HIS109Y1 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Thesis Statement
ANT 207H Fall 2016
Tips for Exam Writing
1. Read over the entire exam carefully at least once before you start writing.
2. Plan your time wisely. Read the suggested time budget before you start writing
and stick to it as best you can, e.g. if the essay question is worth more than half of
the entire two-hour exam, then give yourself at least an hour to complete it.
3. Answer the right question. Make sure you know what the question is asking
before starting.
4. Underline key words or question prompts. See below for common question
prompts.
5. Start easy questions first; save the hardest for last.
6. Control your response. If you feel yourself freezing up (deer-in-headlights
syndrome), move on to another question and take some slow, deep breaths.
7. Save time for revision. Give yourself at least ten minutes at the end of the exam
period to review your answers.
Essay questions:
• Plan your response. Make an outline before you begin writing.
• Take some time to organize your answer, rather than just spewing out everything
you know. Hint: you can plan and organize your essay questions prior to the
exam.
• Include a thesis statement as an overarching response to the question, several
main supporting points to back up the thesis statement, and examples/evidence
to support your main points.
Short answer questions:
• Strike a balance between “big picture” (i.e., significance, implications) and “small
picture” (i.e., specific points and examples)
Document Summary
Tips for exam writing: read over the entire exam carefully at least once before you start writing, plan your time wisely. Make sure you know what the question is asking before starting: underline key words or question prompts. See below for common question prompts: start easy questions first; save the hardest for last, control your response. If you feel yourself freezing up (deer-in-headlights syndrome), move on to another question and take some slow, deep breaths: save time for revision. Give yourself at least ten minutes at the end of the exam period to review your answers. Make an outline before you begin writing: take some time to organize your answer, rather than just spewing out everything you know. Hint: you can plan and organize your essay questions prior to the exam. Include a thesis statement as an overarching response to the question, several main supporting points to back up the thesis statement, and examples/evidence to support your main points.
