NJSLA NJSLA Research and Informational Writing 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When writing an informational essay for the NJSLA, what is the primary purpose of a thesis statement?
- To clearly state the main idea and guide the reader through the essay (Correct answer)
- To provide a summary of all sources used
- To list the evidence in the order it will appear
- To introduce the opposing viewpoint first
Correct answer: To clearly state the main idea and guide the reader through the essay
A thesis statement establishes the central claim of an informational essay and signals to the reader what the essay will explain or argue.
Question 2: Which of the following is the best example of a credible source for a research-based writing task?
- A peer-reviewed article from a scientific journal (Correct answer)
- A personal blog post with no listed author
- A social media post from an anonymous account
- An advertisement for a product
Correct answer: A peer-reviewed article from a scientific journal
Peer-reviewed journal articles undergo expert evaluation before publication, making them reliable and credible sources for academic writing.
Question 3: In an informational essay, which transition word best signals that you are adding a supporting detail?
- Furthermore (Correct answer)
- However
- Although
- Therefore
Correct answer: Furthermore
'Furthermore' is an additive transition used to introduce an additional piece of supporting evidence or reasoning.
Question 4: A student paraphrases a source without citing it in their informational essay. This is an example of:
- Plagiarism (Correct answer)
- Summarizing
- Quoting
- Synthesizing
Correct answer: Plagiarism
Using another person's ideas or words without giving proper credit, even when paraphrased, constitutes plagiarism.
Question 5: What does it mean to synthesize information from multiple sources in a research essay?
- Combine ideas from several sources to develop a unified argument or explanation (Correct answer)
- Copy quotes directly from each source without analysis
- List each source's main idea in separate paragraphs
- Choose the most recent source and ignore the others
Correct answer: Combine ideas from several sources to develop a unified argument or explanation
Synthesis involves weaving ideas from multiple sources together to create a coherent and original analysis or argument.
Question 6: Which sentence best introduces a direct quotation in an informational essay?
- According to marine biologist Dr. Jane Lin, 'ocean temperatures have risen 1.5 degrees since 1950.' (Correct answer)
- Someone said, 'ocean temperatures have risen 1.5 degrees since 1950.'
- I found this quote: 'ocean temperatures have risen 1.5 degrees since 1950.'
- The internet says, 'ocean temperatures have risen 1.5 degrees since 1950.'
Correct answer: According to marine biologist Dr. Jane Lin, 'ocean temperatures have risen 1.5 degrees since 1950.'
Introducing a quote with the author's name and credentials (signal phrase) establishes credibility and correctly integrates the evidence.
NJSLA NJSLA Research and Informational Writing 1
When writing an informational essay for the NJSLA, what is the primary purpose of a thesis statement?