Strategies for Acing the Essays

Testing Tips You must make an effort to understand the writer and be sensitive to their meaning. Remember that your reader/evaluator can only receive what you place on your paper, not your unstated ideas. Clearly state your thesis, fully support that thesis with interesting, apt, and logical information that is well-organized, fully developed, coherent, and unified. Remember to use the present tense when you analyze writing. Write the essay that you feel most confident about first. Save the most difficult for last. You will be given paper for your essay, and you will be able to use your test booklet for scratch paper.

Plan of Attack for the Free Response Essays

Step #1 Read the material Read the prompt: Answer the question Identify the type of essay question you are being asked to answer Underline the important points/key words in the question Restate the question/paraphrase it to be sure you understand it

Step #1 Read the material Read the selection: Remember you have about 5 minutes per essay to read and plan Read the selection several times Skim it the first time Read carefully the second time Annotate: language, diction, person, tone, writer’s intentions/purpose and special techniques the author uses Underline the words/sentences that seem significant (especially things you may want to quote in your paper) Determine the theme or meaning of the piece (in order to talk about the elements of the selection, you need to know what the piece is about)

Step #2 Plan and Write Your Essay Take a few minutes to plan Brainstorm ideas and thoughts (do not outline) List how each element enhances the communication in the passage Make another list of examples and supporting evidence from the passage Review anything you underlined in the passage to include in the lists

Step #2 Plan and Write Your Essay Check through your notes and lists Develop your thesis Organize your ideas and begin writing Number your lists (as an organizing tool) Periodically reread your intro paragraph to be sure you stay on track and prove your thesis Do more than summarize – include your insights, reactions, and emotions.

Step #2 Plan and Write Your Essay Be sure to include examples from the selection Don’t quote to fill space, quote purposefully Remember in the planning stage you shouldn’t write everything out – use abbreviations and ellipses Write an effective concluding paragraph Restate your thesis and summarize how your essay supports it

Step #2 Plan and Write Your Essay Use your “Analyzing Literature” chart with its suggested questions to ask yourself to help you analyze the literary selections and find meaning in what you read.

Step #3 Revise Your Essay Pace yourself Be sure you have at least 2 minutes to reread your essay for proofreading and revision. Cross out irrelevant ideas or words and make any additions – neatly. This is the time to make sure you followed your plan and developed your thesis and correct your grammar and mechanics Is your handwriting legible?

Plan of Attack for the Synthesis Essays

Step #1 Read the material Read the introduction carefully – consider what you think about the topic. Underline the important points/key words in the assignment (these are the things you will need to look for in the sources provided) When you read the claim made in the assignment, decide if you want to challenge, defend, or qualify the claim. Keep this in mind when you read the sources Keep an open mind as well as the sources may change your approach Restate the question to yourself – paraphrase it – to be sure you understand what you are being asked to write about.

Step #1 Read the material continued At this point you will have less than 15 minutes left to read and analyze the sources The assignment will give you a minimum number of sources you MUST use to support your argument Determine the theme/meaning of the selection

Step #1 Read the material continued The first time you read each source – skim! The second time – read carefully! Be aware of the theme, writer’s purpose, intended audience, the source’s impact, any rhetorical devices, and any bias or propaganda elements in each piece

Step #1 Read the material continued Note how the sources are identified. Choose one of the documentation styles given and be consistent (the letter identifiers are faster) use it immediately when taking notes. Underline words/sentences that seem significant and that you might want to quote in your essay. Jot down notes. Remember quoting sources is not the same as internalizing the information from the sources and producing a synthesis of ideas.

Step #2 Plan and Write Your Synthesis Essay After you have read the sources, go back to the intro and question (prompt) and ask yourself if you have changed your mind about what you think about the topic. Reread the assignment and make the final decision to defend, challenge or qualify the claim. Review your notes and the sources and choose at least the minimum number of sources to use in your essay.

Step #2 Plan and Write Your Synthesis Essay continued Brainstorm/list information from sources and your own knowledge that relate to the topic and your position. List point you want to make and list information that supports those points. Using your notes, formulate a thesis statement. Organize your ideas by numbering them in the order you want to use them.

Step #2 Plan and Write Your Synthesis Essay continued Begin writing. Periodically reread your introduction to be sure you stay on track to prove your thesis. Include your own ideas with the information in the sources – DO NOT just summarize or paraphrase the sources. Integrate the information in the sources to create convincing support for your argument. Write an effective conclusion, restate your thesis and summarize your support.

Step #3 Revise Your Essay Pace yourself Be sure you have at least 2 minutes to reread your essay for proofreading and revision. Cross out irrelevant ideas or words and make any additions – neatly. This is the time to make sure you have given attribution to every idea that you used from the sources (both direct and indirect citations). Correct your grammar, usage, and mechanics Is your handwriting legible?