1. Test Taking
Lecture 5
The Essay Test

2. Strategies for Handling the Essay
Test
Read the question carefully.
Look for & circle key direction
words.
SAMPLE ESSAY
PROMPT:
List the steps
necessary to
make a peanut
butter & jelly
sandwich. Then describe each step.
Define Give an example
List Explain
Evaluate Discuss
Describe Summarize
Compare Contrast

3. Other Essay Exam Tips: Make notes of ideas in the margin of the exam.
Re-state the question in the first sentence of
your essay.
EXAMPLE:
ESSAY QUESTION: What were the causes of the Civil War?
START OF YOUR ESSAY: The causes of the Civil War were…
Answer ALL parts of the essay question.
Be specific and concise in your answer…say what
you need to say but with the fewest words
necessary to get your point across.

4. Continuation of Essay Exam Tips…
Use a pen…
easier on instructor’s eyes.
Write on one side of the page.
Use transition words to connect all parts of the
question.
What are some examples of transition
words?
In addition, Furthermore, Secondly,
Finally, Subsequently, Next,
Moreover, However, In contrast,
Transition words are like road signs that
tell the reader where your essay is
heading!

5. Ways to Organize Your Essay:
Before you ever start writing your actual essay,
you need to spend some time PLANNING it.
Making an outline is one of the most popular
ways to plan an answer to an essay question.
A typical 5-paragraph essay outline might
look like this:
Introduction/Thesis Statement
First main idea that supports thesis
A. supporting details
B. supporting details
III. Second main idea that supports thesis
IV. Third main idea that supports thesis
V. Conclusion/Summary

6. Sample Essay Outline: Sources of Stress
ESSAY QUESTION: Describe the major
contributions to stress in people’s lives and the
effects that stress has on people.
Sources of Stress
A. Major life stressors (changes in life events)
1. Social Readjustment Rating Scale-SRRS
a. measures intensity of change
2. Life Experiences Survey--LES
3. Measurement problems
B. Little Hassles
1. Daily frustrations affect your health
C. Catastrophic Events
1. 5 stages of response to disaster
D. Societal and Environmental Problems

7. Another Way to Organize Same Essay:
Mind Mapping
intensity
SRRS
Supporting
details go
in these
circles.
Major Life
Stressors
4 main points
go in this next
level of circles.
LES
measurement
problems
Little
Hassles
Sources of
Stress
Daily
frustra-
tions
Main topic
goes in
center circle.
Catastrophic
Events
Societal and
Environmental
Problems
5 stages of
response

8. Characteristics of a GOOD Essay Response
Thesis statement clearly restates the essay
question.
Each part asked for in the essay question is
covered.
Supporting points are specific, well-chosen, &
well-developed.
Transitions show clear relationships between
ideas.
Characteristics of a POOR Essay Response
Not focused
Not organized
Not complete
Not well-developed