Show:
Punctuation
Elements of structure
Clarity
Thesis
Extras
100
This belongs between two complete sentences joined by a coordinating conjunction.
What is a comma?
100
These words make the logic of your argument explicit.
What is a transition?
100
Groucho's joke beginning "I shot an elephant in my pajamas" is an example of this grammar problem.
What is a misplaced modifier?
100
This functions as the "thesis" for a paragraph.
What is the topic sentence?
100
MLA suggests that you should only include this if your instructor asks for it.
What is a title page?
200
"but" is one of these words
What is a coordinating conjunction?
200
In a paragraph, this connects your evidence, or quotation, back to the topic sentence.
What is analysis?
200
These little words are tricky because their antecedents may not be as clear to the reader as they are to the writer.
What is a pronoun?
200
The thesis should be your reasoned conclusion. Therefore, it cannot be what?
What is an obvious fact?
200
This seems easy, but it's not, because computers often add extra as default.
What is double-spacing?
300
This punctuation mark can be used to introduce a quotation.
What is colon?
300
This should unify your entire essay.
What is the thesis.
300
All that extra stuff in writing that you want to avoid.
What is baloney?
300
When multiple sentences or phrases have the same structure.
What is parallel form?
300
Ten or twelve-point font is acceptable.
What is false?
400
This mark allows you to join two independent clauses that are related.
What is a semi-colon?
400
This part of an essay could possibly include a recommendation.
What is the concluding paragraph
400
One of the most common transitions inside the body of a paragraph that supplies specific examples as proof.
What is "for example"?
400
If you repeat this in the concluding paragraph of a very short essay, you run the risk of offending an intellligent reader.
What is the thesis?
400
If a question mark applies to (is part of) a quotation that you are using, it should be on this side of the quotation mark?
What is on the inside?
500
These punctuation marks belong outside the final quotation mark closing off a quotation.
What are semi-colons and colons?
500
Writers don't say things; they do this instead.
What is they write things?
500
"Mistakes were made" is an example of this kind of writing problem.
What is passive voice?
500
Male stickleback fish do this "to indicate outrage in a courtship contest" (Vlahos).
What is swim upside down?
500
A group of related ideas leading to or from a reasoned conclusion.
What is an essay?