Topic

Strategies for Taking Tests

Essay Tests

Goals and Objectives

To make students aware of effective test taking strategies for essay/discussion type tests

To provide practice in writing and analyzing effective answers to essay questions

To make sure students know what direction words are asking them to do

Resources

Textbook The Confident Student Chapter 11 pages 246-269

Power Point Slides Direction Words

Some Internet Sources

Checklist for Discussion or Essay Tests

Taking Essay Tests

Essay Exams

Strategies for Reading Essay Exams

Answering Essay Questions

The Writing of a History Essay Examination

Ideas and Activities

After covering the material in the text, a good way to check understanding of what a good essay answer should contain is to divide students in groups and give each group an essays to grade using the checklist above.

Write sample essays in class using the same TOPIC but changing the direction word so that students can see the difference the direction words make. There is a power point quiz on the meanings of some of the directions words

Possible Journal Entries

Explain to a fellow student how to write and effective essay.

Follow Up-Assignments

For practice, have students write practice essays on topics covered in class or in another class. Give to other students to grade and explain why they gave it the grade they did. Again the check list is a good guideline.