Introduction & Conclusion
Name the three parts of an introduction, in order
Hook
Background
Thesis
Which sentence opens a body paragraph, states its main idea, and connects to the thesis?
The topic sentence.
Define paraphrasing.
Expressing someone else's idea without copying the same words and style.
The soup was scalding, so I waited for it to cool before taking a sip." What does "scalding" mean? A. very hot B. lukewarm C. tasty D. salty
A. very hot (waiting for it to cool is the clue).
Should you use contractions like "don't" or "can't" in academic writing? What should you write instead?
No. Use the full forms: "do not," "cannot."
An introduction moves from broad to narrow. In which direction does a conclusion move?
From narrow to broad.
The reason sentence answers one crucial question. What is it?
WHY? (Why is the claim in the topic sentence true?)
Why must we cite the sources we use in an essay?
To avoid plagiarism by acknowledging the author's intellectual property (failing to cite = academic offence = losing grades).
"Daniel grabbed his umbrella, pulled on his raincoat, and checked the dark sky before leaving." What can you reasonably infer?
It was probably going to rain (or was already raining).
Which word best signals a contrast between two ideas? A. Furthermore B. Consequently C. However D. Therefore
C. However (the others signal addition or cause/effect).
Name the five types of hooks.
Anecdote, quotation, facts or statistics, rhetorical question, and contrast to the thesis.
A topic sentence is ONE sentence with three essential parts.Name them.
Topic, main idea, and controlling idea.
Which is the correct APA 7 parenthetical in-text citation for one author? A. (Smith 2020) B. (Smith, 2020) C. Smith, 2020 D. (Smith: 2020)
B. (Smith, 2020)
"Unlike her talkative sister, Nora was reticent and rarely spoke in class." What does "reticent" mean (loud / reserved / rude / curious), and which type of context clue helps you?
Reserved (quiet). It is an antonym clue: "unlike" contrasts "reticent" with "talkative."
Choose the best revision of "In my opinion, junk food is bad for students' health." A. I think junk food hurts students' health. B. Junk food is obviously terrible for students' health. C. Studies suggest a link between frequent junk food consumption and poorer health outcomes among students. D. Personally, I believe junk food has negative effects on students.
C. It shifts the focus from the writer to the evidence and uses cautious language.
Why is each of these NOT an acceptable thesis statement? (a) "This essay will discuss the negative impact of excessive screen time on young adults." (b) "Screen time is a common part of daily life for many young adults."
(a) It is an announcement. (b) It is a fact, not an opinion, so it has no argument to prove.
"Lack of sleep negatively affects university students." Which essential part of a topic sentence is missing, and why is that a problem?
The controlling idea. The sentence is too broad because it does not explain HOW lack of sleep affects university students.
Original: "When the committee approved the proposal, the students joyfully celebrated." Paraphrase: "The students were joyful following the committee's approval of the proposal." Which two words changed their part of speech, and how?
"joyfully" (adverb) → "joyful" (adjective); "approved" (verb) → "approval" (noun).
"The city's ephemeral street markets appear at dawn and are gone by noon, leaving nothing but empty crates and scattered cabbage leaves." What does "ephemeral" mean? A. permanent B. lasting a very short time C. expensive D. noisy
B. lasting a very short time (the markets are gone within hours).
Name three techniques for achieving cohesion in academic writing.
Using reference words (pronouns and demonstratives like "this" and "these"), using conjunctions/transitions, and avoiding repetition and redundancy.
"Therefore, schools and universities should organize awareness campaigns and encourage students to participate in screen-free activities to help young adults improve their attention spans and strengthen their social relationships." What type of final statement is this, and what are its three parts (Who? What? Why?)
Call for action. Who: schools and universities. What: organize awareness campaigns and encourage screen-free activities. Why: to improve attention spans and strengthen social relationships (healthier digital habits).
"This shows that students who sleep fewer hours perform worse on memory tests." Why is this a weak elaboration sentence, and what should a strong one do?
It only repeats the evidence. A strong elaboration explains HOW the evidence proves the reason (the mechanism, e.g., less sleep → less time for the brain to process and store new information) and the real-world result, linking back to the controlling idea (often starting with a linking phrase such as "This suggests…" or "As a result…").
Write the APA reference entry for this article: "The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Student Memory" by Hannah Walker, published in the Journal of Student Health Research, 2022, volume 14, issue 2.
Walker, H. (2022). The effects of sleep deprivation on student memory. Journal of Student Health Research, 14(2).
"When Priya walked into the kitchen, the oven was still warm and flour dusted the counter. One slice was missing from the cake on the table, and her little brother stared at the floor, his cheeks suspiciously full." What can you infer about the missing slice, and what are TWO clues that support it?
Her little brother probably took and ate it. Any two clues: his cheeks are full (food in his mouth), he stares at the floor (guilt), and the slice is missing from the cake while he is in the kitchen.
"If students don't do their homework every night, they are definitely going to fail the course." Which revision best applies academic hedging? A. If students do not complete their homework nightly, they will absolutely fail the course. B. Irregular completion of homework may negatively affect course performance for some students. C. Basically, doing homework every night is the only way to pass the course. D. Students are 100% guaranteed to fail the course if they skip homework.
B. It replaces the absolute claim with cautious wording ("may negatively affect," "some students") in formal vocabulary.