Last Assignment

The last short assignment for the course is to write a question about a final exam concept that you do not completely understand.

Your question should demonstrate a genuine attempt to understand the concept and pinpoint whatever aspect of it gives you trouble.

For example, here is a suitable question: "I understand that commas are used to set apart non-essential elements, but I have a hard time distinguishing between non-essential and essential elements. How can you tell the difference?"

Here is an unsuitable question: "When are semicolons used?"

Please contact me if you are unsure about any of this. Also, please bring any remaining questions about essay three. See you Thursday.

Final Exam Content Information

Although the final exam may include any concept we covered this quarter, I intend to focus on the following: 

I. Sentence-level issues:

A. Commas

• Separating items in a series

• With coordinating conjunctions to form compound sentences

• After introductory elements

• With non-restrictive (non-essential) elements

• Comma splices

• Fused sentences (run-ons)

B. Fragments
C. Apostrophes
D. Punctuation with quotation marks
E. Manuscript format
F. Title format
G. Dashes vs. hyphens
H. Subjects, verbs, and modifiers
I. Active/Passive voice
J. Metaphor and imagery
K. Usage: its/it's, every day/everyday, affect/effect
L. Subject-verb agreement
M. Vague pronoun reference
N. Pronoun-antecedent agreement

     

II. Paragraph and essay-level issues

A. Specific and concrete language

• Avoiding generalizations and clichés

B. Paragraph focus

• Topic sentences
• Supporting examples and development
• Sensory details, analogies, facts, statistics, testimony, metaphors

C. Essay focus and argument

• Thesis/claim
• Evidence/support
• Counterarguments
• Types of appeals: logical, ethical, emotional

D. Research, documentation, and integrating source material 

Final Exam Tips

The final exam is on Thursday December 10 at 5:30. Be sure to bring a #2 pencil and your handbook.

Below are some questions (without the multiple choice responses) from a previous exam for this course. Your exam will not be exactly the same, but this should give you a basic idea of what to expect.

1.     Which sentence uses specific examples rather than generalizations?

2.     Which phrase is most specific?

3.     Which phrase is least specific?

4.     Which phrase is not a generalization?

5.     Which of the following would make the most effective thesis for a 1000 word essay?

6.     Which of the following would make the most effective thesis for a 1000 word essay?          

7.     Which of the following pronouns is plural?

8.     Which of these sentences contains a usage error?

9.     Which of the following functions like an essay’s thesis, but at the paragraph level?

10.   By respectfully acknowledging opposing viewpoints, a writer creates what type of appeal?

True or False.  Mark “A” for true statements and “B” for false statements.

[The questions here are from various parts of the course, but several concern active/passive voice.] 

Sentence Structure/Pronouns. Please choose one of the following responses:

a.  Run-on

b.  Comma splice

c.  Passive voice

d.  Pronoun error

e.  Correct

Punctuation.  Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?

            [Each question here consists of three sentences.]

Matching. Select the type of error that appears in each sentence.

a.     Apostrophe error

b.     Incorrect title format

c.     Incorrect punctuation with quotation marks

d.     Comma error (restrictive/intro element, etc.)

e.     More than one error

ab. Usage error

ac.  No errors