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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Section 4: Chapter 13,"On the Stump" through Chapter 15, "Reading Internet Sources".

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In Chapter 10, "From the Inside Out," which claim does Foster make about thesis statements?
(a) An implied thesis is more sophisticated than a directly stated thesis.
(b) No one can truly come up with a "unique" thesis.
(c) A thesis can be placed anywhere in an essay.
(d) It does not need to limit the content of the essay.

2. In Chapter 2, "The Ecology of the Nonfiction Biosphere," Foster says that rules are determined by content, not codex. What does this mean?
(a) The rules for each form are determined by subject matter, not by the medium of transmission.
(b) The rules for each form are determined by the type of writing, not the physical format that is used to convey the writing.
(c) The rules for each form are determined by historical precedent, not by the topic under discussion.
(d) The rules for each form are determined by the purpose of the writing, not by traditions.

3. In Chapter 15, "Reading Internet Sources," what does Foster say leads to better thinking?
(a) Better editing.
(b) Better questions.
(c) Better education.
(d) Better sources of information.

4. Which form discussed in Chapter 3, "The Power of the Prologue," is generally not written by the author of the main piece of writing?
(a) Preface.
(b) Prologue.
(c) Introduction.
(d) Foreward.

5. In Chapter 12, "Life from the Inside," Foster calls Tom Brokaw's The Greatest Generation "pointillist" (179). What quality is he saying this book has?
(a) A focus on individual voices at the expense of institutional perspective.
(b) A focus on detail at the expense of continuity.
(c) A focus on the "big picture" at the expense of fine detail.
(d) A focus on immediacy at the expense of long-term perspective.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Chapter 8, "Bringing the News," Foster says that All the President's Men is sui generis. He is saying that this book is what?

2. In Chapter 7, "All in How You Look at Things," Foster tells us that changing the structure of a story changes its what?

3. In Chapter 5, "It May Just Be Me, But..." what kind of person does Foster say is likely to be biased?

4. In Chapter 7, "All in How You Look at Things," what does Foster cite as one of the main reasons that Americans have historically trusted the news media?

5. In Chapter 14, "The Universe of Ideas/Ideas of the Universe," what does Foster seem to admire most about Neil deGrasse Tyson's writing?

(see the answer key)

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