Oklahoma State University Writing Center

1
Oklahoma State University Writing Center
Write On!
2
The Essay Exam

• General Pointers
• (Succeeding under Pressure)

3
Why Essay Exams?

• Essay exams are a useful tool for finding out if
  you can
• sort through a large body of information,
• figure out what is important,
• and explain why it is important.

4
What are Essays really Testing?

• You understand concepts that provide the basis
  for the course.
• You can use those concepts to interpret specific
  materials.
• You can make connections, see relationships, draw
  comparisons and contrasts.
• You can synthesize diverse information in support
  of an original assertion.

5
What do Essay Exams Test?

• You can justify your own evaluations based on
  appropriate criteria
• You can argue your own opinions with convincing
  evidence
• You can think critically and analytically about a
  subject

6
How Do You Prepare?

• Participate in class discussions
• - pay attention to finals hints
• Do the reading
• Read for meaning.
• - Make connections to other texts
• Take careful notes
• - that you'll still understand months later
• Think up questions that might appear.
• - what themes has the instructor emphasized?
• - what connections does she want you to make?
• - what does she want you to gain from the
  course?

7
How do you study for the Exam?

• Don't just memorize aimlessly
• What information will you need to answer
  questions?
• How will this fit into your essay?
• What is the importance of a fact?
• What specific example illustrates this concept
  well?
• Organize and Prioritize the information into a
  Thematic Pattern
• How do the ideas fit into broad categories?
• how different categories relate to each other?

8
Some Test Day Pointers

• Don't pad an answer.
• Write legibly and proofread.
• Be Direct.
• Essay exams are not the place to be subtle or
  vague. It's okay to have an obvious structure.
  Dont be afraid to rely on the old 5 paragraph
  theme.
• Thesis
• Support 1
• Support 2
• Support 3
• Conclusion
• This format is clear and familiar to your reader.
  By using this, you can often keep the writing
  from getting in the way of the ideas.

9
More Test Day Pointers

• Answer the Question on the page
• - Students often try to fill up the page with
  random information rather than addressing the
  specific question.
• Mama says, Get a good night's sleep
• a relaxed mind and body can do as much for you as
  a last-minute cram session.\

10
Three Step Process

• 1. Read the Question
• 2. Outline the Response
• 3. Write the Answer carefully.
• Use clear, simple, and complete sentences.

11
Step One Reading the Question

• Identify KEY Terms and CUE Terms
• Key Terms Content
• identify WHAT subjects you should discuss.
• Cue Terms Writing/Thinking
• tell you HOW to write about the subject.

12
Step One Reading the Question

• Example Question
• Explain the term generally inorganic
• in the definition of a mineral
• Look for Key Terms and unpack them.
• Key Terms Generally, Inorganic, Mineral.
• Mineral -- Non-biological material.
• Organic Carbon based lifeform
• Generally Minerals sometimes have carbon, but
  are not alive.

13
Step One Reading the Question

• Example Question
• Explain the term generally inorganic
• in the definition of a mineral
• Look for Cue Terms and unpack them.
• Cue Terms Explain, Term, Definition.
• Explain Help your reader understand.
• Usually needs multi-sentence answers
• Term The language is important.
• It probably appears somewhere else.
• Definition You should know the FORMAL
  definition.

14
Step Two Outlining

• I. Non-Biological
• II. Based upon Carbon
• III. Some minerals contain carbon

15
Step Three Writing

• Question Explain the term generally inorganic
  in the definition of a mineral.
• Answer Minerals cannot be formed by biological
  activity. However, some minerals contain carbon.
• Check for Spelling and Grammar

16
Incorrect Sentences

• Fragments
• A sentence fragment is a thought that hasnt
  been quite finished, but the phrase has been
  punctuated as if it is a complete thought.
• Complete Sentences must . . . .
• Contain A Subject
• Contain A Verb
• Form A Complete Thought

17
Incorrect Sentences

• Fragments
• Question Explain the term generally inorganic
  in the definition of a mineral.
• Incorrect Answer
• Cannot be formed by biological activity, but
  contains carbon.
• Correct Answer
• Minerals cannot be formed by biological activity.
  However, some minerals contain carbon.

18
Incorrect Sentences

• Run On Sentences
• Run-on sentences occur when . .
• two Independent clauses are joined without
• proper punctuation and/or a conjunction.
• Run-on sentences can be corrected by using
• a semi-colon,
• a comma plus a conjunction,
• a period.

19
Incorrect Sentences

• Run-On Sentences
• Incorrect
• Minerals cannot be formed by biological activity
  some minerals contain carbon.
• Semicolon
• Minerals cannot be formed by biological activity
  some contain carbon
• Comma Conjunction
• Minerals cannot be formed by biological activity,
  but some contain carbon.
• Period
• Minerals cannot be formed by biological activity.
  Some minerals contain carbon.

20
Remember, you can always visit us at the OSU
Writing Center!
104 Morrill Hall Phone [phone] Email
writingcenter_at_okstate.edu Online appointments
www.rich15.com/osu/schedule/