View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In Chapter 1, "The Structure of Nonfiction Information," what does Foster mean when he uses the word "dichotomy"?
(a) Something relatively unknown.
(b) A narrative told in the order in which events really happened.
(c) The study of social policy.
(d) A division between opposite things.

2. In Chapter 2, "The Ecology of the Nonfiction Biosphere," Foster calls an expression a "bromide." What is he saying about this expression?
(a) It is unoriginal and unimportant.
(b) It is boring and mean-spirited.
(c) It is clever and concise.
(d) It is insightful but wordy.

3. In Chapter 3, "The Power of the Prologue," Foster uses the word "etymologically" to describe what?
(a) The opposites of words.
(b) The origins of words.
(c) The definitions of words.
(d) Similar sounding words.

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?
(a) The tendency of editors to insist on multiple sources.
(b) Journalists' willingness to admit mistakes.
(c) Journalists' willingness to admit bias.
(d) The strict editorial control of content.

5. In Chapter 5, "It May Just Be Me, But..." what does Foster say about offering equal space and analysis to opposing arguments?
(a) It is confusing to the reader.
(b) This can destroy a story.
(c) This is part of fair and balanced reporting.
(d) It strikes the modern reader as dishonest.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Chapter 6, "Source Code," Foster talks about the change in value over time of a reporter's eyewitness testimony. What does Foster call this change in value?

2. In Chapter 6, "Source Code," what type of writing does Foster say relies heavily on eyewitness testimony?

3. In Chapter 6, "Source Code," what consequence does Foster say the rise of the internet has had?

4. In Chapter 2, "The Ecology of the Nonfiction Biosphere," what does Foster call the "second draft of history"?

5. According to Chapter 4, "The Parts You Don't Read," what are the sidebar discussions found in the book's back matter called?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 8, "Bringing the News," what does Foster seem to admire about the Lansing State Journal's coverage of the Nassar scandal?

2. In Chapter 3, "The Power of the Prologue," what are the two main functions of the prologue that Foster discusses?

3. In Chapter 8, "Bringing the News," why does Foster say that All the President's Men is "meta-journalism"?

4. In Chapter 4, "The Parts You Don't Read," what two kinds of notes does Foster discuss and what are their functions?

5. In Chapter 6, "Source Code," what relationship does Foster point out between reportorial presence and time?

6. In Chapter 5, "It May Just Be Me, But..." how does Foster suggest that a reader can examine the author's use of quotes to determine bias?

7. In Chapter 4, "The Parts You Don't Read," Foster discusses tables of contents and indexes. What is similar about these two things and what is different?

8. At the end of "Building Blocks of Arguments," Foster discusses mistakes in claims, grounds, and warrants. He gives the example of someone born in American Samoa claiming to be a U.S. citizen. Since American Samoa is not a territory that the U.S. recognizes as conferring birthright citizenship, Foster says that this argument is mistaken in its grounds. Is it? Explain why or why not.

9. In Chapter 8, "Bringing the News," what problem does Foster identify with creating a point of view for All the President's Men, and how do Woodward and Bernstein solve it?

10. On page 33 of "Building Blocks of Arguments," Foster compares claims and grounds to two people standing next to one another at a dance and says warrants are what "pins" them together so that they can "go steady." Explain his meaning.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,150 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample