Taking Essay Exams

Writing a good essay exam involves three simple tasks: stating a thesis that answers the question, developing a logical and organized argument using historical evidence that proves the thesis, and drafting a conclusion.  Assuming that students have been diligent in taking notes during lectures and have been thorough in reading the assignments, preparation that covers all three aspects of an essay question will not be difficult, and the result will be a successful essay.

Some professors provide an essay question in advance of the exam, thus affording students the luxury of focusing their efforts on a specific topic while studying for the exam.  In such cases, students should write a complete essay in advance.  Those who assume that because they know the question they need not study or can study just a bit will not perform well.  Frequently, students discover the essay question only when they begin taking the exam.  When that occurs, students need to anticipate potential essay questions, based on the lectures and readings, and to write complete essays that answer those questions.  The more questions they develop, the more likely they are to cover all the material in the course and to be better prepared for the exam.  Obviously, they will benefit the most from this exercise if they guess the exact question the professor will ask, but even if they do not, during the exam they likely will find that they will have some use for the information they have studied or that they may incorporate major sections of the essays they have prepared into their exam essay.

Whether the professor provides an essay question or students work with question they assume the professor might ask, the first task is to analyze the question.  Be sure to understand the question; consider what it is asking the student to do.  Some questions have two or more parts, and students must address all portions of the question to have a complete answer.  Do not include material that does not pertain directly to the question or write about something that is totally different from the question.

Address the question in a concise sentence or two that will serve as the thesis statement.  If the thesis statement does not answer the question or does not do so fully, reconsider the thesis statement.  Furthermore, revise the thesis statement as the essay develops.  Place the thesis statement in the first paragraph of the essay, which also should include a minimal amount of background information.

The body of the essay should prove the thesis statement, and any material that does not relate directly to the thesis should not find its way into the essay.  Structure the body of the essay in a logical manner to reflect the various aspects of the thesis statement.  Sometimes, it is wise to begin with a chronological narrative and then present the analysis.  Other times, a topical approach is warranted although the writer must continue to maintain chronological discipline.  In the revision process, always question whether the organization can be improved.

Write a conclusion that summarizes the way the facts and analysis in the body of the essay prove the thesis.  Do not introduce new evidence or analysis in the conclusion, and do not restate the thesis.