English 1A: Essay Exam #2
You will have one class period to write an essay in response to the following question:
1. Based on what you've read, thought about, experienced, written, and heard this semester, what is a key feature or some of the key features that define what it means to be a "college writer?"
IMPORTANT: The audience for this essay is English 1A students at the beginning of the course next semester. I will select and distribute some of the essays written in response to this prompt and distribute them to the students.
You should use quotes from The Shape of Reason, They Say, I Say, and/or other sources as appropriate in your essay, and you should document these according to MLA format (YOU MAY PREPARE YOUR WORKS CITED PAGE BEFORE THE EXAM AND BRING IT WITH YOU TO ATTACH TO THE ESSAY).
As usual, the essay you write will be an argument and should demonstrate that you have thought carefully about the question. Use the features of arguments we've been discussing to help you communicate your ideas:
An introduction that gives readers a sense of the specific problem/question at issue;
A clearly worded, focused thesis statement that expresses a judgment in response to the question at issue;
Supporting body paragraphs that offer reasons and evidence that support the thesis;
Paragraphs that acknowledge, accommodate, and refute opposing points of view (this will likely involve dealing with misconceptions people may have--i.e. what a college writer isn't).
IMPORTANT NOTES
You may consult your own copy of Shape of Reason, They Say, I Say, etc. during the exam, but you MAY NOT consult a classmate's texts, any note sheets/cards, or websites. You are encouraged to annotate your text in ways that will help you during the exam.
You will have only the 2 hour 5 minute class period to write the essay. I will not accept essays after the allotted time has passed.
You are free to handwrite your essay or type it on a computer.
If you have DSPS accommodations, you must present written documentation of these at least two days before the essay writing period.
You should prepare carefully and thoroughly for this essay. Don't make the mistake of brainstorming, planning, and writing the essay on the day of the exam. Do your brainstorming and planning ahead of time, and walk into class on the exam day prepared to write.
You can prepare to write this essay in any way you choose. Talk with classmates, tutors, your instructor, friends, and family members about your ideas, and write practice essays.
Some Timed Essay Tips
Read the prompt carefully and ask questions immediately about anything you don't understand.
Talk with friends, family members, and classmates about the question at issue you're engaging. Explore the issue through freewriting and drafting. Get to know your way around the question at issue.
Walk into class on the of the exam with a plan. You should have a precise, wordsmithed, workable thesis memorized, an idea for an introduction that frames the question at issue, a clear idea about the major ideas you will develop in the body to support your thesis, examples you will use, etc. Do not make the enormous mistake of not thinking and planning your essay ahead of time.
Before you begin writing, plan and budget your time! If you have 85 minutes to do the exam, you should allow yourself 5-10 minutes to collect your thoughts, calm down, get settled, scratch out an outline, and note take. You should have a specific focus and rough outline for your essay before you begin writing. It may seem difficult to spend valuable exam time getting ready to write, but your essay will be better and easier to write if you do. Spend 75 minutes writing the essay and 5-10 minutes proofreading. Don't make the mistake of not using all your allotted time, and do not compose all the way until the very last minute and deprive yourself of time to proofread.
Draft the essay with clear explanations, lots of relevant details, and with a specific focus.
Proofread and spell check.