SECTION R : RESEARCH ESSAYS

Your Full Name:
*Required

Email Address:
*Required

1. Select the sentence that contains an error

Before you begin work on a research paper, you need to be certain that you understand the purpose of that paper.
One way of ensuring you understand that purpose is to analyze the instructions accompanying the research assignment.
An easy way of clarifying your purpose is to turn all research assignments into arguments.

2. Select the sentence that contains an error

Primary research involves the use of materials that are directly part of the event or issue you have chosen as your topic.
If you administer a questionnaire to respondents who are part of the subject you are investigating, you are engaging in secondary research.
Secondary research involves reading interpretations of an event or issue.

3. Select the sentence that contains an error

A thesis names the subject of your research.
The advantage of a preliminary thesis is that it allows you to focus your research more effectively.
A thesis names a topic and advances a position on that topic.

4. Select the sentence that contains an error

To narrow the scope of a topic, limit the time frame you are examining.
To narrow the scope of a topic, reduce the number of elements it contains.
To narrow the scope of a topic, make your thesis a comparison of only two elements.

5. Select the sentence that contains an error

The simplest way of creating a working bibliography is to limit it to books written in the last five years.
In creating a working bibliography, begin by consulting general references, then move to more specific ones.
As you encounter works you think will help you, record the bibliographic information for each work.

---

6. Select the sentence that contains an error

A successful working bibliography should include current works as well as older works.
A successful working bibliography must include electronic sources.
A successful working bibliography should include works that take differing positions on your subject.

---

7. Select the sentence that contains an error

One Boolean term that helps you conduct an Internet search is “and.”
One Boolean term that helps you conduct an Internet search is “because.”
One Boolean term that helps you conduct an Internet search is “not.”

8. Select the sentence that contains an error

A summary is a restatement, in your own words, of a passage and is similar in length to the passage summarized.
A paraphrase is a restatement, in your own words, of a passage and similar in length to the original passage.
A quotation is an exact copy of a passage or part of a passage.

9. Select the sentence that contains an error

The value of an outline is that it gives you a map to follow when you start writing.
There are three kinds of outlines: sentence outlines, word outlines, and topical outlines.
A successful outline should have major headings and subheadings.

10. Select the sentence that contains an error

A quotation will have major impact if it is simply dropped into a paragraph without advance notice.
A quotation can be introduced with a signal phrase.
A quotation can be fully integrated into the text of a sentence.

11. Select the sentence that contains an error

An ellipsis signals an omission from a quotation.
Underlining lets you emphasize part of a quotation more powerfully.
Brackets let you substitute your own words for the original words of a quotation.

12. Select the sentence that contains an error

When writing a bibliography card for a current journal article, you must include the call number.
When writing a bibliography card for a book, you must include the call number.
When writing a bibliography card for a journal article, you must include date and page numbers.

13. Select the sentence that contains an error

When you are asked to do an evaluation, you must establish and apply criteria for that evaluation.
When you are asked to do an evaluation, you must establish, through the use of criteria, what the value of your subject is.
When you are asked to do an evaluation, you must convey what your feelings are about a particular subject.

14. Select the sentence that contains an error

A special-paragraphs sweep examines and improves the introduction to your essay.
A special-paragraphs sweep examines and improves the first four paragraphs of your essay.
A special-paragraphs sweep should examine and improve any critical transition paragraphs in your essay.

15. Select the sentence that contains an error

A proofreading sweep should check to ensure quotations and other uses of research sources have been handled correctly.
A proofreading sweep should focus exclusively on spelling and grammatical errors.
A proofreading sweep should ensure your essay has correctly observed the research essay formats for the discipline you are writing it for.

Fill in the blank in each of the following questions

16. When you are defining the scope of an assignment, you are defining its ___________.

breadth and range
intended audience
purpose

17. When you are asked to write a comparison essay, you search for ___________.

similarities
differences
similarities and differences

18. Secondary research requires you to read ___________.

original documents
interpretations of a subject
hard copy of Internet sources

19. A Boolean term is ___________.

a mathematics formula
a specialized term for Internet seaching
a grammar term

20. Reviewing the preface of a book, its table of contents, and its concluding paragraphs are tasks you would do when ___________ a reference.

previewing
skimming
taking notes on

21. A note that contains a shortened version of a passage is called a ___________.

summary
paraphrase
quotation

22. An outline that uses key words or phrases for its topics and subtopics is a ___________ outline.

topical
sentence
paragraph

23. A drafting technique that focuses in on one part of your essay at a time is called

freewriting
outlining
sectioning

24. In MLA format, a short quotation is one that is ___________.

fewer than five lines
fewer than forty words
three lines or less in its original form

25. When you use an ellipsis in a quotation, you show that your quotation omits ___________ from the original passage.

a word
any number of words
a phrase

26. A development sweep is an edit that focuses on improving ___________.

the support for your claims in each paragraph
the logical links between paragraphs
the relevance of each paragraph to your thesis

27. A successful conclusion must ___________.

include a new point
include a quotation
include a summary of your main points

28. If an assigment includes the terms “account for,” you must employ ___________.

synthesis
casual analysis
definition

29. One way to investigate what a research assignment is asking you to do is to examine carefully the verbs used in the assignment instructions.

true
false

30. A thesis names your topic and gives some background on that topic.

true
false

31. When conducting research, it is best to begin with narrower references and then move on to general references.

true
false

32. The quickest way to search a library’s holdings is to consult its catalogue, whether in electronic format or some other.

true
false

33. The bibliographic card for a particular reference that is part of your research need include only the author and the title of the reference.

true
false

34. At the conclusion of the research phase, you must be sure you understand all key terms, understand the assumptions and biases of your sources, and know whether your sources adequately serve your purpose.

true
false

35. If you copy a quotation from a source and it covers more than one page, simply note the page number where the quotation concludes.

true
false

36. A sentence outline is a more complete outline than a topical outline.

true
false

37. If you use a segmenting approach to your drafting, you can begin with the early, middle, or late part of your research essay.

true
false

38. You should not proceed with your drafting until you have written a finished version of what you think will be your introduction to your essay.

true
false

39. “Acknowledges,” “contends,” “asserts,” and “indicates” are verbs used in signal phrases that introduce quotations.

true
false

40. A structure sweep is an edit that focuses on the level of support and illustration given to each claim made in your research essay.

true
false