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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does a Thesaurus help a writer with, besides finding alternate words?

2. Why is nonfiction more popular than fiction?

3. Do good writers decorate their writing?

4. What does it convey when anyone says he can write a book if he wanted to?

5. What is it that the bad writers mentioned above do that makes their writing terrible?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to the reader when he or she reads cluttered writing?

2. What political period was the worst as far as bad writing?

3. How do you know when an article is a failure?

4. Does Zinsser believe it is important for an author's personality to shine through his or her writing?

5. What does Zinsser make of this distinction of fiction versus nonfiction in the literary world?

6. What does the surgeon in Chapter 1 think about writing?

7. What is unity in writing?

8. Why does Zinsser avoid using journalism as a model for good writers?

9. Why are journalists good about de-cluttering their writing?

10. Why are rhythm and sound important in writing? What should writers do to improve this aspect of their writing?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Writing as well as you can is hard. What has been the hardest part about writing as well as you could for this class? Was it the editing? The bracketing? Hearing your peers responses or responding to your peers? Evaluate your experience in the class and explain whether it was positive or negative.

Essay Topic 2

What are some interview questions that must always be asked? What should a writer know before going into an interview? Should a writer go in with extensive research on a subject, or just show up with minimal knowledge and learn it all from a pro? Explain your reasoning.

Essay Topic 3

How have you heard the Eiffel Tower described? Regardless of whether you've seen it or not, describe it a different way, positive or negative. Avoid cliches.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 742 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample