Non-Fiction Unit Test

Question 1

Argumentative Essay

Answer 1

To convince you of the validity of the writer’s point of view (thesis) through logic and presented in the order of importance

Question 2

Persuasive Essay

Answer 2

To change the reader’s attitude or to motivate the reader to take action through emotional appeals

Question 3

Narrative Essay

Answer 3

To narrate a sequence of events, tell a story, usually in chronological order. Author may remember his/her past, memorable person or event or even observe the present.

Question 4

Descriptive Essay

Answer 4

To describe a person, place, or event with sensory details to allow the reader to visualize the subject

Question 5

Expository Essay

Answer 5

To explain a subject, theory, idea, or phenomenon to the audience; to inform

Question 6

Literary Essay

Answer 6

To explore the meaning and construction of literary work. Focuses on / analyzes elements of literature such as theme, character, setting, style, tone, etc.

Question 7

What is the difference between an argumentative essay and a persuasive essay?

Answer 7

Argumentative uses proof and logic while persuasive uses emotional appeal

Question 8

Explicit vs Implicit

Answer 8

Explicit– stated plainly in text
Implicit– implied, not stated directly

Question 9

Literary Proof/Reference

Answer 9

Reference to a piece of literary/written work [usually important (ex. Shakespeare or the Bible)]

Question 10

Attempt to Connect with the Reader

Answer 10

Use of the pronoun “you” to grab reader’s attention

Question 11

Appeal to Authority Figure

Answer 11

Reference to an expert in the field

Question 12

Verifiable Fact

Answer 12

Any statistic, number, fact, etc. that can be looked up and confirmed

Question 13

Illustration Using Contrast

Answer 13

Use of two contrasting examples (i.e. natural teas are nutritious, however, coffee is superior because of its taste)

Question 14

Statement of Author’s Opinion

Answer 14

Personal belief; strong, yet biased opinion

Question 15

Historical Reference

Answer 15

Reference to an actual person/event (dates)

Question 16

Repetition

Answer 16

The deliberate repeating of a key word or phrase within a single sentence or successive sentences.

Question 17

Parallelism

Answer 17

The use of a common grammatical structure or “formula” in a series of segments within a single sentence or in a series of sentences.

Question 18

Climax

Answer 18

A special type of parallelism where each segment becomes increasingly more significant in terms of importance.

Question 19

Balance

Answer 19

The use of a common grammatical “formula” in a sentence that is physically cut in two (by a comma, semicolon, or conjunction), creating two equally significant halves.

Question 20

Antithesis

Answer 20

A special type of balance where the two halves of the sentence contain contrasting ideas.
A contrast to the thesis

Question 21

Chiasmus

Answer 21

When the word order in the second half of a sentence is an inversion of the word order in the first half.
Ex. “Should people work to live or live to work?”

Question 22

Position

Answer 22

When an important word of phrase is placed in a position of visual prominence in the sentence.

Question 23

Polysyndeton

Answer 23

The deliberate inclusion of the coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, nor) between the segments within a sentence.

Question 24

Asyndeton

Answer 24

The deliberate omission of the coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, nor) between the segments within a sentence.

Question 25

What is the difference between polysyndeton and asyndeton?

Answer 25

Polysyndeton-- Inclusion of coordinating conjunctions Asyndeton-- omission of coordinating conjunctions

Question 26

Allusion

Answer 26

Indirect reference to a well-known event, person, thing, place or literature.

Question 27

Cliché

Answer 27

A phrase, expression or idea that has been overused to the point of losing its intended force or novelty

Question 28

Hyperbole

Answer 28

An extravagant exaggeration

Question 29

Idiom

Answer 29

Expressions that do not have a literal meaning; rather, they establish their connotation by how they are used in speech

Question 30

Understatement

Answer 30

Creates the reverse effect (and adds a touch of irony) by making the fact seem less significant

Question 31

Metaphor

Answer 31

Compares two unlike things without the use of like or as; requires more interpretation

Question 32

Simile

Answer 32

Compares two unlike things using like or as

Question 33

Juxtaposition

Answer 33

Contrasts two or more ideas, concepts, or themes

Question 34

Oxymoron

Answer 34

The placement of words that mean the opposite of one another side by side so that they create new meaning

Question 35

Irony

Answer 35

When what is said or what is happening is the opposite of what is expected

Question 36

Rhetorical Question

Answer 36

A question not answered by the writer because the answers are obvious; intended to make the reader think

Question 37

Wit

Answer 37

A type of intellectual or clever humour

Question 38

Personification

Answer 38

Giving an object/non human things human like characteristics

Question 39

Alliteration

Answer 39

Repetition of initial sounds at the beginning of a series of words

Question 40

Imagery

Answer 40

Detailed description of what something looks, sounds, smells, tastes, or feels like