Essay Exams: Tips and Tricks

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Essay Exams Tips and Tricks

• Chapter 23
• A PowerPoint Presentation
• by Cherie Post

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EEEEEEKKKKKK!!!

• Many people get nervous just thinking about
  taking an essay exam.
• However, essay exams are a part of college life!
• Lets look at how to be successful.

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Overview

• How to prepare for an exam
• Different kinds of essay test formats
• Using the rule of three, outlines and maps
• Typical types of exam questions

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How are essay tests different?

• Most tests focus on whether or not you have
  learned specific facts, terms, or formulas
• Essay tests require you to demonstrate your
  understanding of concepts by writing anywhere
  from several sentences to a page or more

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Objective vs Subjective

• Test question formats like true/false, multiple
  choice, and matching are examples of objective
  questions. There is a correct answer.
• Essay test questions often include both an
  objective and subjective aspect, if you are asked
  your opinion.

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Preparing for essay exams

• Ask about format (well discuss this more later)
  and scope (how many chapters will be covered)
• Read over your notes and review chapter summaries
  in your text
• Our text suggests you write sample questions and
  plan answers

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Types of Essay Tests Formats

• OK, so what are the different types of essay
  tests?

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Three Types of essay tests

• Short answer
• Paragraph answer
• Long answer

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Short Answer

• Used to define a term or identify a researcher
• Typical for introductory courses
• Write one to two sentences

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Paragraph Answers

• Instructor may say to answer in a few sentences.
• Safest to develop a short thesis statement and
  write an organized paragraph.

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Long Answer

• More complex questions
• Explore bigger concepts
• Clue may be question at top of page and then rest
  of the page is blank!

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Planning is Essential!

• Take a few moments to think about the
  question--note key words
• Jot down a scratch outline of ideas to discover a
  three part thesis statement
• Use the cognitive map or simple outline to
  organize ideas
• Add examples

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Example

• Introduction (three reasons)
• Body -- first point examples
• Body -- second point examples
• Body -- third point examples
• Conclusion

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Cognitive Map
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Using Maps

• Write the topic in the middle of the circle
• Each spoke or branch is a key idea
• For a short essay, each branch is a paragraph
• You can add details under each branch
• Read like a clock

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The Three Part Thesis

• Main idea of your essay
• Three part means to add a number
• Gives reader sense of organization
• Builds in mini-outline to essay
• Three reasons, three ways, three arguments, three
  views

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Lets Move On!

• Nine Types of Essay Test Questions

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Define or Identify

• Refer back to your text or a lecture
• If your teacher has enhanced the textbooks
  definition, or given one of his or her own, you
  may want to give both
• Example What is the definition of stress?

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Recall Details

• You may need to summarize or paraphrase materials
  covered in class
• Generally you are not asked to give your own
  opinion
• Example What did Hans Seyle say about stress and
  the human body?

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Explain the Significance of a Concept

• You will either be given or need to supply some
  specific examples
• Show how these examples are significant
  (important) as in the big picture
• Example Why is stress important for police
  officers to understand?

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Apply Concepts

• Many courses emphasize themes, ideas, or concepts
• Teachers may ask you to apply these to a real
  life situation
• They may supply you with a case study or ask you
  to create one yourself
• Example Eric Shaw case in Iowa City. What role
  did stress play in his death?

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Comment on a Quotation

• It may be controversial
• You may or may not have seen it before
• It will deal with a topic discussed in class
• Example Stressed out? Try my fool proof
  remedysimply scream.

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Compare and Contrast

• One of the most common types of essay questions
• Comparison -- how two things are alike
• Contrast -- how they are different
• Question may ask for both
• Example How are Eustress and Distress different?

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Synthesize Information

• As you will recall, we discussed the process of
  blending ideas from several sources -- or
  synthesis
• You may be asked to reflect on your textbook and
  supplemental readings
• Example Based on your text and outside readings,
  what are some ways to cope with the stress of
  finals week?

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Analyze Causes

• Many courses examine the causes and effects of
  trends, events, and actions
• Your teacher may ask you to speculate on the
  causes of something, based on your readings and
  discussions
• Example What were some of the causes of the Viet
  Nam war?

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Criticize or Evaluate

• This goes beyond giving your opinion
• You must develop a logical, sound argument based
  on appropriate criteria
• Remember the rule of three!
• Example How would you evaluate the recent
  response of Wall Street to the Japanese economic
  roller coaster?

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Okay, now youre an expert!

• But what should you do once you have the test in
  hand??

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Pay Attention to Details!

• Read the instructions FIRST!
• May announce test format
• May give special instructions about paper, ink to
  use
• May tell you to use your book, notes
• Might have time limits

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What else?

• Look at the test as a whole
• How many pages? How many questions?
• You will need to budget your time accordingly

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Taking a Closer Look

• Each question will have at least one key word --
  this tips you off to the type of information
  being requested
• We will annotate our finals in Comp. 1 and 2 as a
  learning experience
• Note too the use of choose three of the
  following five

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Questions with a Twist

• Pay special attention to questions that ask you
  to do two things list and describe. This is
  called a question with multiple parts.
• You will not get all of the points unless you
  answer ALL of the parts.

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Subjective vs. Objective

• Many of my test questions ask you to analyze your
  own skills there are no right or wrong answers!
• This is called subjective--its your opinion.
• Others have a specific right answer in mind--such
  as the steps to write a summary. This is
  objective.

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My Pet Peeves

• Do not use pencil
• Do not use light pink ink!
• Do not write on both sides of the paper
• Do use complete sentences
• Do mark up (annotate) the actual test
• Do include notes taken to review for the test

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For Buchanan 109 Class only

• Yes, you can use the computers to type up your
  answers
• Yes, it is okay to spell check
• There is only one section of Comp 1 and one of
  Comp 2 so no real danger of someone copying your
  test off the computer.

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In Conclusion

• Essay tests require a different kind of
  preparation
• You will need to review concepts, ideas
• You should clarify as much as you can about
  format and scope
• Look for key words
• Give the teacher what he/she wants!

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Now lets look at your test!

• Grab a pen and we will look at the test together.