STUDY SKILLS BOOK - Assumption University

specific individual or institution, predict a discussionquestion.- These questions often begin: “Discuss the significanceof...”; “Discuss the role of...”; “Discuss the effect of...”;“Discuss the relationship between....”2. PRACTICE WRITING ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS YOUPREDICT.3. PLAN YOUR APPROACH TO ANSWERING THE ACTUALTEST QUESTIONS.- Note points assigned to each question and allot your timeaccordingly.- If you have a problem with a question, go on to the nextone and come back to the first one later, if possible.- Make brief, concise notes for each essay question.TIPS ON WRITING THE ESSAY-TYPE EXAMINATIONThe well-organized, neat-appearing individual will usually get thenod over another equally capable person who is disorganized andcareless in appearance. Although other factors are involved, theanalogy to examination writing is a skill. This skill can be improvedby instruction. The student would be advised to follow certain stepsin writing an essay exam.1. SET UP A TIME SCHEDULEIf six questions are to be answered in forty-five minutes, allowyourself only five minutes for each. When the time is up for onequestion, stop writing and begin the next one. There will be 15 minutesremaining when the last question is completed. The incompleteanswers can be completed during this time. Six incompleteanswers, by the way, will usually receive more credit than threecompleted ones. Of course, if one question is worth more pointsthan the others you allow more time to write it.2. READ THROUGH THE QUESTIONS ONCEAnswers will come to mind immediately for some questions Writedown key words, listings, etc. now when they’re fresh in mind. Otherwisethese ideas may be blocked (or be unavailable) when thetime comes to write the later questions. This will reduce “clutching”or panic (Anxiety, actually fear which disrupts thoughts).3. BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO ANSWER A QUESTION, LOOKAT THE DIRECTIVE WORDSYour instructor may give you specific directions on how to writeyour answer. If he/she wants you to evaluate a philosophical theory,you won’t get full credit if you describe just the theory. Makesure you know what you are being asked to do.4. OUTLINE THE ANSWER BEFORE WRITINGWhether the teacher realizes it or not, he/she is greatly influencedby the compactness and clarity of an organized answer. To beginwriting in the hope that the right answer will somehow turn up istime consuming and usually futile. To know a little and to presentthat little well is, by and large, superior to knowing much and presentingit poorly--when judged by the grade it receives. Be sure toSTUDY SKILLS BOOK A GUIDE FOR STUDENTS 33