Stylebook Reading Check Quiz: Picking A Topic

2.

At what point in the topic selection process should you freewrite and use journalist’s questions?

Before you have selected a topic
While you are narrowing your topic
Once you have selected a topic
After you write a zero draft
After you have written your proposal

Correct Answer

A. Once you have selected a topic

Explanation

Once you have selected a topic, you should freewrite and use journalist's questions. This is because freewriting and using journalist's questions can help you generate ideas, gather information, and organize your thoughts about the chosen topic. It allows you to explore different angles, perspectives, and potential subtopics related to the main topic, which can be helpful in developing a comprehensive and well-structured piece of writing. Therefore, it is recommended to use these techniques after selecting a topic to enhance the quality and depth of your writing.

Rate this question:

3.

When __________________________, you write nonstop for ten to fifteen minutes on a topic to explore what you already know and to discover areas you would like to learn more about.

Tree diagramming
Idea Mapping
Explore writing
Freewriting
Clustering

Correct Answer

A. Freewriting

Explanation

Freewriting is a technique where you write continuously for a set period of time, usually 10 to 15 minutes, without worrying about grammar, spelling, or punctuation. The purpose of freewriting is to explore your thoughts on a particular topic, allowing your ideas to flow freely without any constraints. It helps you discover what you already know about the topic and identify areas where you need more information or want to learn more. This technique encourages creativity and can be a useful tool for brainstorming and generating ideas.

Rate this question:

4.

Classical rhetoricians used four broad questions to explore topics: questions of fact, value, definition, and _________________.

Focus
Nature
Ideas
Policy
Rhetoric

Correct Answer

A. Policy

Explanation

Classical rhetoricians used four broad questions to explore topics: questions of fact, value, definition, and policy. These questions helped them analyze and understand different aspects of a topic. While questions of fact dealt with determining the truth or falsehood of a statement, questions of value focused on assessing the worth or importance of something. Questions of definition aimed to clarify the meaning or boundaries of a concept. Finally, questions of policy involved discussing the best course of action or decision to be taken regarding a particular issue.

Rate this question:

5.

Questions of value…

Ask you to make a judgment
Allow you to consider specific courses of action
Interpret facts and place them in a larger context
Involve things already known about your topic
None of the above

Correct Answer

A. Ask you to make a judgment

Explanation

Questions of value ask you to make a judgment. These types of questions require you to evaluate and assess something based on your personal beliefs, opinions, or values. They often involve subjective reasoning and do not have a single correct answer. Instead, they allow for different perspectives and interpretations. By making a judgment, you are expressing your viewpoint and providing a subjective assessment of the given topic or situation.

Rate this question:

6.

Suppose you were using the four broad questions to investigate whether the fashion industry's use of thin models in advertising indirectly encourages eating disorders among young women. You formulate the question: Is it ethical for fashion designers to display their clothes on models who are much thinner than most women can ever be?This is a question of:

Value
Definition
Fact
Nature
Policy

Correct Answer

A. Value

Explanation

The question is categorized as a value question because it asks about the ethical aspect of displaying clothes on thin models. It is not a question of fact, definition, nature, or policy, as it does not seek to establish a factual statement, define a term, describe the nature of something, or propose a specific course of action. Instead, it delves into the subjective realm of ethics and personal values.

Rate this question:

7.

A __________________________ or trial run of a paper will get the creative juices flowing and help you to organize your thoughts.

Freewrite
Zero Draft
First Draft
Journal
Tree diagram

Correct Answer

A. Zero Draft

Explanation

A zero draft is a preliminary version of a paper that allows the writer to freely express their ideas without worrying about structure or grammar. It is a starting point that helps to generate ideas and organize thoughts before creating a more polished first draft. By engaging in a zero draft, the writer can let their creativity flow and explore different possibilities for their paper.

Rate this question:

8.

Which of the following is NOT part of exploring and developing a topic:

Visiting your school's writing center
Talking to others about your topic
Reading
Looking at your topic from different perspectives
Writing a proposal

Correct Answer

A. Writing a proposal

Explanation

Writing a proposal is not part of exploring and developing a topic. Exploring and developing a topic involves activities such as visiting a writing center for guidance, discussing the topic with others to gain different perspectives, reading relevant materials to gather information, and looking at the topic from different angles. However, writing a proposal is a separate task that comes after the exploration and development phase, where one outlines their research plan or project proposal based on the topic they have already explored.

Rate this question:

9.

Writing a topic proposal includes all of the following EXCEPT:

Identifying/defining your topic
Indicating what kind of supporting material you will use
Articulating a working thesis
Developing a conclusion
Briefly analyzing your writing situation

Correct Answer

A. Developing a conclusion

Explanation

Developing a conclusion is not included in writing a topic proposal because a topic proposal focuses on introducing and outlining a topic, rather than providing a conclusion or final thoughts. The purpose of a topic proposal is to identify and define the topic, indicate the supporting material that will be used, articulate a working thesis, and briefly analyze the writing situation. The conclusion is typically reserved for the final section of a full essay or research paper, where the main points are summarized and a final thought or recommendation is provided.

Rate this question:

10.

Ms. Findlay wants to help you anyway she can during the research process and she hopes that you will put forth your very best effort!

Of Course!
Perhaps
....zzzzzzz......
What?
No way!

Correct Answer

A. Of Course!

Explanation

The given correct answer is "Of Course!" This response indicates a positive and enthusiastic attitude towards Ms. Findlay's offer to help during the research process. It shows willingness and eagerness to receive assistance and suggests that the person is motivated to put in their best effort.

Rate this question:

Stylebook Reading Check Quiz: Picking A Topic

The BP Stylebook suggests narrowing your research topic by:

Quiz Preview

At what point in the topic selection process should you freewrite and use journalist’s questions?

When __________________________, you write nonstop for ten to fifteen minutes on a topic to explore what you already know and to discover areas you would like to learn more about.

Classical rhetoricians used four broad questions to explore topics: questions of fact, value, definition, and _________________.

Questions of value…

A __________________________ or trial run of a paper will get the creative juices flowing and help you to organize your thoughts.

Which of the following is NOT part of exploring and developing a topic:

Writing a topic proposal includes all of the following EXCEPT:

Ms. Findlay wants to help you anyway she can during the research process and she hopes that you will put forth your very best effort!