How long should a timed essay be

This is very important. Many students will neglect to outline an in-class essay because they fear running out of time, but not outlining can actually lead to more time-related issues because you are likely to get confused as you draft without having a plan of some sort. Remember, organization is everything when you are writing academic or professional essays, and outlining makes sure you stay organized! As you begin filling out your outline, a major decision you need to make is in what order to put your general examples to best support your thesis.

In some cases, chronological order might work; for example, in the above example about the tuna sandwich, you might have come up with a number of reasons the sandwich was a regrettable choice, and those reasons might have happened one after the other. Maybe the first reason is that the bread you got out of the pantry was old and moldy. Maybe another reason is the nasty condiments you then put on the bread from the fridge, and the final reason is the cheap and sickly tuna itself that you ended up spreading on that bread.

In this silly and very basic example, each element of the sandwich was added in sequential order, so you could actually take the reader through the process chronologically, ending with the final sad step when the questionable tuna was added to the concoction. A likely more effective organizational strategy for an in-class example essay is to use emphatic order to present your idea, which we discussed in our last module. This is when you move from your least important point to your most powerful reason.

Sometimes when you are planning an in-class essay, this level of importance can be hard to identify, so ask yourself this question: about which of the main points I am trying to make do I have the most to say? Given two topics from which to choose, you will have 60 minutes to compose an essay without the benefit of references or resources. This assignment is worth points. The timed essay will take place in a proctored exam setting.

Privacy Policy. Skip to main content. Module 4: Timed Writing. Search for:. Module 4: Timed Writing Module Introduction In our first module, we discussed the anxiety that living with our symbiotic technology, language, can cause us when we are in situations like job interviews when we have to communicate in specialized ways and so must suddenly be aware of how that technology is functioning.

Step 1. When in doubt, the introduction paragraph can be comprised of: A general statement, in which the topic, subject, theme, or concept is very generally introduced. A specific statement, in which the general statement is given some specificity, elaboration, clarification, etc.

A thesis statement, in which the argument, claim, or goal of the response is introduced. Most body paragraphs should include: Transition words to organize the points, evidence, support, etc. Direct quotes to support the original thesis statement or claim made in the introduction.

Interpretation of the quotes and explicit statement of how the quotes support the claim or argument. Most conclusions should include: A restatement of the thesis; advanced writers in middle and high school grades should work to rephrase the thesis statement. The overall claim or argument is the same; however, the wording is varied to avoid redundancy. A final confirmation of the texts that were referenced and how they specifically relate to the topic or prompt.

A final statement to again generalize the purpose of the essay. Reread each paragraph individually It helps to read a response with fresh eyes to determine that writing is consistent and relative to the purpose of the prompt. Part 1. Figure out how much time you have. You will need to do the following during your time: Read and understand the prompt.

Learn how many paragraphs it must consist of besides an introductory and closing paragraph. Most often times, it will need anywhere from two to three body paragraphs besides the intro and concluding paragraph.

Make sure the prompts wants you to write an essay and not just a simple short answer that could consist of a few sentences to one full paragraph. Think in terms of the pros and cons of the arguments and what supporting details lead you to the facts you'd like to present in the essay.

Jot down an outline on some scrap paper Write the essay based on the outline! Don't ever write without some notes and knowledge of the subject at hand. Proofread your essay. No reader ever wants grammatical and spelling errors to be present.

Submit on time. Organize your time for a minute timed essay. For a longer or shorter essay, use this same time ratio for each step. Break down your writing time per paragraph. For a minute essay, it would look like this: Introduction: 3 minutes Paragraph 1: 6 minutes Paragraph 2: 5 minutes Paragraph 3: 5 minutes Conclusion: 2 minutes.

Part 2. Focus on your outline. If you don't know where you're going with your essay when you start, it's likely that the end product will not be as focused as you want it to be. When outlining, try to focus your thoughts into a cohesive progression of ideas. That way, each paragraph leads into the next, making it easier to both write and read. Keep an eye on the time to make sure you are on track. Wearing a wristwatch is recommended so you don't have to rely on a clock in the room or on the proctor announcing how much time is left.

Write clearly and concisely. You don't have much time to get your ideas across or revise, so you should focus on getting the message across well. Part 3. Double check the essay to proofread it. Make sure that there are no grammatical errors nor any spelling errors nor any errors that would make you want to scratch your head wondering what you meant by your statements.

Make sure that the essay has been submitted to the specifications of the reader. Essays that aren't long enough, won't be well understood and those that are too long can sometimes be quite wordy and lose the concept fairly quickly in each paragraph of the essay. Check over your facts. Did you cite your sources, if external sources had to be used?