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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. How does Zinsser end his travel article that he wrote about Timbuktu?

2. What does the process of memoir writing do for a writer?

3. How does Zinsser create his final products?

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

5. Cliche words should be avoided at all costs. What else should be avoided?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why is there an attitude that certain people are only meant to learn certain subjects and skills like writing or science?

3. How does Zinsser react when editors want to change too much of his work?

4. How does Zinsser feel about writing when a writer doesn't want to? Why do writers have this luxury?

5. What is a major pitfall of sports writers?

6. Why should writers forget about the final product when they are writing?

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

8. Why are Americans scared to write about themselves?

9. Why is corporate speak the norm in business writing?

10. Should sports writers add their opinions in sports articles?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Rewrite the following sentence into an ending sentence and the first sentence in the following paragraph: The car drove off the cliff. Make it compelling. Make the reader want to keep on reading.

Ex: Ending Sentence: The car sped off the cliff. First sentence next paragraph: They all survived.

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

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?

(see the answer keys)

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