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English Composition 1

Final Exam Answer Page

Use this page to help you complete the Final Exam. Note that, for some sections of the Exam, this page lists the only possible correct answers.

1. Using Commas Correctly

For the comma section of the exam, you need to know only the comma rules involving the following:

  1. The "FAN BOYS" rule
  2. Commas with restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses
  3. Commas with appositives
  4. Commas with complex sentences

For more information, see Commas and especially Four Comma Rules.

2. Punctuating Sentences with Quotations

For this section of the exam, you need to know only the rules below:

  1. Rule 1: Complete sentence: "quotation."
    (If you use a complete sentence to introduce a quotation, use a colon (:) just before the quotation.)
  2. Rule 2: Someone says, "quotation."
    or Someone says to someone else, "quotation."
    (If a word before the quotation is a verb indicating someone uttering the quoted words, use a comma. Examples include the words "says," "said," "states," "asks," and "yells." But there is no punctuation if the word "that" comes just before the quotation, as in "the narrator says that.")
  3. Rule 3: If Rules 1 and 2 do not apply, you usually do not use any punctuation between your words and the quoted words.

For more information, see Integrating Quotations into Sentences (especially the practice "Using Quotations" quiz).

3. Using Sources Effectively and Correctly

The following are the only answers to this section of the exam:

  1. Plagiarism
  2. Inaccurate quotation
  3. Material taken out of context
  4. Incorrect citation

For more information, see Citing Sources and Using Sources Effectively (especially the practice "Using Sources" quiz).

4. Critiquing a Paragraph for Errors

The following are the only errors that may be in the paragraph with errors:

  1. Sentence fragment
  2. Comma splice
  3. Run-on sentence
  4. Possessive / apostrophe error
  5. Lack of pronoun agreement
  6. Lack of subject/verb agreement
  7. Inaccurate word choice
  8. Misused semicolon
  9. Modifier error

For more information, see Identifying and Eliminating Common Errors in Writing.

5. Critiquing a Paragraph for Stylistic Weaknesses

The following are the only stylistic weaknesses that may be in the paragraph with weaknesses.

  1. Quotation not integrated into the writer's sentence
  2. Wordy expression
  3. Cliché
  4. Slang (or informal language)
  5. Use of contractions
  6. Use of the weak word "very"
  7. An overused word (not including commonly used words such as "a," "and," "the," etc.)
  8. Reference to the first person
  9. Overuse of the passive voice
  10. Overuse of the "to be" verb

For more information see, “Words, Words, Words, ” Formal Writing Voice, and Checklist: Style and Mechanics (the "Style" section of the page).

  

Copyright Randy Rambo, 2013.