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TUCSON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT DEPARTMENT
WRITING PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVE # 4:
Applying knowledge and use of research writing strategies such as thesis, purpose, audience, logical argument, supporting information from a variety of credible and cited resources, and conformation to a style manual.
DIRECTIONS: Respond to each of the twenty prompts with the most correct answer about research writing.
1) The opening paragraphs of a research document should
a) Be filled with long complicated words and phrases in order to impress the
reader.
b) State a point of view, position or argument about the subject.
c) Explain why some other point of view, position or argument is not being
taken.
d) Be very short.
2) The body of a research document should
a) Be very long.
b) Explain why some other point of view, position or argument is not being
taken.
c) Be filled with long complicated words and phrases in order to impress the
reader.
d) Develop the thesis.
3) The ending paragraphs of a research document should
a) Offer closing comments.
b) Restate the point of view, position or argument about the subject.
c) Assure the reader that any other ideas are grossly incorrect.
d) Both a and b.
4) The point of view, position or argument about the subject in a research document should always be
a) Controversial.
b) Of interest to the writer of the research document.
c) Be in opposition to the readers’ point of view.
d) Taken from a list provided by the teacher.
5) A possible thesis for a research document on the subject of cock fighting:
a) Thousands of Americans enjoy the sport of cock fighting.
b) According to local newspapers, cock fighting is a very popular sport.
c) Cock fighting is wrong, but could also be right.
d) Though thousands of Americans enjoy the so-called sport of cock
fighting, this activity is sometimes illegal and always unethical.
6) Television has been labeled a "vast wasteland" with little artistic merit. Many artists today incorporate video into their work.
A good transitional sentence to connect these two ideas would be
a) But there is also good family programming if one just knows where to
find it.
b) However, there are currently artistic endeavors to change this
"vast wasteland" into a fertile field of imagination.
c) Yes, it is obvious that television is truly the "boob
tube".
d) Fortunately, many television viewers are quite satisfied to vegetate
in front of their sets while munching on highly processed sodium filled
nutritionless treats.
7) Art is often a reaction against the political status quo. Politicians often use art as propaganda to further their own purposes.
A good transitional sentence to connect these two ideas would be
a) Leonardo da Vinci is a famous Renaissance artist.
b) Doing art is also a good way to relieve the stress and tension that
results from the dumb things that politicians do.
c) Despite this fact, politicians often use art to satisfy their own
agendas.
d) Lines and colors are the artist’s method of communicating thought
and feeling to the masses.
8) Types of support for a point of view, position, or argument in a research document should include
a) Facts.
b) Examples.
c) Quotes.
d) All of the above.
9) Whether for the health of their planet, their fellow creatures, their country, or themselves, vegetarians are setting an example of constructive activism. Vegetarianism may not be for everyone; however, if everyone held the concerns of vegetarians, the results might be more far-reaching than even the most avid vegetarian could hope for.
The above conclusion for a research document is effective because
a) It recaps the main ideas of the paper and creates a
sense of closure.
b) It speaks to an audience that dislikes the destruction
of animals for food.
c) It uses words that have anywhere from two to six
syllables so that readers can relate.
d) Being a vegetarian is the "in" thing to do
in our society.
10) Have you ever experienced the pleasure of biting into a veggie-nut burger spilling over with guacamole, tomatoes, and sprouts? No? Then you’re probably not a vegetarian. Vegetarians are people who choose not to eat meat for political, ecological, biological, or spiritual reasons. These people have changed their lifestyles because of their convictions.
The above introduction for a research document is effective because
a) It begins with a question, then answers it, then makes
an assumption about the reader.
b) It is obviously written by a vegetarian, and we all
know that vegetarians are good people.
c) It announces the topic, presents a clear thesis
statement, and grabs the readers’ interest.
d) It appeals to the digestive tracts of its readers.
11) "The very long horizontal shape of this picture is an effort to give a sensation of great lateral extent." Is citation needed?
a) No. It is a short quotation.
b) No. The quotation marks are sufficient.
c) Yes. Always cite a direct quotation.
d) Yes. All information of any kind must be cited.
12) The stock market crashed in 1929. Is citation needed?
a) No. It is a short piece of information.
b) No. The year of the first stock market crash is common
knowledge.
c) Yes. Always cite information with a date in it.
d) Yes. All information of any kind must be cited.
13) A writer of a research document cites a source when the information contains
a) Important names, dates, and data.
b) Special terms and jargon.
c) Supporting examples and events.
d) All of the above.
14) In a research document, Works Cited should always be
a) On a separate page from the text.
b) At the beginning of the document.
c) On the back of the title page.
d) None of the above.
Blum, John M. The National Experience: A History of the United States. New York:Harcourt, 1985
15) One problem with the above entry from Works Cited is
a) The beginning should be John M. Blum.
b) New York should have the state following it.
c) The second line should be indented.
d) The date is the wrong year.
16) Another problem with the above entry from Works Cited is
a) The colon after the city should be replaced with a
comma.
b) A period should occur at the end of the entry.
c) The comma after the publisher should be replaced with
a colon.
d) All the punctuation should be removed.
17) The other problem with the above entry from Works Cited is
a) The title of the book should have quotation marks
around it.
b) The title of the book should be all in caps.
c) The title of the book should be underlined.
d) The title of the book be in brackets.
18) One benefit of creating a research document can include
a) Demonstrating your ability stay up all night the day
before the paper is due.
b) Learning how to cope with overly-demanding teachers.
c) Catnapping in the library when your teacher is not
looking.
d) Demonstrating your ability to locate and correctly use
library resources.
19) Another benefit of creating a research document can include
a) Employing a method of organization best suited to your
topic.
b) Creating a succinct thesis statement.
c) Employing proper documentation of sources.
d) All of the above.
20) After the writer has shared the research document with the audience, the best place to keep the paper is
a) In the wastepaper basket.
b) Under the writer’s mattress.
c) In the writer’s portfolio.
d) With the teacher.