Всем привет! Снова вместе с вами Natalie Silakoff и курс подготовки десанта к высадке на Луну. Думаю, вы со мной согласитесь, что самым сложным компонентом письменного экзамена является сочинение. Поэтому над ними мы будем биться с особым упорством, так как время пока работает на нас. So...

Before we begin our work,it’s a good idea to find out how much you already know and how much
you need to learn about the essay-writing process.This test is designed to help you do that.It con-
sists of two parts.Part 1 contains 20 multiple-choice questions addressing several key components
about writing essays.Part 2 asks you to write your own essay and evaluate it according to the criteria provided.

Take as much time as you need for Part 1 (although 20 minutes is an average completion time).When you’re
finished,check your answers against the answer key. Set aside another 30 minutes to complete Part 2.

Part 1

1. All essays should be about five or six paragraphs long.
a. true
b. false

2. The best place in an essay for the thesis statement is generally
a. the first sentence in an essay.
b. the last sentence in an essay.
c. the end ofthe introduction.
d. in the third paragraph.

3. A good introduction should do which of the following?
a. grab the reader’s attention
b. state the thesis
c. provide the main supporting ideas for the thesis
d. both a and b
e. all of the above

4. Your relationship with your readers has an effect on how you write your essay.
a. true
b. false

5. Which of the following best describes the problem with the following paragraph?
Sullivan studied 25 city playgrounds.He found several serious problems.The playgrounds were dirty.They were also overcrowded.They were also dangerous. Many parks had broken glass everywhere.Many parks also had broken equipment.
a. lack ofvariety in sentence structure
b. grammatical errors
c. lack oftransitions
d.poor word choice

6. Which organizational strategy does the paragraph in question 5 use?
a. compare and contrast
b. chronology
c. problem and solution
d. order of importance

7. Read the following essay assignment carefully.
Some say “ignorance is bliss.”Others claim that ignorance is a form ofslavery and that only knowledge can set you free.With which view do you agree? Explain your answer.
Determine which sentence below best describes the kind ofessay you should write.

a. Explain the difference between “ignorance”and “knowledge.”
b. Explain which beliefyou concur with and why.
c. Explain how you think we can improve education.
d. Discuss the evils ofslavery.

8. Which ofthe following organizational patterns applies to all essays?
a. order ofimportance
b. cause and effect
c. assertion and support
d. problem and solution

9. A thesisis best defined as
a. the prompt for an essay.
b. the main idea ofan essay.
c. an essay that is at least three pages long.
d. the way a writer introduces an essay.

10. In the following paragraph,the first sentence is best described as which of the following?
More and more Americans are turning to alternative medicine.The ancient art ofaromatherapy has gained a tremendous following,particularly on the West Coast.Acupuncture,the traditional Chinese art of“needle therapy,”has doubled its number ofactive practitioners in the past decade.And holistic medicine—treating the whole body instead ofjust one part—is so popular that some HMOs now even pay for holistic care.
a. a transition sentence
b. a topic sentence
c. a supporting idea
d. a thesis

11. In the paragraph in question 10,the second sentence is best described as which of the following?
a. a transition sentence
b. a topic sentence
c. a supporting idea
d. a thesis

12. Which of the following should a conclusion NOT do?
a. Bring in a new idea.
b. Restate the thesis in fresh words.
c. Provide a sense ofclosure.
d. Focus on the reader’s emotions.

13. Words and phrases like meanwhile,on the other hand,and for exampleare known as
a. passive words.
b. assertions.
c. modifiers.
d. transitions.

14. Which of the following strategies is particularly useful during an essay exam?
a. brainstorming
b. freewriting
c. outlining
d. journaling

15. Brainstorming typically takes place during which step in the writing process?
a. planning
b. drafting
c. proofreading
d. revising

16. Revisingand proofreadingare interchangeable terms.
a. true
b. false

17. Support for a thesis can come in which of the following forms?
a. specific examples
b. expert opinion
c. anecdotes
d. both aand b
e. a,b,and c

18. Never use a one-sentence paragraph.
a. true
b. false

  
19. What is the main problem with the following sentence?
Newman lost the election because ofthe fact that the opponent whom he ran against had a lot more money for ads.
a. It’s a run-on sentence.
b. It’s not properly punctuated.
c. It’s unnecessarily wordy.
d. It lacks parallel structure.
e. There is no problem with this sentence.

20. Which of the following strategies will make an essay more convincing?
a.avoiding run-on sentences
b. acknowledging counterarguments
c. providing specific examples and details
d. both band c
e. both aand c

1. b.
2. c.
3. d.
4. a.
5. a.
6. d.
7. b.
8. c.
9. b.
10. b.
11. c.
12. a.
13. d.
14. c.
15. a.
16. b.
17. e.
18. b.
19. c.
20. d.

Part 2
Set a timer for 30 minutes.When you’re ready to begin,carefully read the following essay assignment. Stop writing when 20 minutes have elapsed,even if you haven’t completed your essay.

Many people have been profoundly affected by great works of art. Describe a work of art—a book,a movie,a photograph,a drawing,a painting,a song,or a musical composition—that had a powerful impact on your life.What work of art was it? How did it affect you? Why?

Друзья, пишите эссе! И вам и мне интересно посмотреть от чего мы оттолкнемся и к чему мы придем.

Заходите в гости на литературный проект, тем более нам нужна молодая кровь)))

Пользуйте английские ресурсы на здоровье. Кстати, в гостевой, пишите свои пожелания, что бы вам еще хотелось найти полезного.

Думайте по поводу конкурса научно-практической конференции посвященной памяти Чижевского. Волонтеры, пишите мне на мыло, будем вести разговор. Здесь я вынуждена оговориться. Уважаемые студенты, конференция предназначена для школьников только, поэтому те из вас, кто уже окончил ВУЗы или господа взрослые, смею вас огорчить((( А школьники, не забывайте о портфолио, который теперь вам всем придется собирть в обязательном порядке.

Пользуйтесь предложением СУПЕР ДИСК

Ну и подписывайтесь на мои другие рассылки 

В следующих выпусках я преподам вам серию уроков по написанию ESSAYS - не просто непутевых заметок, а серьезного материала, который вам доктор прописал.

А на сегодня это все

Cheers

Natalie Silakoff