Strategies For Success In Essay Exams

Strategies for Success in Essay Exams

Essay exams measure three key abilities: Analyze Exam Questions

 Ability to store, access, and translate  Carefully read over the entire exam first; find out appropriate knowledge into an organized essay how many questions you need to answer, how  Ability to analyze quickly the specific many points each question is worth, etc. requirements of an exam question and to  Figure out how much time you have and how formulate a response to fit them best to use it. Write down the actual clock time  Ability to deal with time pressure, text anxiety, that you expect to take for each question, and and other logistical constraints stick to it. This will help you avoid spending all your time on only one question. Circle noun phrases that refer to specific Tips for Preparing for Essay Exams  knowledge or concepts.  Circle “action” verbs or directive verbs; here are  Identify and learn main ideas from course some common ones. readings and lectures o Analyze: break up an argument or o Key theories concept into parts and examine the o Key terminology: read chapter relationship among the parts. Ex: subheadings, chapter summary, “Analyze the effectiveness of President questions, etc. Bush’s State of the Union Address.” o Examples of main ideas covered in o Compare: note similarities between two class or more objects or ideas  Be ready to apply concepts to other situations: o Contrast: note differences between two Example… “Based on the ‘virtues’ for good or more objects or ideas living that Benjamin Franklin outlines in his o Trace: Show the development or Autobiography, how do you think he would feel progression of something over time about the virtues and values children are raised o Critique: evaluate an argument or idea, with today?” pointing out both strengths and  Make a study plan weaknesses o Ask instructor for general exam o Define: provide a clear, concise, guidelines (how many questions, what authoritative meaning for an object or types of questions, etc.) idea. Ex. “Explain how the Supreme o Have friends in class make up possible Court defines ‘equality’ in Plessy v. study questions or essay questions and Ferguson (1896)? exchange: practice! o Illustrate: give one or more examples, cases, or other concrete instances to clarify a general concept

University of Wisconsin-Stout Writing Center www.uwstout.edu/writingcenter Organizing a Good Response  Worry only about covering the required question; don’t worry about being creative.  Avoid writing more than the question asks you  Sketch a rough outline of the main points you to do. want to cover with each question before you begin  If you run out of time when you are writing an This will prevent you from leaving anything answer, jot down the remaining main ideas from crucial out of your answer. your outline, just to show that you know the  State a thesis: forecast your answer. Use the material and with more time could have language of the exam question if possible. For continued your exposition. example, if you were responding to the prompt  Leave some time at the end for proofreading. above, you might begin: “The Supreme Court defines ‘equality’ in Plessy v Ferguson in three  Finally, take all of the time you've been allotted basic ways: a, b, and c.” Then you would go for the exam. Reread, rework, and rethink your on in your answer to define “a,” “b,” and “c.” answers if you have extra time at the end, rather than giving up and handing the exam in  Utilize a logical presentation: one main point the minute you've written your last sentence. per paragraph with clear transitions between paragraphs.  Write a conclusion which ties together the main points you covered in your answer and that reiterates your thesis; don’t bring up any new information in your conclusion.

Dealing with Time Constraints During Exam

 Read question over a few times; don’t rush to begin writing.  Frontload your response: your first paragraph should be a nutshell or preview of your entire answer.

University of Wisconsin-Stout Writing Center www.uwstout.edu/writingcenter