Can
you guys believe that the semester is already halfway over? It’s exciting and
also a little scary for those of us with deadlines looming over our heads.
Midterms means papers are due.
Sometimes
those papers are written outside of class, but other times they’re timed essays
that are written during the actual midterm. Being told to write an essay in an
hour, in a classroom with the instructor watching can trigger anxiety. Don’t
fret. Here are some tips on how to tackle that in-class essay.
Be
prepared:
If possible, do research ahead of time. A lot of times,
teachers will give you the essay topics in advance. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS!
Compose simple outlines for each topic and make sure you know the basics like
names, dates, titles, and possible quotes. Writing about a literary piece? Find
quotes ahead of time and mark important moments in your story. Your teacher
will let you know if you can use your notes. Even if you can’t use your notes,
there’s no need to panic. Just be prepared!
Spend
your time wisely:
You don’t want to run out of time and only have an
introduction written. To avoid that possibility, do not spend too much time on
any one part of the essay. It will be better to have a whole essay than one
stellar introduction when you’re finished. Trust me.
Leave
time for revision:
This goes with the previous tip. Make sure that you leave
enough time to revise your essay when you’re finished. You want to make sure
that everything makes sense.
Practice:
If you’re still really nervous, then practice! If you have
the topics ahead of time or have a good idea of what the topic might be, you
can practice writing a timed essay. It should alleviate some stress about the
actual thing. On the flip side, if you find that you have a hard time writing
the practice essay, then you may be able to figure out what you need to work on
before the big day.
Visit
the Stone Writing Center:
Remember that Stone Writing Center can help! We can help you
prepare for the exam and offer feedback on your practice essays.
Most
of all, take a deep breath, and do your best. Hopefully these tips help you
feel a bit better. We’ve all been there, and it does get easier over time.
Remember, too, that spring break is just around the corner!
That’s
it for this time, Roxy Readers!
See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the
waves roll into view! ‘Til then, hang ten!
