SMARTHINKING Writer's Handbook

Chapter 1, Lesson 9

Writing In-Class Essays

Objective

In this lesson, you'll learn how to prepare for, develop, and write successful in-class and standardized test essays.

Introduction

In addition to short-answer tests, you'll also write in-class essay tests during your college career. An in-class essay test usually involves writing on a single question for the entire exam period. Your answer to the question may be nearly as long as a paper you would write at home.

Spontaneously written essays often perform what is called a "gatekeeper" function. Some schools require students to write a passing in-class essay before being released from a first-year English requirement. You also may encounter essay questions in graduate and professional school exams. Both the LSAT and MCAT, tests that determine whether you will be accepted to law or medical school, currently include an essay component.

Preparing for the In-Class Essay

Preparation is your key to success. Here are some tips on preparing for essay tests:

• Know what the grader expects out of your essay
  Some professors stress content over grammar, while others stress good grammar as well as informative writing. Developing strong content lets your professor know that you can think logically and provide the details necessary for supporting your essay's thesis. Focusing on readable prose and correct grammar tells your professor that you can write clearly under pressure. Both goals involve skills that college administrators believe are important for their graduates to possess.
  

  While both are important, however, your professor may value one goal over the other. Since essay tests usually count for a large percentage of your grade or may serve to promote you to the next level of instruction, you'll need to learn what your professor expects from you. If you "clutch" or "grip" when asked to write spontaneously, practice writing essays under time constraints in your dorm or home. If you're weak in grammar, spend time learning to edit and proofread under time constraints.
  

• Know the ground rules
  Don't be caught off guard when you walk into your class or exam room. Take time before the test to ask your instructor what type of question/s you'll be asked. Also ask about the ground rules: How long should the finished essay be? Should I use a pen or a pencil? Will I be writing in a blue book or on individual sheets of paper? Can I use my writing handbook or notes? Can I use a laptop computer? Knowing the answers to these questions will help you to be prepared and tackle the exam with confidence.
  
  
• Practice makes perfect
  Before the important test, practice writing sample essays under the same time constraints that you'll have for the in-class essay. This practice will help you learn how much you can write in the time allowed, and it'll teach you to use your time wisely. If the exam tests your semester's class content, prepare by rereading your class notes. Start at least the week before the exam and read all of your notes each night. Two nights before the test, begin asking yourself practice questions that seem pertinent to the professor's focus. Write a few practice essays. This kind of studying allows you to really know, to own, the material and will help you to write a stronger essay under pressure.
  

• Warm up your muscles
  Athletes have to warm up before practice and games, and so do writers. Free writing is one method of warm up that really can be helpful. It is the process of writing as much as you know about a subject without focusing on grammar or structure. Ten to twenty minutes before your essay, sit down and free write, just letting your words flow--the more the better.

Writing the In-Class Essay

• Reflect
  Before the professor hands you the assignment, take a few minutes to reflect on what is expected of you and your essay. What skills is the grader hoping to find in your writing? Is this essay testing both your ideas and your ability to express them well?
  
  
• Materials
  Make sure that all materials are ready and available. If you're using a test booklet, do you have to buy it, or is it provided for you? Are you supposed to use a pen or a pencil? If you are allowed to use a dictionary, a thesaurus, or a writing handbook, do you have them? Take advantage of whatever resources your professor or grader will allow so that you can do your best.
  
  
• Read the question/s carefully
  Before you begin writing, take time to read the question/s or assignment thoroughly. Underline any key phrases or concepts that come to your attention. Circle any words that you don't understand and ask your professor to explain them if necessary. If you're confused, go to the next step of outlining. In the process of listing basic ideas, your mind probably will unravel the confusion.
  
  
• Determine your thesis
  All essays need a thesis, or a main point. Read your question and determine what your main point will be. In an essay exam, often you can turn the test question into a statement of your point. For the following sample question, think about possible thesis statements and what they mean for your essay: How did the Crusades affect the economy in Europe?
  • You could write: The Crusades affected the European economy in four essential ways. In this case, your essay would require a brief introduction, four body paragraphs, and a brief conclusion.
    
    
  • Or, you could write: Europe's economy was influenced significantly by the Crusades. Here, the thesis does not indicate how many paragraphs your essay will require, but it does guide your reasoning by directing you to look at the significant, or most outstanding, economic changes that Europe encountered.
    
    
    
• Outline
  Outlining your answer before you begin writing is perhaps the single most important step for writing good in-class essays. Your outline does not need to be any more formal than a simple list of the major points you want to make and the supporting details that you'll include. This kind of outline jogs your memory before and during your writing process.

  Not only does the outline give you confidence as you move through the essay, but it helps you focus on the necessary details. Following your outline is like driving with a map: You can concentrate on where you're going instead of stopping frequently to puzzle over the next direction.

• Writing the essay
  • Begin your essay with a brief introduction paragraph and the thesis that you distilled from the question.
    
    
    • For an in-class essay, a traditional, simple structure is fine. Use one paragraph for each main point, so if you have three main points, your essay will have five paragraphs, including the introduction and conclusion. Since time is limited, don't waste it trying to be creative with your paragraph structure.

      For a five-paragraph essay, the first paragraph is your introduction. It contains your thesis statement, usually as the final sentence of the paragraph.

      The second, third, and fourth paragraphs are the body of your essay. Each paragraph should begin with a topic sentence that supports your thesis. The remaining sentences should provide details that define, defend, and/or justify the topic sentence.

      Your final paragraph should be the conclusion, which summarizes your main points and thesis. Readers appreciate a conclusion in an essay test because it shows that you know how to close an essay properly.

• Keep it simple
  When you're writing the essay, don't try to be poetic or dramatic. Instead, write clearly and keep it simple. Write as though you're talking to your professor about the question you're answering.
  
  
• Write neatly
  If you're handwriting the essay instead of using a computer, be sure to write legibly. Write using every other line on one side of the page, enabling you to add details when you review the first draft. For essay tests, most professors accept neat cross-outs and arrows that direct the reader to the back of the page if you need to add or change information. If you are able to use the computer, make sure that it's okay to use your spelling and grammar checker for aid. In either case, don't plan to rewrite! You won't have time and your professor doesn't expect you to do this.
  
  
• Re-read the essay when you're done
  It can be tempting to hand in the essay immediately after you finish writing the last paragraph, but don't do it! Use all of the time that you're given. If you finish early, take time to re-read and proof the essay. Ask yourself the following questions:

Looking at Content

• Is my thesis in the first paragraph?
• Does my essay support and prove my thesis statement?
• Do I have three or more main body paragraphs?
• Does each paragraph have a topic sentence that supports the thesis?
• Does each paragraph support the topic sentence?
• Does the conclusion tie everything together and appropriately end the essay?
• Are my facts accurate?

Proofreading

• Is my handwriting legible?
• Are there any spelling errors?
• Have I misused any words?
• Are there any sentence fragments, run-ons, or serious punctuation errors?

  Exercise

  
  Test your knowledge. Without looking back on the material in this section, answer the following True or False questions. After you are done, click enter and see how you did.

1. Every professor expects the same things in an in-class essay.

True
False

2. I should practice writing timed essays before the in-class essay.

True
False

3. I should take a nap about 10 to 20 minutes before I start writing the essay.

True
False

4. It is wise to freewrite before taking the essay to warm my brain up.

True
False

5. I should not use any books or notes even if my professor lets me.

True
False

6. I should make an outline before I start to write.

True
False

7. The thesis statement is the first thing I should write.

True
False

8. I should write simple, clear sentences for an in-class essay.

True
False

9. When I am finished, I should immediately turn in the essay.

True
False

10. If I do not like what I have written, I should re-write the essay.

True
False

Summary

Writing in-class essays can be challenging. However, if you take time to prepare and practice writing them, as well as to organize your time wisely, you can write successful spontaneous essays.