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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. His article was supposed to be about his impressions of salt caravans, why didn't he write more about this?

2. How much information should a writer provide to his or her readers?

3. Why is jargon, or corporate speak, so prevalent in business writing?

4. What is a misconception about writers and scientists?

5. What is the best way to add humor into writing?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do critics need to be well versed in the art they are writing about?

2. What needs to be described in a travel article?

3. Why is humor the most powerful tool for a nonfiction writer?

4. What is a major pitfall of sports writers?

5. Does Zinsser think that scientists can write?

6. Does he recommend this level of pride to other writers?

7. Why should exact details be avoided in memoirs? What approach should writers take instead?

8. How is taste involved in writing?

9. What is a strategy to making sure the above choices fit?

10. Why does a writer's fear of new subjects keep him from taking original and interesting projects?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

What do you think about Zinsser's attitude towards writing, especially in terms of his reaction to the doctor that loves to write at the beginning of the book? At times it feels as though he is all business and no fun. Do you find writing a chore or a pleasure?

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This section contains 873 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample