Chapter 22 Essay Exams. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.22 | 2 Test anxiety Many people get nervous just thinking about taking

Chapter 22

Essay Exams

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 22 | 2

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.


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


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.


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.


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.


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.


Types of essay test formats

What are the three different types of essay tests?

• Identification items

• Short answer

• Long answer


Identification items

• Short statements used to define a term or identify a researcher

• Typical for introductory courses

• Write one to two sentences, as needed.


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.


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!


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.


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.


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


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.


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.


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.


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/trimbur4e

Documents

Chapter 22 Essay Exams. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.22 | 2 Test anxiety Many people get nervous just thinking about taking