In the Exam Room

1
Essay Do's and Don'ts
Introductions
Development
Conclusions
In the Exam Room
2
Introductions

• Do
• Start you essay with an attention-grabbing first
  sentence
• Set out the issue clearly in the introduction
• Give an indication of your line of argument in
  the introduction
• Write a linking sentence at the end of your
  introduction to provide a smooth transition into
  the topic sentence of the second paragraph

• Dont
• Answer the question in the introduction
• Just re-phrase the question.
• Just make a list of points you are going to make
• Use personal terms like I or My.

3
Development

• Do
• Make sure that your essay has a logical or clear
  structure
• Check that the first sentence in each paragraph
  should contain the main idea. This is called the
  topic sentence.
• Follow this up with evidence, details, facts,
  figures, quotes.
• Include toolkit words which ensure that you are
  arguing, debating.
• Keep sentences simple, direct, clear and relevant.

• Dont
• Exaggerate claims e.g. This proves that..
• Quote overly long chunks from historians this
  is your essay being assessed.
• Use slang or abbreviations. Formal English,
  please.
• Use nursery language The workers were not happy
  about..
• Use two sentences when one would do.
• Miss out parts of the essay check back to
  question several times.

4
Conclusions

• Do
• Answer the question
• Summarise the main points in your argument
• Check that the conclusion is based on evidence
  presented in the essay.
• Check that the conclusion is in line with the
  line of argument presented in the introduction.
• Refer to words, phrases used in the essay title
  e.g. if a quotation was used.

• Dont
• Introduce new evidence in the conclusion.

5
In the Exam Room

• Do
• Read all the questions
• Write on the exam paper
• Put question number in margin
• Underline key words /phrases to be discussed
  /defined.
• Write plan on exam script. Markers may credit
  this if you dont finish.
• Allocate 40 minutes for each question.
• Check back to the question /plan during the 40
  minutes.
• Write legibly
• Write for 80 minutes. You should have prepared
  for this!
• Have a conclusion.

• Dont
• Panic!
• Write out the question. Wastes time.
• Think you can busk your way through an essay
  without the examiner knowing what you have done.
  You will be found out.
• Invent facts, details. Again, you will be caught.
• Try to impress by writing long, complex
  sentences. This is no substitute for clear
  thinking and clear writing.
• Memorise an essay and then copy it out
  irrespective of the phrasing of the question.