Question

Timed Essay Preparation Tutorial

Answer 1

Timed essays can be stressful, since you only have a limited time to think about, outline, write, and proofread a whole essay. In this tutorial, I will share some tips that can help reduce the stress in preparation, and hopefully get you a better score.

\({\bf{Before~the~Test:}}\)
Be familiar with the material. If the essay is based on a book, or an article, or some other pre-assigned reading, you should make sure to re-read the material, being on the lookout for: major plotlines, major characters, major character arcs, major character moments and quotes, themes, and motifs. You don't want to waste time getting two characters mixed up, or remembering which character said what. Basic mistakes like that will count heavily against the credibility of your argument.

For essays that are based on outside arguments or issues, you should take some time to read about current events, major historical events, and important developments in whatever fields are relevant to the recent discussion. For example, if your class has been discussing the education system, it would be beneficial to look up articles and debates regarding education. Examples: "How can we improve student performance?" "What can we do about cheating?" "What ways of re-structuring schools are most beneficial?"

The goal is not to memorize everything you read, but rather gather facts and establish a context for your argument.

Research the possible prompts as well as you can. Of course, this isn't always possible because you don't always know what the prompts are. However, if the prompts are provided, try creating outlines for as many as you can (I will go over this later). If not, you can try looking up discussion questions for whatever book or issue that your class is covering (ex: "Hamlet discussion questions).

Practice under testing conditions: It's easy to write a good argument when you are not constrained by a time limit. However, when you're writing practice essays, you should practice under the same time constraint the real essay will have.

Answer 2

\({\bf{Outlines:}}\) (for practice)

For pre-assigned prompts, I take one sheet of paper (more than that, and you will likely be writing more than you can actually remember for the test) and write the prompt at the top. I leave 1-2 lines for my thesis statement.

Then, I try to think about whether I already have a strong feeling about the issue, one way or another. If I do, I write my position at the top. This is usually a simple "Strongly agree", "Moderately disagree," etc. although I often change my position after doing more research.

The next step is to do some research regarding the topic. Take care to research the topic from both angles, looking for sources that support your position, and sources that support the opposite position. I also save links/other references at the bottom of the page, in case I need to get back to them.

After my research, I write down 3-5 strong reasons why I support my position, in order from strongest to weakest. These are the foundation for my topic sentences.

Then, I take *specific* examples from my research that back up my reasons, and explain how they support my position.

A strong essay addresses both sides of the issue. Therefore, I write down 1-2 major counter-arguments and what I would say in response.

So in summary:

Prompt: (copied exactly)

Thesis:

My position:

Reasons:

Examples:

Counter-Arguments:

References:

Answer 3

\({\bf{During~the~Essay:}}\)

This is based on a typical 30 minute timed essay.

Breathe. (a few seconds) Try not to waste too much time or attention worrying about the result. Just focus on the task at hand.

Read the prompt. (30 s - 1 minute) Focus on key words and phrases. You don't want to miss major parts of the question, or misinterpret the question altogether.

Outline. (3-5 minutes) It's tempting to just start writing, but if you don't have a solid game plan, you may end up writing yourself into a corner. I would start by listing your major arguments, which will guide your body paragraphs. Underneath each argument, briefly list what evidence you will use to back up the argument. Once you have those laid down, you can draft a rough thesis statement to start your essay. I usually worry about the introduction and conclusion last (sometimes, I don't really have an introductory paragraph, just a thesis statement. If it's powerful, it can catch the reader's attention off the bat, and lead straight into the main arguments you'll be making).

Make a special point to dissect the prompt and make sure you are addressing all the points in the prompt.

Write. (~22-24 minutes) Here, you'll simply be fleshing out the skeleton with full sentences and transitions. Pay special attention to how your ideas flow together; your body paragraphs should "flow" into each other, rather than be three separate ideas stapled together. You can achieve this by using transition words, and referencing the points made in previous paragraph to help lead into the next paragraph. (Do not re-state, simply nod to them, and explain how they connect to the next idea).

After your body paragraphs are laid out, work on the introduction and conclusion. I personally like to use the hourglass system, where the introduction starts by establishing the broader context behind your argument, gets narrower on the thesis. Then, the conclusion summarizes the main argument, then connects it to what actions or greater meaning can be derived from the essay.

Proofread. (last 2-3 minutes) Look for major misspellings (names, places, other important words). Read the essay out loud in your head to identify any incorrect or awkward grammatical structures.

Answer 4

\({\bf{After~the~Essay:}}\)

Relax. Write down what you're feeling, good or bad, and give yourself time to process your emotions.

Once you get your essay back, go over the feedback (if provided) and don't be afraid to ask your teacher about what you did well, and what you can improve on. Keep this knowledge in mind for the next essay.