1. Writing Under Pressure
Strategies for Success

2. How do you feel about timed writing?
Love it?
Hate it?
Fear it?
Doesn’t bother you?
GET STRESSED?

3. Nobody likes “pressure” but…
Bite the bullet. doing things under pressure is a part of life
Prepare yourself. there are strategies and skills that you can learn to make it easier
Put yourself at ease. stress can work against you

4. Strategies for Success1
Understand the question.
Actually answer the question.
Budget your time well.
Follow your writing process. 2 3

5. Why students fail essay exams?
The biggest reason students fail essay exams is that they simply don’t answer the question.
FACT

6. First, understand the question.
Identify the CUE words. What is the question asking you to do?
describe, argue, criticize, analyze, discuss, classify, compare, defend, debunk, define, summarize, prove, relate, support, etc.
Identify the KEY words. What is the question asking you to write about?
Key words tell you the information, topics, and ideas you are to write about; look for the “content” words in the question/prompt.
EXAMPLE:
Criticize the architectural function of the modern football stadium.
CUE
KEY

7. It’s really about time management.
Budget the time that you have in order to complete your task as well as you can.
Make a plan and stick to it.
Pace yourself.
A complete essay that’s “just ok” is much better than a “perfect” incomplete essay.

8. Leave time for everything.
Planning
Analyze and understanding the question
Consider your audience and purpose
Brainstorm
Create a timetable
Generating Content
Develop a thesis
Generate reasons to support your thesis
Analyze your reasons and adjust your thesis
Create an outline
Revising
Fill in your outline
Provide logical transitions
Read for missing connections
Fill in any gaps
Proof read (always save time for this)
10%
40%
50%

9. Follow your writing process.
Your writing process is your writing process: follow it.
Just compress the time you spend at each stage of your process; don’t cut any steps out.
Read and understand the task.
Prewrite/brainstorm.
Write a clear simple thesis statement. (Restate the prompt?)
Create an outline. (Move beyond abstraction.)
Work from your outline, filling it in to create full paragraphs. Connect ideas logically. Fill in gaps.
Revise. (This is essential.)
Proofread and edit!

10. To Summarize…
Think first, then write. After writing, read, revise, and read again.