Hello again, Roxy Readers!
Ever feel like a timed writing assignment has you paddling against a giant wave? Writing within a time limit can feel overwhelming, especially when you can’t work on your essay outside of class. But don’t wipe out just yet! With a little planning and practice, you can make the most of that class time and ride the wave all the way to the finish!
Plan It Out Before You Paddle Out
One of the biggest mistakes writers make is jumping straight into their essay without figuring out where they’re going. Then suddenly, you’re halfway through paragraph two thinking, “Wait... where am I going with this?” 😅
Instead, spend your first five minutes planning. Trust Roxy! It can save you a lot of time later!
Before you start writing:
Reread the instructions. Look for the most important things your professor is asking you to do.
Choose your topic or stance. Decide what you want your essay to say.
Map it out. Jot down your thesis, main points, and supporting evidence on scratch paper.
For example, imagine your assignment says:
“Write an essay that makes an argument about what adults should do to live a healthier lifestyle.”
First, I’d think about a topic I know well and could easily support with evidence. Naturally, Roxy is going with surfing! 😊
Then, I’d create a thesis that gives my entire essay a direction:
“Adults should incorporate surfing into their lifestyle because the sport has many health benefits, including strengthening the heart and lungs, sharpening balance and leg strength, and promoting mental health benefits such as mindfulness.”
Boom! 🌊 In about five minutes, I have my argument and a roadmap for the rest of my essay.
Now I’m ready to paddle out!
Reminder: Don’t forget to give your essay a quick intro and conclusion, just like you would with any other paper! But remember: the thesis and body paragraphs are the main waves to focus on, so make sure they get most of your attention.
Spend Your Time Where the Big Waves Are
Once you have your thesis, your body paragraphs become much easier to build because your thesis has already given you your main points.
Your body paragraphs will make up most of your essay, so this is where you’ll want to spend the most time.
Using our surfing example, my three body paragraphs would focus on:
Body Paragraph 1: Improving heart and lung health
Body Paragraph 2: Improving balance and leg strength
Body Paragraph 3: Maximizing mental health benefits, such as mindfulness
Next, I’ll add evidence to support each claim. Depending on the assignment, this might come from your personal experiences or from a book or article you’ve already read.
Since you’ve already planned your topic and argument, finding the right evidence should feel much less like searching for a lost surfboard and much more like catching the wave you already prepared for!
At the end of the allotted time, save yourself a few minutes to reread what you have written and to make any last-minute revisions or edits to fully solidify any missing pieces!
Want to Get Better? Practice Riding the Waves!
Like any writing skill, timed writing gets easier with practice. The more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll become writing under pressure.
Here are a couple of ways to practice outside of class:
Practice in chunks: Break the writing process into smaller pieces. For example, give yourself five minutes to come up with a thesis.
Simulate real conditions: Grab an old assignment, choose an impromptu topic, and give yourself the same amount of time you’ll have in class. Try writing without your notes!
Timed writing might feel like the weight of the world is sitting on your shoulders, but you don’t have to let that pressure pull you underwater. Make a plan, focus on the biggest waves, and trust yourself!
Now grab your metaphorical surfboard, Roxy Readers, and go ride that writing wave! 🏄♀️🌊
Writing Rocks!
Roxy <3
