Essay-Type Exams

Presented by:

Dr Derek RichardsAdapated from Mark Mathews workshop

Today’s Workshop

1. How to do well

2. Structure of essay type question

3. Where marks are lost

4. Practice

5. Exam writing

Sources:

Exam Guide, SU & Student Learning

How to Do Badly in Examinations, Dr. Frank Bannister

How to Succeed in Exams.. , McMillan & Weyers

Grading

Grading

I

Thorough, deep understanding

Critical thinking, insight, creativity

Well written

Nearly all points

II.I

Good grasp of subject

Critical & Analytical thinking

Logical Clear Presentation

Nearly all key points

Grading

II.II

Solid Answer

Knowledge beyond lectures

Good on facts

Writing good, some structure

III

Knowledge Facts, but little insight

Narrow/ No critical thought

Poorly written / incoherent

F

Little Factual Content & Errors

How to Do Well

Answer the Question

• Demonstrate that you understand the question

• The structure is as important as what you know

• More is not necessarily better

• Understand what is being asked • Only answer the QUESTION• Do not include irrelevant material• Underline keywords: “Cause & Effect”

“Explain & Discuss” “Compare & Contrast”

How to do well

1. Provide Analytical Answer (not descriptive)

2. Describe the context & situation

3. Discuss the implications (theoretical & practical)

4. Display evidence of reading/ thinking around debate

5. Do not just assert something is true, prove it. What facts, figures, examples, tests, etc. prove your point?

6. Cover all sides

Essay Structure

Step-by-Step Method

1. Read Question

2. Capture your ideas

3. Do quick outline

4. Start writing

5. Add new ideas to outline

Structure for essay writing

Introduction

Main body – divided into paragraphs (make one point, expand and give evidence)

Conclusion

Adapted from: Rosenwasser, David and Jill Stephen. Writing Analytically. 3rd ed. Boston: Heinle/Thompson Learning. Inc, 2003. Seattle University Writing Centre. For more information: Hacker, Diana. A Writers Reference. 5th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2003.

Develop an Outline

• Discuss the different services a junior college offers a community.

• Outline:• Introduction• Body

» Vocational education» Continuing education» Personal development

• Conclusion

Introduction

• The introduction is about the question – not the answer

• Restate question in your own words

• Find and use the key words

• Show you understand the question • define the key words/concepts/theories etc (see

handout on key verbs).

Restate Question as Statement

• "Discuss the different services a junior college offers a community.“

• A junior college offers the community at least three main types of educational services: vocational education for young people, continuing education for older people, and personal development for all individuals.

• From http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/737/1/

Main Body

• Develop points from outline

• Paragraphs– One point per paragraph– Explain point– Evidence to support point

Conclusion

Conclude the essay by emphasising how each part you have described makes up the whole, summarise the points made,to answer the question.

From http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/737/1/

Where marks are lost

How you lose marks

• Re-interpreting the Question

• Writing out the question

• Pointless Definitions / Quotes

• Poor English

• Bullet Points

• Lack of structure (aka Brain Dumping)

How you lose marks

• Taking a long time to get to the point

• Irrelevance

• Repetition

1. Present what you know

2. Add Value

3. Get to the point

Over-complication

What is meant by each of the following data mining terms? In each case, include a simple example to illustrate your answer.• Decision trees;• Clustering;• Accuracy;• Coverage. (8 Marks)

Over-complication

Decision trees are used in data mining as a way of progressively breaking down data into groups. As this happens, the number in each classification may be noted. A customer database may break down as 70% male, 30% female. The males may be divided into those that spend over €1,000 a year with us (90%) and those that do not (10%). The same subdivision for female shows that only 2% of females spend over €1,000 with us. The high spending males break-down into 77% under 30 and 23% over 30 years of age. When females are divided into high and low spending, it might be found that 80% of high

spenders are repeat customers and 20% are not. Low spending females, on the other hand, might be 90% non repeating customers. A parallel

analysis of high spending male customers might show that…

PaddingWork breakdown structures are important. They are used in all projects including civil, mechanical and electrical engineering projects as well as software projects. Work breakdown structures decompose the work to be done in a project into successively smaller components. The result is a hierarchical structure. This is usually done by the project manager, but may be done by sub managers or engineers. Being able to prepare a work breakdown is an important project management skill and needs experience. Specialist engineers may be required to complete a WBS where specialised work is involved. The work breakdown structure enables the project manager to estimate more accurately and later on helps in controlling the project. A typical breakdown may start with a project being divided into phases, stages, activities and tasks. The lowest level in the breakdown is usually a task though occasionally task may be further subdivided into sub-task or even steps. The number of tasks in a project can be very large. The absence of a work breakdown structure can cause problems in a project as it may not be possible to estimate accurately or assign work effectively. If the work breakdown structure is not complete in some way, then the project is almost certain to overrun. One project manager was quoted as saying that a good work breakdown structure is of ‘monumental importance’. A proper work breakdown structure is normally coded with a simple numeric coding system. The work breakdown structure may also be reflected in

a Gantt chart. A Gantt chart is a sort of horizontal bar chart used for showing the timing and duration of the various stages of a project.

How to get fr

om here to th

ere

Practice

Would you sit your driving test without ever driving a car?

Practice makes perfect…

Practice Exam Skills

• 50% how well you know your material

• 50% performance in exams

• Knowing something is not the same as being able to do it when the situation demands it.

• You need to practice in a simulated environment.

Steps to Practice

1. Get sample exam questions2. Practice your starting procedures3. Practice analysing questions (5 mins)4. Practice generating ideas (5 mins)5. Practice developing a structure (5 mins)6. Practice writing Introduction (5 mins)7. Practice past exam questions (timed and un

timed)8. Mark your own answers as critically as

possibly

• http://www.tcd.ie/Local/Exam_Papers/summer_nonTSM.html

Study preparation

1. Generate a list of major topics using your notes and past exam papers.

2. Create a chart or summary sheet of the main topics.

3. Generate ideas and plan an outline for each question

4. Follow a structure and review your essays (time spent and quality of your answers)

Not practicing leads to..

• Poor Handwriting

• Brain Dumping

• Irrelevant Material

• Poor Structure

• Running out of time

• Anxiety

Exam Writing

Equal time for equal marks

Leave time at beginning (to plan) and end (to check) paper.

Question 2

40 minutes

Question 3

40 minutes

Question 4

40 minutesQuestion 1

40 minutes

Maximum gains for time are in

the early stages of your answer

Plan your time in advance

Rehearse producing quality

work in time available

Equal Time for Equal Marks

Maximum gain

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Time in minutes

% p

erso

nal b

est

Writing

• Keep your writing simple

• Short sentences

• Practice writing

• Avoid unsupported value judgements- “World War II was really important.”

Think about your

examiner

Make your writing legible!!

Tour Guide

• Use signpost words to develop your

argument

• “This is the broad area, but these are the

key issues because…”

• Headings to delineate sections

A good answer is:

• Well Focused• Answers the question completely, • Avoids "padding."

• Well Organized• Plan - outline• Introduction which restate the question, states the point(s) you are going to

make and also, if possible, how you are going to proceed. • Body that makes clear, well supported, relevant points• Conclusion which summarizes the material covered and emphasizes your

main points.• Well Supported

• Use facts, figures, examples, tests, etc. prove your point.• Well Packaged

• Use conventions of language in your field.

Adapted from http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/737/1/

Remember!

Main Points to remember!

REVISION BEFORE THE EXAM

• Rehearse– look at old exam papers

• Practice producing quality work in time available e.g. If questions are 20 mins long, practice writing answers for 20 mins

Main Points to remember!

IN THE EXAM

• Answer the question asked – key words

• Equal time for equal points – plan time in advance if possible

• Do an outline as a guideline

• Write clearly, simply and legibly

http://www.tcd.ie/Student_Counselling/student-learning/undergraduate/topics/exams/

Watch out for upcoming workshops

• Science Exam Skills – Wednesday 27 March

• Exam Taking Strategies – Tuesday 2nd , Thursday 4th, Wed 10th April

• Exam Nerves – how to overcome them – Tuesday 9th April

Student Learning Development

Phone us - 01 8961407

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