Take this quiz to see what areas are your strengths in
writing and which areas need focus.
Welcome to the Assessment Quiz!
 For the following, select the correct answer from the
multiple choice list that is provided.
 Keep track of your incorrect answers—at the end of
the quiz are links for your continued improvement.
 Good luck!
Assessment Quiz
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Thesis
Statements
Academic
Tone
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$400
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$500
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Punctuation
Grammar
Formatting Transitions
$100
$100
$100
$200
$200
$300
Click here to end the quiz
Punctuation for $100
 In the following
sentence, where is the
error in the
punctuation?
A. “to the convention, we
gathered for”
B. “at Cracker Barrel by
the Manassas”
 After driving to the
convention we gathered
for lunch at Cracker
Barrel, by the Manassas
exit, and enjoyed each
other’s company.
C. “the Manassas exit and
enjoyed”
D. No errors
Correct!
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to the question
Punctuation for $200
 Which of the given
sentences on the right
properly uses
punctuation?
A. “After the games”, said
Rich, “we are going for
ice cream”.
B. Sally said, “Blue is the
best color”!
C. “Marie,” announced Tom,
“I’m home!”
D. No errors
Punctuation for $300
 Which of the following
sentences improperly
uses the colon?
A. I have one word for you:
dynamic.
B. Bring the following:
paper, pens, tape,
scissors, and staples.
C. Steve said: “Return
tomorrow.”
D. No errors
Punctuation for $400
 Which of the following
sentences improperly
uses the semicolon?
A. Rick brought the punch;
and cookies.
B. We enjoyed the movie; I
may buy it on DVD.
C. We visited Portland,
Oregon; Boston,
Massachusetts; and Las
Vegas, Nevada.
D. No errors
Punctuation for $500
 Which of the following is
NOT a rule for proper
comma usage in the
English language?
A. To join two complete
thoughts with a
conjunction
B. To separate items in a
series (a list)
C. When using direct
address
D. To join two complete
thoughts without a
conjunction
Grammar for $100
 In the following
sentence, where is the
A. approaching, but did
nothing
error in grammar?
B. nothing to completed
 The student knew that
the deadline was
approaching, but does
nothing to complete
the assignment.
the
C. student knew which
the deadline
D. No error
Grammar for $200
 Which of the verb
tenses listed on the
right is incorrect?
A. stink, stank, stunk
B. eat, ate, have eaten
C. sleep, slept, have slept
D. No error
Grammar for $300
 Which of the verbs
listed on the right is an
irregular verb?
A. cook
B. sing
C. study
D. call
Grammar for $400
 Which of the sentences
on the right is
incorrect?
A. The weather is sunny.
B. The group of geese is
flying overhead.
C. Calling nominees is
sometimes time
consuming.
D. Playing pianos are fun!
Grammar for $500
 Which of the sentences
on the right is correct?
A. We exchange gifts on
the Christmas Day.
B. Give the book to Kelley.
C. The figurine in the
shelf is an antique.
D. The apple green was
delicious!
Formatting for $100
 In the following
sentence, identify the
incorrect
capitalization from
the words in bold:
 During July,
Americans celebrate
the Birthday of their
nation.
A. July
B. Americans
C. Birthday
D. nation
Formatting for $200
 Which of the rules on
the right for using
A. When listing an article
title
italics is incorrect?
B. When using a foreign
word
C. When adding
emphasis to a word
D. When naming a boat
or ship
Formatting for $300
 Which of the rules on
the right for using
quotation marks is
incorrect?
A. To list a poem title
B. To quote directly
C. To identify the title of a
book
D. To replace “air quotes”
in writing
Formatting for $400
 Which of the sentences
on the right uses
incorrect italics?
A. We saw The Dark Knight
Rises at the midnight
premiere.
B. The Niña was part of
Columbus’ fleet.
C. Wilde’s The Picture of
Dorian Gray contains
much symbolism.
D. Tim’s article, Downtown
Downton, was published
in 2011.
Formatting for $500
 Which of the sentences
on the right uses
improper
capitalization?
A. Mr. and Mrs. Howell
visited the island.
B. I read A Raisin In The
Sun over the break.
C. Gene, the president of
the club, recently
promoted Carmen.
D. I asked Grandma to bake
some cookies with me.
Transitions for $100
 Choose a transition
from the right that
combines the
sentences below:
 The Weather Channel
was predicting snow.
 Michael went to the
grocery store.
A. however
B. because
C. so
D. or
Transitions for $200
 Choose the best
transition from the
right that signals the
beginning of the
concluding paragraph
of an essay.
A. All in all,…
B. In conclusion,…
C. To sum up,…
D. It is apparent that…
Transitions for $300
 Choose the best
transition from the
right that connects two
paragraphs.
A. On to point two—…
B. Similarly,…
C. Now I would like to
discuss…
D. Now that that is said,…
Transitions for $400
 Choose the best
transition from the
right that connects two
paragraphs discussing
the same idea.
A. Furthermore,…
B. Building on that
point,…
C. Taking this one step
further,…
D. Considering this, let us
look at,…
Transitions for $500
 Choose the best
transition from the
right that joins two
conflicting ideas.
A. but
B. instead
C. unfortunately
D. however
Thesis Statements for $100
 Which of the potential
thesis statements on the
right is an actual
sentence?
A. Ghosts are known to
inhabit the ruins of the
mansion.
B. Although it is not
possible to create
dinosaurs.
C. Or the rest?
D. With grace and panache,
accommodating the
throngs of guests.
Thesis Statements for $200
 Which of the potential
A.
Football increases
communication, assists
with team building skills,
and improves coordination.
B.
Reading is fun, relaxing,
and educational.
C.
Being a surgeon is a
rewarding occupation.
thesis statements on the
right is a focused thesis
statement?
D. Cooking, training, and
counseling are three
specialties of Chef Robert
Irvine.
Thesis Statements for $300
 Which of the potential
thesis statements on the
right is a clear and
direct thesis statement
discussing the works of
an American author?
A. Emily Dickinson’s poetry
evokes deep imagery.
B. Robert Frost never spoke
to his great-aunt again.
C. Ernest Hemingway
experienced PTSD.
D. Benjamin Franklin
traveled to England.
Thesis Statements for $400
 Which of the potential
thesis statements on the
right does NOT make an
announcement but,
instead, presents the
point of the paper?
A. This paper will discuss
the effects of video
games on teens.
B. I hope to draw your
attention to the horrors
of human trafficking.
C. You will see the process
for changing your car’s
oil.
D. Chocolate can save lives!
Thesis Statements for $500
 Of the potential thesis
statements on the right,
which is clearly focused
for a paper discussing
homeostasis?
A. Scientists were unsure of
their results.
B. Homeostasis is a
scientific process.
C. Nothing intrigues me
more than studying this
scientific topic.
D. Biology 102 clearly
defined many scientific
terms, including
homeostasis.
Academic Tone for $100
 Find an academic
substitute for the
underlined selection
below:
 Author Sheri Goodwin
goes on to say that data
collected from Japan
indicates a rise in
production.
A. goes on to describe
B. takes time to say
C. proceeds to say
D. says
Academic Tone for $200
 Find an academic
substitute for the
underlined selection
below:
 NFL enthusiasts clamor
to purchase Super Bowl
tickets because it is a
really big deal to the
sport.
A. super important
B. fundamental
C. really special
D. of upmost importance
Academic Tone for $300
 Find the error in tone
in the sentence below:
A. United States = US
B. Americans =
 Although most
Americans speak
English, the United
States doesn’t have an
official language.
Americans’
C. doesn’t = does not
D. No error
Academic Tone for $400
 Find the error in
tone, that should be
deleted from the
sentence below:
 Identity theft is of
growing concern in this
country, and too many
are not taking
preventive measures, in
my opinion.
A. growing concern
B. in my opinion
C. in this country
D. No error
Academic Tone for $500
 Find the error in tone
in the sentence below:
A. gather everyone =
gather everyone
together
 Ron is going to be
leaving soon, so gather
everyone in the parlor to
say goodbye.
B. to say goodbye = to say
goodbye to him soon
C. going to be leaving
soon = leaving soon
D. No error
Results
 Count your errors; click on the area in which you made the
most mistakes?
 Punctuation
 Grammar
 Formatting
 Transitions
 Thesis Statements
 Academic Tone