Question and In-class Essays
) Prepare! In-class essays require that you do your preparation...beforehand. Make sure you attend class and complete the necessary reading and assignments. If you have to miss a class, make arrangements with a trustworthy classmate to share notes with you, or ask your teacher or professor if a tape recorder is allowed. Most teachers will not be able to “re-teach” the class for you, so assume that you will be responsible for any material you’ve missed.
2) Practice. Draw up a list of possible questions you think might be on the test, and ask a friend to choose randomly from your list and then time you. Even just asking your friend to come up with an unrelated topic on which you must write under a time deadline will be helpful in flexing your mental muscles.
3) Choose wisely...and relax! More often than not, you will be allowed a number of essays from which to choose. When you are handed your options, before you even look at the list, take a few seconds to take a deep breath and flex your hands. Tell yourself, “I can do this!” A positive frame of mind and a relaxed body will calm your nerves. Then scan for questions you feel confident in answering.
4) What kind of essay is it? There are two types of in-class essays: short and long.
Short essays: If you are writing a short essay, you will want to identify a term or concept and briefly discuss its significance. Don’t fall into the “quantity” vs. “quality” dilemma. Focus on being concise and direct. Your instructor is looking to see if you know the term well enough to both define and explain it. After you provide your definition/explanation, then focus on how the term was used in lectures or in reading assignments, or how the term is understood in context.
Long essays: Longer essays are aimed not only at your understanding of a term’s definition, but also your ability to discuss facts, theories, and themes. In a longer essay, you will want to answer some basic questions and expand upon them. Answer the
2) Practice. Draw up a list of possible questions you think might be on the test, and ask a friend to choose randomly from your list and then time you. Even just asking your friend to come up with an unrelated topic on which you must write under a time deadline will be helpful in flexing your mental muscles.
3) Choose wisely...and relax! More often than not, you will be allowed a number of essays from which to choose. When you are handed your options, before you even look at the list, take a few seconds to take a deep breath and flex your hands. Tell yourself, “I can do this!” A positive frame of mind and a relaxed body will calm your nerves. Then scan for questions you feel confident in answering.
4) What kind of essay is it? There are two types of in-class essays: short and long.
Short essays: If you are writing a short essay, you will want to identify a term or concept and briefly discuss its significance. Don’t fall into the “quantity” vs. “quality” dilemma. Focus on being concise and direct. Your instructor is looking to see if you know the term well enough to both define and explain it. After you provide your definition/explanation, then focus on how the term was used in lectures or in reading assignments, or how the term is understood in context.
Long essays: Longer essays are aimed not only at your understanding of a term’s definition, but also your ability to discuss facts, theories, and themes. In a longer essay, you will want to answer some basic questions and expand upon them. Answer the