College Composition CLEP Prep Practice Exam

What part of an essay should explain what the paper’s main ideas will be?

1. The conclusion

2. The body

3. The introduction

4. The title

The correct answer is: The introduction

The introduction is the correct answer because it is the first part of the essay that a reader encounters and should provide an overview of the essay's main ideas or arguments. Option A is incorrect because the conclusion should summarize the main points of the essay, not introduce them. Option B is incorrect because the body of the essay expands on and supports the main ideas that are introduced in the introduction. Option D is incorrect because the title is usually a concise and attention-grabbing phrase that does not necessarily outline the main ideas of the essay.