination question, you want to be sure that you're responding to the question that's being asked.
Question 3 - 10 points
Part A asks you to to define the term cliche. If you opt to seek a definition outside of your study unit, be sure to cite it (the name of the source is enough). After all, it's never a good idea to claim someone else's words as your own.
Part B asks you to USE a cliche in a sentence that you have created. For this response, you want to choose a cliche and write a sentence that includes it; the sentence you write should demonstrate the meaning of the cliche. You should not list ONLY the cliche. Also, you should be sure you are using an actual cliche... and not simply the word cliche.
Question 4 - 10 points
Before attempting to respond to this question, be sure that you understand what prewriting is... and what is accomplished during the prewriting phase of the writing process. Once you have this understanding, the question becomes much easier to answer.
When responding, be sure you are naming and explaining two processes.
When offering your explanations, be sure that you are describing each process so that a reader who is unfamiliar with the terminology and processes can comprehend the steps involved. Without a clear explanation of each process, the grading instructor cannot assume that you understand those processes.
Question 5 - 30 points
There are a few different key words in the instructions for this particular question. Don't forget to address each of them!
Question 6 - 30 points
It is important to ensure that you are responding to the given prompt and writing from your experience.
Final Thoughts...
Good luck and happy writing!