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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Part III: Chapter 11 Nonfiction as Literature.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What happens when a product of writing is never read?
(a) It becomes worthless and a waste of good time.
(b) It gets categorized under the bad books section.
(c) It gets burned.
(d) The author's reputation is harmed.

2. How can uncluttered writing help fiction?
(a) It keeps books smaller and people like smaller books.
(b) It highlights the impotant parts of the story.
(c) It keeps the meaning of the story clear and the prose worth the reader's time.
(d) It keeps people's attention longer.

3. What does Zissner use to highlight clutter in his students' writing?
(a) Brackets
(b) Underlines.
(c) Stars.
(d) Highlighter.

4. Does skipping grammar check save a writer time?
(a) No, they have to do line edits anyways to check grammar.
(b) Yes. It is uneccessary since the editor can check grammer.
(c) No. It harms the writer, and makes more work for them and the editors.
(d) Yes, it is one less thing the writer has to do.

5. Who are two authors that Zissner admires for solid writing and ornamentation?
(a) Virginia Woolfe and Sylvia Plath.
(b) Normal Mailer and Virginia Wolfe.
(c) Norman Mailer and Tom Wolfe.
(d) Sylvia Plath and Jane Austen.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why is consistency in verb tense so important?

2. What has literature transformed into?

3. What tense does Zissner recommend when starting a new piece?

4. Why does he recommend starting in the preferred tense?

5. What is a common problem with nonfiction writers?

(see the answer key)

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