Academic Year 2026–2027 UNISA Assignment: Academic Language and
Literacy in English (ENG1503) – Fully Solved Assignment with Verified
Answers, Marking-Guideline Alignment, Academic Writing Skills & Exam-
Focused Study Guide
Questions
1. What is the primary purpose of academic writing?
o A) To entertain the reader.
o B) To inform or argue a specific point.
o C) To express personal feelings.
o D) To provide a summary of events.
Correct Option: B
Rationale: The primary purpose of academic writing is to present information, analysis,
or arguments in a clear and structured format that contributes to scholarly discourse.
2. Which of the following is a key component of a strong thesis statement?
o A) A vague statement about the topic.
o B) A specific claim that can be supported by evidence.
o C) A rhetorical question.
o D) A summary of background information.
Correct Option: B
Rationale: A strong thesis statement articulates a clear, specific claim that guides the
direction of the paper and can be supported by research.
3. What does the term "plagiarism" refer to in academic writing?
o A) Using your own ideas in a new way.
o B) Citing sources incorrectly.
o C) Presenting someone else's work or ideas as your own.
o D) Writing in an informal style.
Correct Option: C
Rationale: Plagiarism involves taking credit for someone else's work or ideas without
proper attribution, which is ethically and academically unacceptable.
4. Which of the following strategies is most effective for revising an academic
paper?
o A) Reading it silently to yourself.
o B) Seeking feedback from peers or mentors.
, o C) Printing it and reading it line by line.
o D) Submitting it as soon as it’s finished.
Correct Option: B
Rationale: Getting feedback from others can provide new perspectives and highlight
areas that need improvement, making it a valuable revision strategy.
5. In academic writing, what is the importance of using credible sources?
o A) They make the paper look longer.
o B) They are easier to read and understand.
o C) They provide reliable evidence to support claims.
o D) They are always readily available.
Correct Option: C
Rationale: Using credible sources ensures that the evidence presented in the paper is
trustworthy and supports the writer's arguments effectively.
6. What is an annotated bibliography?
o A) A list of books without comments.
o B) A summary of one specific source.
o C) A list of sources with summaries and evaluations.
o D) A bibliography that includes only online sources.
Correct Option: C
Rationale: An annotated bibliography includes citations along with a summary and
evaluation of each source, demonstrating its relevance and quality.
7. Which of the following is an effective way to enhance vocabulary in
academic writing?
o A) Using slang terms.
o B) Reading widely in your field.
o C) Avoiding technical terms.
o D) Relying on informal language.
Correct Option: B
Rationale: Reading various sources in a field exposes writers to discipline-specific
vocabulary and nuances in language use.
8. In academic essays, what is the function of the introduction?
o A) To present the thesis and outline the main points.
, o B) To summarize the conclusion.
o C) To provide detailed background information.
o D) To list all sources used.
Correct Option: A
Rationale: The introduction sets the stage for the essay, presenting the thesis and
outlining the key arguments that will be discussed.
9. What is a major characteristic of formal academic language?
o A) It avoids contractions and colloquial expressions.
o B) It uses humor and informal language.
o C) It includes personal anecdotes.
o D) It is overly complex and convoluted.
Correct Option: A
Rationale: Formal academic language maintains a level of professionalism and clarity,
avoiding informal expressions and contractions.
10. Which type of academic writing focuses on analyzing or interpreting texts?
o A) Descriptive writing.
o B) Critical analysis.
o C) Narrative writing.
o D) Persuasive writing.
Correct Option: B
Rationale: Critical analysis involves examining and interpreting texts to understand
their deeper meanings and implications.
11. What does coherence in a written piece refer to?
o A) The word choice used in writing.
o B) The logical flow and clarity of ideas.
o C) The length of sentences.
o D) The number of sources referenced.
Correct Option: B
Rationale: Coherence ensures that a text flows logically, allowing readers to follow the
author's argument or narrative easily.
12. Which of the following statements best describes a peer-reviewed article?
o A) It is written by a novice scholar.
Literacy in English (ENG1503) – Fully Solved Assignment with Verified
Answers, Marking-Guideline Alignment, Academic Writing Skills & Exam-
Focused Study Guide
Questions
1. What is the primary purpose of academic writing?
o A) To entertain the reader.
o B) To inform or argue a specific point.
o C) To express personal feelings.
o D) To provide a summary of events.
Correct Option: B
Rationale: The primary purpose of academic writing is to present information, analysis,
or arguments in a clear and structured format that contributes to scholarly discourse.
2. Which of the following is a key component of a strong thesis statement?
o A) A vague statement about the topic.
o B) A specific claim that can be supported by evidence.
o C) A rhetorical question.
o D) A summary of background information.
Correct Option: B
Rationale: A strong thesis statement articulates a clear, specific claim that guides the
direction of the paper and can be supported by research.
3. What does the term "plagiarism" refer to in academic writing?
o A) Using your own ideas in a new way.
o B) Citing sources incorrectly.
o C) Presenting someone else's work or ideas as your own.
o D) Writing in an informal style.
Correct Option: C
Rationale: Plagiarism involves taking credit for someone else's work or ideas without
proper attribution, which is ethically and academically unacceptable.
4. Which of the following strategies is most effective for revising an academic
paper?
o A) Reading it silently to yourself.
o B) Seeking feedback from peers or mentors.
, o C) Printing it and reading it line by line.
o D) Submitting it as soon as it’s finished.
Correct Option: B
Rationale: Getting feedback from others can provide new perspectives and highlight
areas that need improvement, making it a valuable revision strategy.
5. In academic writing, what is the importance of using credible sources?
o A) They make the paper look longer.
o B) They are easier to read and understand.
o C) They provide reliable evidence to support claims.
o D) They are always readily available.
Correct Option: C
Rationale: Using credible sources ensures that the evidence presented in the paper is
trustworthy and supports the writer's arguments effectively.
6. What is an annotated bibliography?
o A) A list of books without comments.
o B) A summary of one specific source.
o C) A list of sources with summaries and evaluations.
o D) A bibliography that includes only online sources.
Correct Option: C
Rationale: An annotated bibliography includes citations along with a summary and
evaluation of each source, demonstrating its relevance and quality.
7. Which of the following is an effective way to enhance vocabulary in
academic writing?
o A) Using slang terms.
o B) Reading widely in your field.
o C) Avoiding technical terms.
o D) Relying on informal language.
Correct Option: B
Rationale: Reading various sources in a field exposes writers to discipline-specific
vocabulary and nuances in language use.
8. In academic essays, what is the function of the introduction?
o A) To present the thesis and outline the main points.
, o B) To summarize the conclusion.
o C) To provide detailed background information.
o D) To list all sources used.
Correct Option: A
Rationale: The introduction sets the stage for the essay, presenting the thesis and
outlining the key arguments that will be discussed.
9. What is a major characteristic of formal academic language?
o A) It avoids contractions and colloquial expressions.
o B) It uses humor and informal language.
o C) It includes personal anecdotes.
o D) It is overly complex and convoluted.
Correct Option: A
Rationale: Formal academic language maintains a level of professionalism and clarity,
avoiding informal expressions and contractions.
10. Which type of academic writing focuses on analyzing or interpreting texts?
o A) Descriptive writing.
o B) Critical analysis.
o C) Narrative writing.
o D) Persuasive writing.
Correct Option: B
Rationale: Critical analysis involves examining and interpreting texts to understand
their deeper meanings and implications.
11. What does coherence in a written piece refer to?
o A) The word choice used in writing.
o B) The logical flow and clarity of ideas.
o C) The length of sentences.
o D) The number of sources referenced.
Correct Option: B
Rationale: Coherence ensures that a text flows logically, allowing readers to follow the
author's argument or narrative easily.
12. Which of the following statements best describes a peer-reviewed article?
o A) It is written by a novice scholar.
