THE ESSAY EXAMINATION

1
THE ESSAY EXAMINATION
2
STRATEGIES FOR TAKING AN ESSAY TEST
www.missouri.edu/.../Test_Taking_Tips/
test_taking_tips.html
3
PROPER PREPARATION FOR AN ESSAY TEST

• KNOW THE MATERIAL
• ATTEND CLASS
• STUDY CLASS NOTES AND ASSIGNED READINGS
• COME TO TEST WITH REQUIRED TOOLS
• BOOK (Kirszner)
• BALL-POINT PEN
• LINED PAPER

4
THEN RELAX

• THE INSTRUCTOR IS NOT EXPECTING ORIGINAL
  THINKING.
• THE EXAM-GIVER EXPECTS PROOF THAT THE STUDENT
  UNDERSTANDS MATERIAL COVERED IN THE COURSE.
• FOLLOW THE CONVENTIONS FOR EXCELLENT ESSAY
  WRITING--WHICH YOU KNOW.
• FOL

5
TWO ESSAY TEST SITUATIONS

• OBJECTIVE TEST PLUS ESSAY QUESTION OR QUESTIONS
• ESSAY QUESTION(S) ONLY

6
Steps for Answering an Essay Question With an
Objective Section

• TURN TO THE ESSAY SECTION FIRST
• READ ALL QUESTIONS AND DIRECTIONS
• SELECT QUESTION OR QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED
• UNDERLINE KEY TERMS
• NOTE THE LENGTH REQUIREMENT (S)
• FLIP THE QUESTION INTO THE OPENING SENTENCE OF
  THE ANSWER
• USE A SEPARATE SHEET OF PAPER FOR EACH ANSWER

7
Flip the Question

• FLIP THE QUESTION INTO THE OPENING SENTENCE OF
  THE ANSWER
• USE THE EXACT WORDING OF THE QUESTION
• INCLUDE A NUMBER
• INCLUDE A QUALIFIER
• RESPOND TO ORGANIZATIONAL PATTERN REQUIRED BY
  QUESTION

8
FLIP THE QUESTION

• What were the causes of the French Revolution?

• There were ___ () main causes for the French
  Revolution.
• Qualifiers basic, critical, principle,
  significant, primarily
• ____ enter the final when youve finished your
  answer
• Pattern Analysis (causes or reasons why)

9
THERE WERE PRIMARILY ____CAUSES BEHIND THE FRENCH
REVOLUTION.
10
TAKE THE OBJECTIVE TEST

• SET ASIDE PAPER FOR NOTES
• TAKE THE OBJECTIVE PORTION OF THE TEST
• MARK ANY SPECIFICS USEFUL FOR THE ESSAY ANSWER
• JOT NOTES AS YOU BEGIN TO REMEMBER OTHER
  SPECIFICS FOR THE ESSAY QUESTION(S).

11
Complete the Essay Test Portion

• Complete the easiest answer first
• Employ the qualities of a good essay
• clear organization with transitions
• adequate evidence with lots of specifics
• strong basic skills, standard diction, and
  sophisticated sentence structure

12
LENGTH AND TIMING

• For a long answer (20 minutes), use the
  5-paragraph format with a thesis paragraph and
  topic sentences.
• For short answer (5 to 10 minutes), the
  instructor is calling for one paragraph with a
  strong topic sentence.
• Leave time to proofread.

13
Get an A
14
ENC 1101 MID-TERMopen book

• Anticipate Skills Tested
• Tab your handbook on key pages (Works Cited)
• Review course notes and anticipate questions
  based on mid-term review

15
SKILLS REINFORCED THIS TERM

• Descriptive Writing
• Correct MLA Documentation
• Qualities of Good Essay
• Recognizing and Using Effective Evidence
• Critical Thinking Skills

16
4 QUESTIONS PICK 2

• EXTRACT 3 PIECES OF EVIDENCE FROM A SOURCE AND
  WRITE A PARAGRAPH.
• RESPOND TO A QUESTION USING THE RESEARCH AND
  CONCLUSIONS FROM YOUR CAREER ESSAY.
• REFLECT ON THE ROLL OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE
  COMPLETION OF YOUR CAREER ESSAY.
• REFLECT ON YOUR IMPROVED CORE SKILLS.
• Use Writing Sample
• Refer to 21ST Century Skills

17
(No Transcript)