WRITING ESSAY EXAMS
What is a well written answer to an essay question?
It is...
- WELL FOCUSED
Be sure to answer the question that is asked completely, that is, answer all parts of the question. Avoid "padding." A lot of rambling and ranting is a sure sign that the writer doesn't really know what the right answer is and hopes that somehow, something in that overgrown jungle of words was the correct answer.
- WELL ORGANIZED
Don't write a haphazard travelogue in a "think-as-you-go" manner. The grader is not going to play detective and unravel clues as to what you might know. Do some planning and be sure that what you write has a clearly marked introduction which both states the point(s) you are going to make and also, if possible, how you are going to proceed. In addition, the essay should have a clearly indicated conclusion which summarizes the material covered and emphasizes your thesis or main point. Some words you can use in your conclusion are: "for these reasons..." "in conclusion..." "to sum up..." "therefore..." "consequently..."
- WELL SUPPORTED
Do not just assert something is true, prove it! What facts, figures, examples, tests, etc. prove your point? You may be intelligent, lovable, etc., but no one is going to believe all your statements just because you say they are true. In many cases, the difference between an A and a B as a grade is due to the effective use of supporting evidence.
- WELL PACKAGED
People who do not use conventions of language are thought of by their readers as less competent and less educated. If you need help with these or other writing skills, come to the Writing Center!
How do you write an effective essay exam?
- Read through all the questions carefully.
- Budget your time and decide which question(s) you will answer first.
- Underline the key word(s) which tell you what to do for each question.
- Choose an organizational pattern appropriate for each key word and plan your answers on scratch paper or in the margins.
- Write your answers as quickly and as legibly as you can; do not take the time to recopy.
-
Begin each answer with one or two sentence thesis which summarizes your answer. If possible, phrase the statement so that it rephrases the question's essential terms into a statement (which therefore directly answers the essay question).
- Support your thesis with specific references to the material you have studied.
- Proofread your answer and correct errors in mechanics and mechanics.
For more information about preparing for and writing essay exams, visit the BCC Writing Center.
|
|
