How to Write a Good Essay
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Transcript of How to Write a Good Essay
How to Write a Good Essay
Free Response Guidelines
2 Free Response Questions, 50 minutes
Time should not be an issue.5 Easy Steps*
Work It 2 min. maxChart It 5 min. maxCount It 1 min. maxSketch It 2 min. maxWrite it
The 1st 4 steps should take no more than 10 min.Leaving you plenty of time to write an appropriate response.
* From “Cracking the AP Exam” The Princeton Review 2008
A List of “Don’ts”
• Don’t restate the question• Don’t write anything that sounds unethical• Don’t write everything you know about the topic• Don’t waste time writing an Intro or Conclusion• Don’t write from a “stream of consciousness”
(writing without doing steps 1-4)• Don’t add fluff
List of Don’t (the BIG MISTAKE)
• Don’t write an essay assuming your audience knows nothing of the subject!!!* REMEMBER you’re writing to Impress not
Educate!!
What to Do
• You MUST Write a PARAGRAPH! Bulleted lists or a list of definitions will NOT be scored
• Be Clear, Concise• Cite Psychological appropriate examples• Be Specific in your references• Define all terms• “Name Drop”- use the names of noted
psychologists*• Write an intro sentence not a paragraph• Give supporting evidence
HOLY C#$%, I Don’t Even Know what they’re asking me! @#$%$#
Now what do I do?Tips for the clueless
• Write something!
• A Blank Page is Definitely WRONG!
• Make an attempt to DEFINE the Terms! – In paragraph form