In a timed essay, you don't have time to be clever or creative with your organization or style. You have one purpose--to effectively and efficiently show what you know to someone who is scoring you. So stick to those basics you know:
- Contextualize the topic for the reader
- End your intro with a thesis that is the answer to the prompt--not the prompt reworded as a thesis but an ANSWER to the prompt.
- Begin each body paragraph with a topic sentence--a reason or way your thesis is true
- Use evidence, details, and explanation that proves your topic sentences
- Use your conclusion to wrap up the argument--bring it all together and argue your thesis as a whole
- Restate your thesis
- Answer the "So what?"--what are we to do with this information? why does it matter?
Strategies to help with time crunch
- Take 2-3 minutes to plan your essay. A four-sentence outline (thesis and three topic sentences) will ensure that you stay on track--or at least that you get back on track quickly.
- Keep your intro and conclusion brief until you get comfortable with the timed setting. You don't need to be clever or come up with fancy attention-grabbers. Let the intro and conclusion do what they need to but spend your time on the body.
- Watch your time! Pay attention to the clock and to any time markers the teacher gives you.
- Use ALL of your time. Don't stop until it's the last five minutes. That's plenty of time to write your conclusion. Your score will be made or broken by the body paragraphs--don't end them early!
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