How to Write Answers to Essay Questions
What do essay questions test? They reveal our understanding of a topic, i.e., our recall of terms learned in the course and their correct use; our ability to organize the information (facts and data) into a rational structure; and full coverage of a specified topic.
In other words, essay questions are much more complex than most "objective" questions. This does not mean that the question or answer is subjective, that is, "just someone's opinion." The criteria are just as "objective" as any found in a true/false, fill-in-the-blank, multiple choice, short answer or other "objective" question.
In fact, an essay question is all those "objective" questions and more. When the reader grades the question she asks the following questions:
Are the facts correct? These are true/false, fill-in-the-blank, multiple choice, and short answer questions.
Does the writer use terms correctly? That is, does the writer know the definitions of words well enough to integrate them into their answer? These, too, are true/false, fill-in-the-blank, multiple choice, and short answer questions.
Does the writer organize the information logically and appropriately? This critical thinking aspect commonly not tested by "objective" questions)
Does the writer know the scope of the topic well enough to cover it in the answer? In other words, is the answer complete? These are aspects of knowledge not tested by "objective" questions.
Step by step instructions:
- Read the questions carefully -- If you are offered a choice, decide which one(s) to answer. Your decision will be based on which questions you know best and how many points they are worth.
- Allot time for each question -- An easy way to do this is to divide the number of minutes allotted for the examination by the number of points for the entire test, then multiply that number by the number of point the question is worth.
- Choose to answer the question you are most comfortable with first -- This will build your confidence and will probably get your memory "into gear" for the other questions. This will work even if you are not completely confident about any question. Do not fail to write answers to all the required questions. No answer always means no points -- a "0." Some answer may result in some points.
- Read the question again -- What is the significant point or issue that the question is about? This process should take about 1/3 to 1/2 the time allotted to answering the questions.
- Write down the significant point about the topic. (Go ahead, use the answer sheet to do this! The professor won't mark you down and probably will be impressed!)
- Quickly jot down everything that comes to mind (examples, facts, terms, theories/hypotheses) that might be related to the significant point by using shorthand, abbreviations, symbols, tables, drawings, or any other means to get the ideas swiftly to paper. Do not worry about organization; just get "the stuff" down!
- Review and organize your notes by asking the following questions: Does a logical order come to mind? or, Do you have to deal with one point before another? or, Does one idea lead to another? What facts support these ideas? Number each idea in the order that you want to write about it and mark the facts that support it. Are there any gaps? Fill them in if you can, but don't spend time better spent writing.
- Discard the least significant material! You will probably have more than you need for your answer. Depending on the value of the question, choose only 2 or 3 of the most relevant ideas and supporting facts. Arrange them from most important to least important.
- Start writing your answer --Do this by rewriting the significant point as the topic sentence/or introductory paragraph. Each subsequent sentence should relate an important idea to the topic sentence. In multi-paragraph answers this will be the introductory paragraph. Each sentence of the introductory paragraph becomes the topic sentence of a subsequent paragraph in the body of your answer. In multi-paragraph answers, you will need to rewrite the introduction as a conclusion.
- Do not take more than the allotted time. The professor will see your notes and see that you know the answer even though you couldn't finish it.
- If you have any time left after you have answered all the required questions, review and refine your answers.
In case you haven't noticed, this is the writing process that you began to learn in your English composition courses.
on to:[On Good Writing]
[Answering Essay Questions]
[Writing a Paper]
[How Papers & Essays Are Graded]
