CUFE, Postgraduate Prep.

Year, 2014 -2015, Spring Semester

Gen 600 Technical Writing for Scientific Publications
For all M. Sc. Specialties
OPEN BOOK EXAM
No Laptops, Smart/Non-Smart phones or Electronic Dictionaries are allowed
Only hardcopies, dictionaries and the like are permitted.
Exchanging documents during the exam are not allowed
Maximum is 40
Important Notes:
 Whenever asked, follow, and/or show the steps of the “Process of Writing”: Plan (think),
outline, organize, … etc.
 Neatness of your answer sheets and correctness of English will be rated: 2 points for neatness,
and 3 points for correctness of basics (Grammar and Mechanics)
 Writing one sentence paragraphs belittles/undermines your efforts
 For the answer, use the space following each Q. limit use of the back of the answer sheets.

A. Read the following text (Source: condensed version from http://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/academic1/timed-essays-top-5-tips-for-writing-

academic-essays-under-pressure/) 12 points

If you’re facing a timed exam or essay, this text offers some very basic, very quick tips.

Plan your time wisely.You can plan your time during the test itself.Start with the easiest questions first, so that you answer
them before you burn out or run out of time.If one question is worth 20% of the test score, spend 20% of your time on it.
Plan time for revision!
Address the right requirement(s).Before you begin your answer, you should be sure of what the question is asking.If the
question asks you to “explain” a topic, then a paragraph that presents your personal opinion won’t be of much help. If
the question asks you to present a specific example, then a paragraph that summarizes what “some people say” about
the topic won’t be very useful.
Collect your thoughts.Resist the urge to start writing immediately. First, you need to know where you are going. Jot down
an outline, or draw an idea map (a family tree for your thesis). Then start with the “trunk” (a circle in the center of your
paper). Draw lines that connect that central idea to main branches (circles that represent subtopics), and keep fanning
out in that manner. If one particular branch is fruitful, cut it off and make it a separate entity.If a branch doesn’t bear
fruit, prune it off. Then write by getting right to the point.
Leave time to revise your thesis statement. Have the thesis statement and conclusion match. Then, revise the sub-
points and transitions so that your whole essay points towards the conclusion. You will be able to make the connection,
and your whole essay will be much stronger.

1- Write below the principal idea (PI) of this text. Insert (Y) of yes, (N) for no in the brackets 2
Timed exams require planning, defining requirements, outlining before writing, and revising.
Planning, defining requirements, outlining thoughts and revising are important tips for timed exams.
Timed exams require awareness of basic tips.
 this principal idea is a thesis statement …………………………………………………………………. (Y)
 this principal idea is a topic statement ………………………………………………………………… (N)
 Whether thesis or topic, it is embedded in the text …………………………………………………… (Y)
 PI is clear and obvious as you indicated under 1……………………………………………………… (N)

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2- Write the two parts of the principal idea 1
Topic: Timed exams
Comment:require planning, defining requirements, outlining before writing, and revising.

3- Answer only one of the following. Check your selection. 2

Write a descriptive summary of this text, use the space below.(x)
Write an informative summary of this text, use the space below.( )

The text offers four basic tips for handling timed exams

The text offers the four basic tips for handling timed exams: planning, defining requirements, outlining before
writing, and revising.

4- Write few words on the way-to-develop of the paragraph that begins with Collect your thoughts. 1
The way to develop is “process”: show the sequence steps ordered chronologically (accept listing,
chronology? Signal words are first, second, then, if …, keep fanning out, ….
5- Write an appropriate title for this text. 1

Tips for Facing Timed Exams

6- Define the way-to-begin of the whole essay (of A) 1
Stating a hypothesis/an assumption

7- Comment on the use of parallelism in this text (A) 1

There are forms of parallelism: using boldface titles/headings, command form, metaphor between
parentheses (tree, branches). Repeating use of conditional and its structure (parallelism within and between
sentences)
8- What is the dominant tool for cohesion used in the paragraph of A that starts with “Address the right 1
requirement(s).”
Subordination: repeating the use of the conditional (If …., then …). Using transitional words: before,
then. Using pronouns: relative and demonstrative (what, that). Repeated use of the word “time,” and
“exam” – parts of the keyword “timed exams.”

9- Show how emphasis is addressed in the very first sentence of A. (If you are facing a timed …). 1
The use and repetition of very twice as an intensifier to indicate emphasis, stress, underscoring

10- Is there plagiarism in this text? ( ) yes (N) no. 1

Justify

The text is simple has no statistical data or work done by others. These words and the text is that of the
author of the text. The exam has referred to the original text.

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B. Check only the appropriate (correct) answer. Checking wrong answers will be penalized! 6 1/2
I Secondhand smoke is just as harmful as smoking and leads to a higher prevalence of cancer and 2½
heart disease. What’s worse, people who inhale secondhand smoke are doing so without consent.
For this reason, smoking in any public place should be banned.”

This statement
 Can be a topic statement depending on the details ……………………………………….. (x)
 Can be a thesis statement depending on the details……………………………………. (x)
 Is a descriptive statement …………………………………………………………………….( )
 Has an informative nature…………………………………….…………………………………... (x)
 is an introductory paragraph…………………………………………………………………….(x)
 This is a body paragraph…………..………………………………………………..…………….( )
 This is an informative abstract…………………………………………………………………….. ( )
 This could be a descriptive abstract ……..……………………………………………………… (x)
1½
Ii Mobile phones allow people to communicate when, where, and with whom they wish. However,
users are often troubled to find themselves always available to others. To measure attitudes
towards mobile phones, we asked students from universities in five countries what they liked most
and what they liked least about having a mobile phone. Responses across all countries indicated
that communication was both what subjects liked most and least — enjoying the ability to contact
others but feeling trapped by other people’s ability to always contact them. Concerns about
dependency on mobile phones corresponded to intensity of usage. Some distinctions between
countries reflect variation in available technology, while others may result from cultural factors.

This is an introductory paragraph…………………………………………………………………… ( )

This contains methodology …………………………………………………………………………. (x)
This is a body paragraph ………………………………………………………………………. ( )
This is an informative abstract …………………………………………………………………….. (x)
This is a descriptive abstract ……………………………………………………………………… ( )
This text has sentences of introductory nature…………………………………………………… (x )

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Iii To place studies just mentioned within the larger field of mobile phone research, we begin with a
brief overview of mobile telephony in historical and social context.

( ) Introduction ( ) Body ( ) Conclusion ( x) Transitional. Justify your choice

This sentence refers to something said before and prepares for something coming next. Such
cohesion is what the transitional paragraph for: ties between bigger parts of texts.
Iv Studies showed that only 25 percent of engineers think technical writing is not important. 11/2
Should be referenced ………………………………………………………………………….… (x )
Need to be rephrased to show origin of citation …………………..………………………………… (x)
it is a personal opinion and does not violate rules of plagiarism ………………………..………… ( )
there is some sort of plagiarism in this sentence…………………………………………….……… ( x)

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C. 1, Check C (correct), or F (Faulty) for the following sentences. If any of these is incorrect, correct it in the
space provided. 4 points
Statement. C F
1 The aim of this proposal is to present information on software, to store on the hard F 1
desk and to recover unintentionally deleted file.
2 For legal writing, familiarity with legal terms is necessary. C 1
3 Please do not hesitate to write us in the event that you are in need of assistance at F 1
this point in time of the year, if you have a disturbing problem with the device you
have just bought from our stores before the expiry of the warranty period.”
4 Students were asked what they liked most and least about having a mobile phone, to F 1
measure attitudes towards mobile phones,
The blank space below is for correcting faulty expressions of 1 through 4 of C. Do not use for other purposes.

Refer to the number of statement you should correct (under F), then rephrase it.
Statement # 1…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

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C. 2. Bonus MCQ 3
Statement True False Grade
1- Someone writes something for another who is personally supposed to do, X ½
and he is supposed to take credit for” is named ghostwriting
2- Thesis statement fits everywhere into the communication model SMCR X ½
3- Quotations are good ways to develop a paragraph X ½
4- The conclusion can have something new for the reader X ½
5- Palliatives are many times safe solutions to stick to X ½
6- It is always necessary to put old information before new one for the sake of X ½
effectiveness. Justify (use space below).
The space below is left for comments and justification of your choice for C 2 (1 through 6), optional.

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D. Write at least three paragraphs on one of the following The instructor shall consider the following
criteria, among others, for evaluating your
topics. Use a subtitle for each paragraph. In the same
text
way as in paragraphs of Question A.  Correctness
Outline your main points. Organize your outline. Select ways to  Planning
develop and ways to begin for each paragraph. Write. Do not  Effectiveness of style
forget to revise your text. The quality of your text shall be the  Observing writing rules as taught
 Soundness of ideas
result of these steps. Adding appropriate material to develop
 Neatness
this topic is your choice.
 Penmanship
Topic 1: Effect of Private Tutoring on the System of Education
Topic 2: The Research Subject of Your Future M. Sc. Thesis
Topic 3: Tying Postgraduate Research Studies to the Industry

Indicate your choice ( ) Topic 1 or ( ) Topic 2 or

( ) Topic 3

Develop your choice in the space below

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E. The following sentence is a statement of one of the intended learning outcomes (ILO’s) of theCourse
Gen 600: Technical Writing for Scientific Publications). 5

“This course, when followed, will help shape personal attitude and skills for writing technical/scientific texts.”
Do you agree or disagree? Develop your opinion in just one paragraph!
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