WRITING ESSAYS

Part Three
Special College
Writing Projects
19. Writing under Pressure 319
20. Writing Summaries and
Reports 334
21. Writing the Research Essay 346

319
You Know This
Youve taken tests under pressure.
You study for the test for your
drivers license.
You practice and try out for a
team. 19
Writing under Pressure
Tests and Essay Exams
You will need good reading and writing skills to do well on the many tests
you will take in college. To become a good test-taker, you also need to
develop good test-taking strategies.
Studying for Tests
Some students spend hours studying for a test that they then fail. Often,
they have not studied efciently. This chapter will give you tips on study-
ing for tests and for taking essay exams and other timed writing assign-
ments.
Here are ve reliable tips to help you study for any exam:
TIPS FOR STUDYING
1. Ask about the test.
2. Study with a partner or a group.
3. Predict what will be on the exam.
4. Use study aids.
5. Review actively.

WRITING ESSAYS
320 Part Three Special College Writing Projects
Ask about the Test
Ask your instructor about an upcoming test. Just make sure you ask rea-
sonable questions.
ASK NOT
What part of the course or Whats on the test?
text will it cover?
Will the format be multiple Youre not going to give us an
choice, short answer, or essay? essay question, are you?
Will we be allowed to use notes We can just look up the answers,
or books? right?
What percentage of my course Is this test important?
grade will this count for?
Can you recommend what Do I need to read the book?
to review? Is the stuff you said in class
important?
Will we have the whole period How long is it?
to complete the test?
I know I have to miss class that Is there a makeup test?
day (give your reason). Can I
arrange to take the test at
another time?
Write down your instructors answers to your questions. Dont rely on
your memory. You will be busy enough remembering the material for the
exam without having to remember what your instructor said.
Study with a Partner
or a Group
Forming a study group is well worth the time and effort it takes. Setting a
time to study with others guarantees that youll study, and pooling ideas
improves everyones ability to predict what will be on the test. Do some
preparation before group meetings so that you make the most of the study
time. The tips on the following page can help study group members pre-
pare for a meeting:

WRITING ESSAYS
Chapter 19 Writing under Pressure 321
Each person can take responsibility for a particular section of the
material, preparing a list of ve to ten questions that might be on
the test. Questions and possible responses can then be discussed in
the group.
Each person can photocopy his or her notes on a particular chapter,
section, or topic and distribute them to the members of the group.
Each person can come up with a list of the ve most important things
he or she learned about the material to be covered on the test.
Each person can make a list of things he or she doesnt understand.
Predict What Will Be
on the Exam
Whether you are studying with other people or by yourself, make a list of
what you think will be on the exam. Look over your notes, assignments,
and any previous tests or quizzes. Try writing questions for that material,
and then try answering your own questions.
If you are confused about any material, ask about it either in class,
after class, or during your instructors ofce hours. Your instructor will
probably welcome questions by e-mail as well. Do not go into an exam
knowing that you dont understand a major concept.
PRACTICE 1 PREDICTING THE CONTENT OF A TEST
Imagine that you are having a quiz in this class next week. With a partner or
in a small group, identify three topics that might be on that quiz, and write
one question for each.
TOPIC: Fragments
QUESTION: What are four kinds of sentence fragments?
TOPIC:
QUESTION:
TOPIC:
QUESTION:
TOPIC:
QUESTION:

WRITING ESSAYS
322 Part Three Special College Writing Projects
Use Study Aids
Use one or more of the following study aids or any other that is available
to you to ensure your success:
Reread your notes, looking especially for anything youve underlined or
marked in some other way.
If you are being tested on material from your textbook, reread chapter
reviews, summaries, and boxes containing key concepts.
Review handouts from your instructor.
Consider other ways to review material audiotapes, videos, computer
exercises, study guides, the course or textbook Web site, and so on.
Review Actively
The following are some suggestions for reviewing material actively:
To review material from a book, take notes. Improve your retention by
writing information in your own words.
To review handouts, use a colored pen or highlighter to mark the most
important ideas, most useful facts, and other key information.
Say important material aloud. Many people learn well by hearing some-
thing in addition to seeing it.
To review notes, rewrite them in other words or in another format. For
example, if youve written an outline, transform it into a chart or dia-
gram that shows the relationships among ideas (see, for example, the
clustering diagram on p. 65).
Test-Taking Strategies
Good test-takers know how to manage the test-taking process. They start
with studying, and after they have studied, they move on to the next steps.
For more on active,
critical reading,
see Chapter 2,
pages 2234.
STRATEGIES FOR TAKING EXAMS
1. Be prepared.
2. Manage your nerves.
3. Understand the directions.
4. Survey the whole exam before starting.
5. Develop a plan.

WRITING ESSAYS
Chapter 19 Writing under Pressure 323
Be Prepared
If you have followed the advice in the rst part of this chapter, youve
already done the most important preparation. But dont arrive at the exam
and discover that youve left something essential at home. Take some time
the night before to think about what you need. Make a list of what to bring
(pen? books? calculator? notebook? textbook? computer disk? watch?), and
assemble everything so that its ready to go.
Manage Your Nerves
Get as much rest as possible the night before the exam, and allow extra
time to get to class. Arrive early enough to settle in. Sit up straight, take
a deep breath, and remind yourself that you know the material: Youre
prepared; youre ready; you will pass. When your instructor starts to talk,
look up and listen.
Understand the Directions
Misunderstanding or ignoring directions is a major reason students do
poorly on exams, so please pay attention to the advice here. First, listen to
the spoken directions your instructor gives. Its tempting to start ipping
through the exam as soon as you get it rather than listening to what your
instructor is saying. Resist the temptation. Your instructor may be giving
you key advice or information thats not written elsewhere, and you may
miss it if youre not paying attention.
Second, when you begin the test, carefully read the written direc-
tions for each part. Sometimes, students answer all of the questions in a
section only to nd out afterward that the directions said to answer only
one or two. If you dont understand any part of the directions, be sure to
ask your instructor for clarication.
Survey the Whole Exam
before Starting
Look over the whole exam before doing anything. See how many parts the
exam has, and make sure to look on both sides of all pages. Note the kinds
of questions and the number of points each question or part is worth. The
toughest questions (and the ones worth the most points) are often at the
end, so you will want to leave enough time to answer those.

WRITING ESSAYS
324 Part Three Special College Writing Projects
Develop a Plan
First, budget your time. After surveying the whole test, write down how
much time you will allow for each part. You might even nd it helpful to
calculate what time you want to start each section: Part 1 at 9:40, Part 2
at 9:55, and so on. Make sure you leave enough time for the parts with
the highest point values, such as essay questions: They can take longer
than you think they will. As you plan your time, keep in mind how much
time you really have for the exam: A two-hour exam may be only one
hour and fty minutes once your instructor has nished giving directions.
Remember also to leave a few minutes to check your work.
Second, decide on an order where you should start, what you
should do second, third, and so on. Start with the questions you can an-
swer quickly and easily, but stay within your time budget on them.
Finally, monitor your time during the exam. If you nd youre really
stuck on a question and youre going way over your time budget, move on. If
you have time at the end of the exam period, you can always go back to it.
Answering an Essay Question
An essay question requires writing several well-supported paragraphs in
response to a question or prompt within a set amount of time.
Essay questions on an exam are usually worth more points than short-
answer or multiple-choice questions, so they deserve special attention.
Apply the following strategies to essay questions.
Language Note: Read the whole test through for any vocabulary
you dont understand or cultural issues you are not familiar with. If
you have questions, go to the teacher, and ask for clarication.
STRATEGIES FOR ANSWERING AN ESSAY QUESTION
1. Read and analyze the question.
2. Write a thesis statement.
3. Make an outline.
4. Write your answer.
5. Reread and revise your answer.

WRITING ESSAYS
Chapter 19 Writing under Pressure 325
Read and Analyze the Question
Read an essay question carefully so that you know exactly what it calls for
you to do. Look for three kinds of key words:
Words that tell you what subject to write on.
Words that tell you how to write about it.
Words that tell you how many parts your answer should have.
Tells how many parts the answer should have
Discuss two major causes of personal bankruptcy in this country.
Tells how to write the response Tells what subject to write about
Dene and give examples of the phenomenon of global warming.
Tells how to write the response Tells what subject to write about
The following chart translates some common types of essay questions into
an action plan.
Analyzing Essay Questions
KEY WORDS WHATS REQUIRED SAMPLE ANSWER
Analyze the theory
of relativity.
Break into parts and
discuss.
The theory
of relativity is
made up of four
components . . .
Dene
carpetbaggers.
State the meaning, and
give examples.
Carpetbaggers were
people who. . . .
Describe the steps
in taking a blood
pressure reading.
List and explain the
steps.
To take a persons
blood pressure,
rst. . . . Next, . . . .
Finally, . . . .
Discuss the
causes of poor air
quality.
List and explain the
causes.
Poor air qual-
ity is caused by
several different
factors. . . .
continued

WRITING ESSAYS
326 Part Three Special College Writing Projects
KEY WORDS WHATS REQUIRED SAMPLE ANSWER
Discuss the
effects of ozone
levels.
List and explain the
effects.
Ozone levels af-
fect air quality in
several different
ways. . . .
Discuss the
meaning of
obesity.
Dene and give
examples.
Obesity, which
the NIH denes
as having a body
mass index of 30 or
higher, is reaching
epidemic propor-
tions in some parts
of the industrialized
world. . . .
Compare
obsession and
compulsion.
List and give examples
of how the two items
are similar. (Note:
Sometimes the word
compare can mean to
write about both simi-
larities and differences.
When in doubt, ask.)
Obsession and
compulsion are
both. . . .
Obsession and
compulsion share
some traits such
as . . . , but they
differ in. . . .
Discuss the simi-
larities and dif-
ferences between
obsession and
compulsion.
List and give examples
of how the two items
are similar and how
theyre different.
Obsession and
compulsion share
some traits such
as . . . , but they
differ in. . . .
Contrast obsession
and compulsion.
or
Discuss the
differences
between obsession
and compulsion.
List and give examples
of how the two items
are different.
Obsession and
compulsion are
related disorders,
but they are not the
same. . . .
Evaluate John
Smiths argument.
Make a judgment
about the subject, and
support that judgment
with reasons, opinions,
and evidence.
John Smiths
argument in favor
of X has several
weaknesses. . . .

WRITING ESSAYS
Chapter 19 Writing under Pressure 327
PRACTICE 2 IDENTIFYING KEY WORDS
Read the following essay questions, and then circle the key words that tell what
subject to write about, how to write about it, and how many parts to write. In the
space below each item, explain what the question is asking the writer to do.
EXAMPLE: Dene and illustrate dependency.
Give the meaning of the term dependency and give examples of it.
1. Identify three causes of the second war in Iraq.
2. Trace the stages of grieving.
3. Discuss the problem of the current energy crisis.
KEY WORDS WHATS REQUIRED SAMPLE ANSWER
Explain the term
hyperactivity.
Dene and give
examples.
Hyperactivity is a
condition charac-
terized by. . . .
Trace the
development
of the Industrial
Revolution.
Explain the sequence
of steps or stages of the
subject.
The Industrial
Revolution in the
United States
began. . . .
Identify and
discuss the major
causes of X.
List and give examples. The major causes
of X are. . . .
Should sex
education be taught?
Argue for or against
with reasons, opinions,
and evidence.
Sex education is
essential to . . .
because. . . .
Summarize the
concept of equal
rights.
Give a brief overview. In the United
States, the concept
of equal rights
is the guarantee
that. . . .

WRITING ESSAYS
328 Part Three Special College Writing Projects
4. Should drivers be banned from using handheld cell phones while driving?
Why or why not?
Write a Thesis Statement
Your response should include a thesis statement that is simple and clear.
In the thesis statement, you may want to preview what you plan to cover
in your answer because sometimes an instructor will give partial credit for
information contained in the thesis even if you run out of time to explain
fully.
The best way to stay on track in an essay exam is to write a thesis
statement that contains the key words from the essay question and restates
the question as a main idea. It also helps to reread your thesis statement
several times as you write your exam response.
The following are possible thesis statements for the four essay ques-
tions from Practice 2. Because the answers would depend on material
covered in a course or on particular student opinions, we have used blanks
instead of specic answers.
Three major causes underlie the second Iraq war: ,
, and .
People normally move through stages of grieving:
, , ,
(and however many there are).
The current energy crisis is a problem because it ,
, and .
Drivers should be banned from using handheld cell phones while driving
because of and (or however
many reasons).
PRACTICE 3 WRITING THESIS STATEMENTS
Write possible thesis statements in response to the following sample essay
exam questions. Even if you do not know the answer to the question, write a
thesis statement that responds to the question and lets the reader know what
you will cover (as in the possible answers above).
For more on
writing a thesis
statement, see
Chapter 5.

WRITING ESSAYS
Chapter 19 Writing under Pressure 329
ESSAY EXAM QUESTION: Discuss the concept of First Amendment (free
speech) protection as it relates to pornography on the Internet.
POSSIBLE THESIS STATEMENT: The protection of First Amendment rights
is often cited as a reason not to ban pornography on the Internet.
1. Discuss the causes of the decline of the traditional nuclear family (two
married parents and their children living under the same roof, without
others).
2. Explain the effects of binge drinking.
3. Trace the development of the Industrial Revolution in Lowell,
Massachusetts.
4. Describe the atmospheric conditions that precede a thunderstorm.
5. Discuss three advantages or three disadvantages of reliance on e-mail.
Make an Outline
Make a short, informal outline to map out your answer to an essay ques-
tion or writing prompt. Include any important names, dates, or facts that
occur to you. This outline will help you stick to your main points and
remember essential details as you write.
The following short outline is for a possible essay on the causes for the
decline of the traditional nuclear family (item 1 in Practice 3 above).
THESIS: Many forces have combined to cause a decline in the traditional
nuclear family, and they are not all negative.
CAUSE 1: High rate of divorce
% of marriages that end in divorce
CAUSE 2: Not as much social pressure to marry
Many famous couples have children without being married.
For more on
outlining, see
Chapter 7.

WRITING ESSAYS
330 Part Three Special College Writing Projects
CAUSE 3: Families are dened in broader ways.
Blended families
Single parents
Gay parents
CONCLUSION: Many reasons: Restate causes; make an observation
(concept of family has evolved)
Write Your Answer
Your answer to an essay question should always be in essay form, with an
introductory paragraph, several support points, and a concluding para-
graph. It is a good idea to list all of your key points before providing
details. Some teachers give partial credit for points that reect your un-
derstanding of the topic, even if the points havent been developed. At
the very least, get down the thesis statement and then the rst sentence of
each support paragraph.
Here is an essay written by Brenda White of Quinsigamond Commu-
nity College in response to the essay prompt Discuss your role model.
For more on the
parts of an essay, see
pages 4951 and
Chapters 7 and 8.
My role model is my best friend, Tanya, a single mother. Although
young, unmarried parents are often looked down on in our society,
Tanya has overcome many obstacles and is doing an excellent job
raising her son. I admire her patience, independence, and willingness
to work hard. With these qualities, she dees the stereotype of the
teen parent.
Tanya could have made the choice to terminate her pregnancy, but
she decided not to because she knew that she had the patience to
raise a child, even under difcult circumstances. She has incredible
patience with her son, Quentin. For example, when hes crying even
for a long time shell just rock him until he sleeps. Tanya also has
patience with her friends. She understands that they have other
things to do and cant always be counted on to watch Quentin. Tanya
never gets mad if we cant help her out. She is also patient with her
mother, who is very critical. Tanyas steady patience has gotten her
through many difcult situations.
Independence is another trait that makes Tanya a good role
model. She is raising her son without the help of her parents and
mostly without Quentins father. Tanya does not rely on others to
Introduction
states thesis and
previews support
points.
Support point 1

WRITING ESSAYS
Chapter 19 Writing under Pressure 331
Reread and Revise Your Answer
After you have nished writing your answer to an essay question, reread
it carefully. Then, revise your response to make it clearer, more precise,
and more detailed.
Teachers sometimes use a scoring rubric, which consists of the
criteria or standards they use to judge the quality of an essay. Al-
though scoring rubrics vary from one teacher to the next, most rubrics
used to evaluate writing include some basic elements:
Fullls the assignment. (Has the writer followed the assignment and
answered the question? Does the essay stay focused on the topic?)
Contains a thesis statement. (Does the essay clearly state the topic and
the writers main point about it?)
Contains accurate information. (Does the essay include correct answers
or reliable information?)
Provides adequate support for the thesis. (Is the thesis backed by major
support points, which are in turn supported by examples and details?)
Uses correct language and expression. (Is the essay free of major errors
in grammar, mechanics, and usage?)
care for her son or make decisions about his care; she does what
needs to be done. She is also nancially independent. She spends
the money she earns wisely, only on things that are necessary. She
pays her own tuition, rent, and, of course, the expenses of bringing
up Quentin. Tanya has earned her independence and is wise about the
actions she takes.
Tanya is a very hard worker, pushing herself to the maximum.
She works two jobs so she can provide for her growing son. Tanya
also maintains an A average in her college courses. She has always
gone beyond the normal, everyday achievements. For example, she
graduated from high school on the honor roll while living on her own
and supporting her son. She works hard and sticks to her belief that
education is valuable. Tanya has gone beyond the traditional denition
of hardworking.
In some peoples eyes, Tanya is just a single, teenage mother, a
burden on society. But to me, Tanya is a wonderful role model. She
has accomplished a lot in her young life. She has also gained control
of her life and her surroundings by being patient, independent, and
hardworking. Tanya is a single, teenage parent, but she is also a
worthy role model.
Support point 2
Support point 3
Conclusion
sums up and
strengthens
response to
essay prompt.

WRITING ESSAYS
332 Part Three Special College Writing Projects
Scoring rubrics often have points or percentages attached to each element.
A typical scoring rubric might look like this:
ELEMENT TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE STUDENT SCORE
Adherence to assignment 20 18
Thesis statement 15 15
Accurate information 30 25
Development of ideas 25 20
Language and expression 10 10
TOTAL POINTS 100 88
If your teacher provides you with a rubric, use it to set priorities as you re-
view and revise your essay. Otherwise, consider the elements in the sample
rubric as you revise your essay exam.
When you are writing by hand (rather than using a computer), revise
your essay by neatly crossing out mistakes and adding extra words or sen-
tences between the lines or in the margin, like this:
Groups of people living together have expectations about how
the group should function and how to keep order within the group.
Societies need to have rules and laws. This semester, we learned
about social deviance, which is any behavior that does not conform to
expectations of the group and which violates the groups sense of
, those who break societys rules,
order. For example, criminals
^
are social deviants. Rather than thinking
that we can or should eliminate deviant behavior altogether, I agree
with sociologist Emile Durkheim that deviance is necessary. a necessary
element of any healthy social group.
WRITING ASSIGNMENTS
Choose one of the following topics, and write an essay on it using the strate-
gies for answering an essay question beginning on page 324. To practice with
timed writing, give yourself a 50-minute time limit.
For more on
revising, see Chapter 9.

WRITING ESSAYS
Chapter 19 Writing under Pressure 333
1. Write an essay agreeing or disagreeing with one of the following
statements:
Schoolchildren have too many vacations.
Most students cheat.
People should be required to retire at age sixty-seven.
People should live together before they get married.
There are no valuable lessons to be learned from studying history.
2. Dene responsibility.
3. Propose a solution to a major problem in your town or city.
4. Discuss a person who has had great inuence on you.
5. Discuss an event that changed your life.