COLLEGE Cheat Sheet 2026

The 18 highest-yield COLLEGE facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which rhetorical appeal relies on the credibility and authority of the writer? → Ethos
2. What does MLA stand for in academic writing? → Modern Language Association
3. Which of the following is an example of passive voice? → The essay was submitted by the student.
4. In APA citation style, what appears first in a reference list entry? → The author's last name
5. Which of the following best describes a topic sentence? → A sentence that states the main point of a single body paragraph
6. What is plagiarism in academic writing? → Presenting someone else's ideas or words as your own without proper citation
7. What is the purpose of an annotated bibliography? → To provide a summary and evaluation of each source alongside its citation
8. In a standard five-paragraph essay, how many body paragraphs are included? → Three
9. What does the PEEL paragraph structure stand for? → Point, Evidence, Explain, Link
10. What is paraphrasing in academic writing? → Restating someone else's ideas in your own words while citing the source
11. What does 'audience awareness' mean in composition? → Adjusting your tone, vocabulary, and content based on who will read your writing
12. Which transition word signals a contrast between two ideas? → However
13. Which sentence contains a dangling modifier? → Running to the bus stop, the rain started to fall.
14. Which sentence structure error occurs when two independent clauses are joined only by a comma? → Comma splice
15. What does the revision stage of the writing process primarily involve? → Rethinking the content, structure, and argument of a draft
16. What is the primary purpose of a thesis statement in an essay? → To state the main argument or central claim of the essay
17. Which of the following is an example of a logical fallacy? → Ad hominem — attacking the person rather than the argument
18. What is the purpose of addressing a counterargument in a persuasive essay? → To acknowledge and refute opposing viewpoints