Writing Excellence Flashcards
7 cards from real TMU practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Writing Excellence flashcards as text
Which sentence best demonstrates precise, specific word choice?
Answer: The Category 3 hurricane destroyed 200 homes and flooded 15 city blocks.
Precise writing uses specific, concrete details (Category 3, 200 homes, 15 blocks) rather than vague language.
In a research essay, what is the main difference between a primary and a secondary source?
Answer: Primary sources are original materials; secondary sources analyze or interpret primary sources
Primary sources are firsthand accounts or original data (e.g., interviews, experiments), while secondary sources interpret or analyze those primary sources.
Which revision eliminates wordiness from the sentence: 'Due to the fact that it was raining, the game was cancelled'?
Answer: Because it rained, the game was cancelled.
'Because' directly replaces the wordy phrase 'due to the fact that,' making the sentence more concise without changing its meaning.
What does an abstract in a formal academic paper typically include?
Answer: A brief summary of the paper's purpose, methods, findings, and conclusions
An abstract is a concise overview (usually 150–250 words) that summarizes the research purpose, methodology, results, and conclusions.
Which organizational pattern is most appropriate for a process analysis essay?
Answer: Chronological order, explaining steps in the sequence they occur
Process analysis essays explain how something works or is done, making sequential/chronological order the most logical structure.
A student writes: 'The committee decided to not immediately approve the proposal.' What style issue is present?
Answer: A split infinitive ('to not immediately approve')
A split infinitive occurs when an adverb is placed between 'to' and the verb; while acceptable in modern usage, it is often flagged in formal academic writing.
Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?
Answer: The deadline passed; however, the professor granted an extension.
Semicolons correctly join two independent clauses; 'however' used as a conjunctive adverb after a semicolon is proper punctuation.