View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Does the author believe good writing is the result of an inherent talent?

2. What is the response previous students have to his style of edits?

3. Good writing is ______________.

4. How does a thesaurus help with brainstorming?

5. What are some limitations of perfect grammar?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why are writers fearful to insert their own opinions, ideas, and judgments in their own writing?

2. Why is nonfiction now considered to be literature?

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

4. How much information should a writer gather before writing a piece? Why is it important?

5. Writers are told to study the market before submitting pieces. Why is this advice irrelevant?

6. Why are interviews so important to an article?

7. What are Zinsser's thoughts on the writing profession?

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

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

10. What skills does an interviewer need to possess?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

What is clutter within an article and how does Zinsser suggest writers cut it out? Are there times when clutter would be a good think to have within a sentence or paragraph? Was it hard for you to recognize clutter within your own writing?

Essay Topic 3

Zinsser says that writers should write from their subconscious to let everything flow, then go back and hammer out all the gritty details. How often do you take this approach? Do you agree with it? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 775 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample