AA English Composition and Writing 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following sentences contains a comma splice?
- Although she was tired, she finished the essay.
- She was tired, she finished the essay anyway. (Correct answer)
- She was tired; however, she finished the essay.
- She was tired but finished the essay anyway.
Correct answer: She was tired, she finished the essay anyway.
A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined only by a comma, without a coordinating conjunction or semicolon.
Question 2: In the writing process, what distinguishes 'revision' from 'editing'?
- Revision focuses on surface-level corrections like spelling; editing addresses big-picture concerns.
- Revision addresses content, structure, and argument; editing focuses on grammar and mechanics. (Correct answer)
- Revision is done before drafting; editing is done before drafting.
- There is no meaningful difference between the two terms.
Correct answer: Revision addresses content, structure, and argument; editing focuses on grammar and mechanics.
Revision involves reconsidering the essay's ideas, organization, and development, while editing corrects surface-level errors in grammar and mechanics.
Question 3: Which pronoun case is correct in the sentence: 'The award was given to Marcus and ___.'?
- I
- me (Correct answer)
- myself
- mine
Correct answer: me
After a preposition like 'to,' the objective case pronoun 'me' is required, not the subjective 'I.'
Question 4: What is the rhetorical effect of using short, simple sentences in the middle of a complex argument?
- It signals that the writer lacks vocabulary
- It creates emphasis by providing a sharp contrast in rhythm (Correct answer)
- It weakens the argument by oversimplifying the evidence
- It indicates the paragraph is transitioning to a counterargument
Correct answer: It creates emphasis by providing a sharp contrast in rhythm
Short sentences amid complex prose create emphasis and rhythm, drawing the reader's attention to the key point.
Question 5: A student paraphrases a source but does not include a citation. This is an example of:
- Summarizing, which does not require a citation
- Plagiarism, because the ideas still originate from another source (Correct answer)
- Proper paraphrasing under fair use guidelines
- An acceptable practice when the source is common knowledge
Correct answer: Plagiarism, because the ideas still originate from another source
Paraphrased ideas still belong to the original author and must be cited to avoid plagiarism, even though the wording is changed.
Question 6: Which of the following best defines 'audience awareness' in composition?
- Writing in a way that reflects the writer's personal background
- Adapting tone, diction, and content to the needs and expectations of the intended reader (Correct answer)
- Choosing a topic that interests the writer most
- Using technical jargon to demonstrate expertise regardless of the reader
Correct answer: Adapting tone, diction, and content to the needs and expectations of the intended reader
Audience awareness means consciously shaping your writing — word choice, tone, examples, and detail level — to suit who will read it.
Question 7: In APA style (7th edition), where does the year of publication appear in an in-text citation?
- At the end of the sentence before the period
- Immediately after the author's name, in parentheses (Correct answer)
- In a footnote at the bottom of the page
- Only in the reference list, not in the text
Correct answer: Immediately after the author's name, in parentheses
APA in-text citations follow the author-date format, placing the publication year in parentheses directly after the author's name.
AA English Composition and Writing 4
Which of the following sentences contains a comma splice?