Michael Buckhoff's

English 306: Expository Writing

General Strategies for taking Essay Exams

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Taking in-class essay examinations

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When answering essay exams, be sure that you follow these steps:

Read the question very carefully. Determine what the writing task is and how you will organize your answer.

After you read the question, restate the question in the form of a thesis. That way, you will frame your essay around the demands of the assignment. Your thesis statement should include three or four key points that will be discussed in the essay. Do not copy the question word for word. Restate the question in your own words as you create your thesis sentence. Be patient; this skill takes a lot of practice.

Because of the imposed time constraint, do not create a formal outline of your answer. However, do create a short shopping list of ideas that relate to the key points stated in your thesis.

Limit your focus. Do not say too much. General statements without support are not good. Detail statements without general statements are not good either. You must keep a balance.

Remember it is not how much you say but rather how you say it. The quality of your writing is more important than the quantity of your writing. I recommend that you follow the five paragraph essay format. That will show your readers that you have strong organizational skills in your writing.

Copyright (C) By Michael Buckhoff (MBuckhoff@aol.com)