Chapter 22 Essay Exams Test anxiety Many people

Chapter 22 Essay Exams

Test anxiety • Many people get nervous just thinking about taking an essay exam. • However, essay exams are a part of college life! • Let’s look at how to be successful. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 22 | 2

Chapter overview • • Preparing for essay exams Analyzing the format and questions on the exam Planning an answer Writing the essay exam How to prepare for an exam Different kinds of essay test formats Using the rule of three, outlines and maps Typical types of exam questions Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 22 | 3

How are essay tests different? • Most tests focus on whether you have learned specific facts, terms, or formulas. • Essay tests require you to demonstrate your understanding of applying concepts by writing anywhere from several sentences to a page or more. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 22 | 4

Objective vs. subjective • Test question formats such as true/false, multiple choice, and matching are examples of objective questions. There is a correct answer. • Essay test questions often include both an objective and subjective aspect, if you are asked your opinion. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 22 | 5

Preparing for essay exams • Ask about format and scope (how many chapters will be covered). • Read over your notes, and review chapter summaries in your text. • Write sample questions and plan answers. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 22 | 6

Overall approach for preparation • Don’t try to memorize big chunks of information. • Focus instead on the big picture; “the main ideas, terminology, controversies, explanations, and conceptual frameworks”. • Consider working with a study group. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 22 | 7

Types of essay test formats What are three different types of essay tests? • Identification items • Short answer • Long answer Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 22 | 8

Identification items • Short statements used to define a term or identify a researcher • Typical for introductory courses • Write one to two sentences, as needed. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 22 | 9

Short-answer questions • Instructions may say to answer in a few sentences to several paragraphs. • It’s safest to develop a short thesis statement and write an organized mini-essay of several paragraphs. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 22 | 10

Long-answer essay questions • Use more complex questions that require a more complex answer • Explore bigger concepts • A clue may be a question at the top of the page, and then rest of the page is blank! Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 22 | 11

Use time wisely • Identification items should be given the least amount of time. • Short-answer questions should be given a few more minutes, but probably no more than 10 minutes. • Essay questions, or long answer questions, may take from 20 minutes to an hour to complete. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 22 | 12

Planning is essential • Take a few moments to think about the question; note key words. • Jot down a scratch outline of ideas to discover a three-part thesis statement. • Use a simple outline to organize ideas. • Add details, examples. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 22 | 13

Example of an informal outline • • • Introduction (simple thesis with three points) Body: first point and examples Body: second point and examples Body: third point and examples Conclusion Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 22 | 14

The thesis • • The main idea of your essay Gives your reader a sense of organization Builds in a mini-outline to essay Three works well: for example, three reasons, three ways, three arguments, three views. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 22 | 15

Drafting your answer • Realize you can only write a good rough draft; there is no time to do a major revision. • First impressions count. • Use the ideas in the question itself to frame the opening statement. • Provide supporting evidence, and tie in ideas from the course. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 22 | 16

Drafting your answer, cont. • • Write an ending, even if short on time. Write legibly, and proofread. Watch the clock. If you feel you cannot finish, at least list the ideas from your outline to show where you are going. • See the student samples, pages 663 -666. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 22 | 17

Student Companion Website • Go to the student side of the Web site for exercises, chapter overviews, and links to writing resources for this chapter: http: //college. hmco. com/pic/trimbur 4 e Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 22 | 18