NJSLA NJSLA Research and Informational Writing 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which organizational structure works best for an informational essay comparing two different energy sources?
- Compare and contrast (Correct answer)
- Chronological order
- Problem and solution
- Cause and effect
Correct answer: Compare and contrast
A compare-and-contrast structure is designed specifically to examine the similarities and differences between two subjects.
Question 2: In a research essay, what is the purpose of an annotated bibliography?
- To briefly describe and evaluate each source used in the research (Correct answer)
- To copy the abstract from each source
- To list only the title and URL of every website visited
- To summarize the entire essay in one paragraph
Correct answer: To briefly describe and evaluate each source used in the research
An annotated bibliography includes a citation for each source followed by a short description of its content and relevance to the research.
Question 3: A student is writing about climate change and wants to appeal to the reader's sense of logic and reason. Which type of appeal should they primarily use?
- Logos (Correct answer)
- Pathos
- Ethos
- Kairos
Correct answer: Logos
Logos refers to the use of logical reasoning, statistics, and factual evidence to persuade or inform the reader.
Question 4: Which revision best improves the vague sentence: 'Many people think pollution is bad.'?
- According to the EPA, air pollution contributes to over 100,000 premature deaths in the United States each year. (Correct answer)
- Lots of individuals have opinions on the topic of pollution.
- Pollution is something many Americans dislike.
- Some experts say pollution might be harmful in certain cases.
Correct answer: According to the EPA, air pollution contributes to over 100,000 premature deaths in the United States each year.
Using a specific statistic from a credible source replaces vague language with precise, evidence-based information.
Question 5: What is the role of a concluding paragraph in an informational essay?
- To restate the thesis and summarize the key points without introducing new information (Correct answer)
- To present the strongest piece of evidence for the first time
- To ask the reader a series of open-ended questions
- To list all sources used in alphabetical order
Correct answer: To restate the thesis and summarize the key points without introducing new information
A conclusion restates the main idea and synthesizes the essay's key points to give the reader a sense of closure.
Question 6: Which technique helps a writer avoid plagiarism when using information from a source?
- Paraphrasing the information and including an in-text citation (Correct answer)
- Changing only a few words from the original text
- Removing quotation marks from a direct quote
- Using the source's exact sentences throughout the essay
Correct answer: Paraphrasing the information and including an in-text citation
Paraphrasing rewrites the idea in the writer's own words while an in-text citation credits the original author, avoiding plagiarism.
NJSLA NJSLA Research and Informational Writing 2
Which organizational structure works best for an informational essay comparing two different energy sources?