Essay Exam

Just hearing the words "Essay Exam" makes many of us shiver! The thought of not being able to spell ones name down the bubble sheet is  not a pleasant thought. In actuality, essay exams allow you to use writing to demonstrate your knowledge and express your views on a topic. This way you don't have to worry about reading a multiple-chose question and hoping that by some miracle the answer you thought in your mind is listed in A-D;  instead you're able to develop your own unique answer.

1. Like any test PREPARATION is the key. This will require you to focus in on your studying. Carefully review and possibly re-read text books and other class notes. First, Anticipate questions that are likely to be on the test. If you were in your teacher's shoes, what types of questions would you ask? Thinking about the course in terms of potential questions encourages you to stand back from the detail and consider the larger themes.
2. Once you've prepared for the exam the next challenge is actually writing the essay. Read the entire question in full you may want to even re-read the question to make sure you clearly understand it.
3. Be aware of descriptor words which may be in the exam instructions so that you'll answer the questions properly and produce an "A" essay. Watch for the following words:

Analyze - Break into parts and discuss each part separately.

Compare - Explain similarities and differences

Contrast - Distinguish between items being compared by focusing on differences

Criticize - Evaluate the positive and negative effects of what is being discussed

Define -  State the essential quality or meaning. Give the common idea

Describe - Visualize and give information that paints a complete picture.

Discuss - Examine in a complete and detailed way, usually be connection ideas to example

Enumerate/list/identify - Recall and specify items in the form of a list.

Explain - Make the meaning of something clear, often by making analogies or giving examples.

Evaluate- Give you opinion about the value or worth of something, usually be weighting positive and negation effects, and justify your conclusion.

Illustrate - Supply examples.

Interpret - Explain you personal view of facts and ideas and how they relate to one another.

Outline - Organize and preset the sub-ideas or main examples of an idea.

Prove - Use evidence and argument to show that something is true, usually be showing cause

             and effect or giving examples that fit the idea to be proven.

Review - Provide an overview of ideas and establish their merits and features.

Summarize - Give the important ideas in brief.

Keep in Mind the Following Steps:

1. ORGANIZE your thoughts into a brief outline either on the back or in the margin of your paper. This way if you happen to run out of time and do not quite finish the essay, you may get at least partial credit when your instructor can see which way you were going with your thoughts.
2. STATE your opinion, your premise, or what you are about to prove.
3. PROVE it. This is the body of your text. Here you include all supporting evidence to prove, or disprove, your premise or your opening statement.
4. SUMMARIZE what you just proved.

ADDITIONAL HINTS--

• If you are feeling a little anxious before or during the exam, go through a relaxation exercise to reduce your anxiety. A body scan or a slow, deep breathing exercise can help you calm down. You will do better if you are relaxed.

• Write your essay as legibly as possible. You may even consider printing if your penmanship is bad. Teachers do not appreciate having to decipher "chicken scratches."

• Remember--your teacher is going to read your essay, not weigh it. Few teachers are impressed by length. A well-organized, well-constructed paper giving a specific answer will always get you a better grade than the old "shotgun" approach--writing down everything you know in the hope that you will somehow answer--question.  

• Budget your time according to the point value of the questions. Questions worth more points would be given more time to answer.

• Answer the easy questions first. Make sure you get credit for that which you do know. This will put you into a success mode and will help you feel more at ease. Leave enough space to add any further ideas that may come to mind as the exam continues.

• Proofread your essay before you turn it in. Check for proper spelling, grammar, syntax, etc.

And remember "IF YE ARE PREPARED YE SHALL NOT FEAR"