1. SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING IN CLASS WRITING ASSIGNMENTS TIMED WRITING

2. GENERAL TIPS Read the prompt carefully and circle key terms. Understand what it is asking. Identify what questions you are being asked. Stay focused on a consistent thesis/central idea throughout.

3. KEY TERMS Analyze- to separate something into parts and then discuss those parts and their meanings. Classify- to arrange into groups on the basis of shared characteristics. Compare and contrast- to show similarities and their differences. Criticize- to judge and discuss the merits and faults of your subject. Define- to explain or identify the nature or essential qualities of your subject. Discuss- to consider or examine by argument, comment or debate, or to explore solutions. Evaluate- to appraise the worth of an idea, comment, etc. and justify your conclusion. Explain- to make clear or intelligible something that needs to be understood or interpreted. Illustrate- to use specific examples or analogies to clarify or explain something. Interpret- to define information through an explanation based on personal opinion. Justify- showing or proving that something is valid or correct. Prove- to present evidence that cannot be refuted logically or with other evidence. Relate- to show the connections between two or more things. Review- to reexamine, summarize, or reprise something. Summarize- to briefly repeat the major points of something. Support- to argue in favor of something.

4. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT The ability to write quickly and put thoughts into words is called fluency. Fluency can be developed with practice. Keep a journal Write daily Understand the subject thoroughly Reread your notes You must know – own – the material

5. BRAINSTORM Divide your time between brainstorming, writing, and proofreading Example: 5-7 minutes to free write 35-40 minutes to write 5 minutes to read through Free association vs. structured outlines Webbing, listing, free writing, outlining

6. THESIS Answer the prompt directly. Quick thesis format guide: Topic + limited topic + significance = Thesis Writing+college writing+ similar to business writing College writing is similar to writing in the business world. College writing is similar to writing in the business world in three important ways: Both types of writing must be logical, well developed, and clear.

7. THESIS Use the essay question to help formulate your thesis: How did the Crusades affect the economy in Europe? The Crusades affected the European economy in four essential ways. OR Europe's economy was influenced significantly by the Crusades.

8. STRUCTURE What type of structure is the essay asking for? Prompts that ask you to compare/contrast: Balance the comparison Compare/contrast on specific points Prompts that ask for causes and effects: Causes – why something happened Effects – Results Prompts that ask how: Explain how Napoleon Bonaparte rose to power in France. Make use of descriptive and narrative strategies

9. STRUCTURE Introduction: Introduce the topic and put the thesis at the end of the intro An introduction should have any background information necessary for the reader to understand the topic Body Make sure that each body paragraph relates back to the thesis and has a strong topic sentence Conclusion Summarize Reiterate the most important point Propose a solution Predict the future

10. Do you prove the argument laid out in your thesis? What errors are you most likely to make? Proofread for only one kind of error at a time. Read the paper backwards. Read slow, and read every word. SAVE TIME FOR PROOFREADING