TICK TOCK TICK TOCK How to write against the clock

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TICK TOCK TICK TOCK How to write against the
clock

• Writing an essay exam
• under time pressure

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Introduction

• When we write, we sometimes have to do it within
  a limited period of time
• In the Business World
• Memo
• Important email or letter
• News article
• In School
• THE ESSAY EXAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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A Strategy for Writing under Time Pressure

• If you are writing under a deadline for work
• If you are writing a stupid essay for a stupid
  test
• (e.g. the TEM-4, CET-6, TEM-8, PET)
• TEM 4 200 words-35 minutes

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1COMPREHEND THE QUESTION

• Read the question carefully
• What is the examiner looking for

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1COMPREHEND THE QUESTION

• DEFINITION OF TERMS USED IN ESSAY EXAMINATIONS
• Compare Examine qualities, or characteristics,
  to discover resemblances. "Compare" is usually
  stated as "compare with" you are to emphasize
  similarities, although differences may be
  mentioned.
• Contrast Stress dissimilarities, differences, or
  unlikeness of things, qualities, events, or
  problems.
• Criticize Express your judgment or correctness
  or merit. Discuss the limitations and good points
  or contributions of the plan or work in question.
  
• Define Definitions call for concise, clear,
  authoritative meanings. Details are not required
  but limitations of the definition should be
  briefly cited. You must keep in mind the class to
  which a thing belongs and whatever differentiates
  the particular object from all others in the
  class.
• Describe In a descriptive answer you should
  recount, characterize, sketch or relate in
  narrative form.
• Discuss The term discuss, which appears often in
  essay questions, directs you to examine, analyze
  carefully, and present considerations pro and con
  regarding the problems or items involved. This
  type of question calls for a complete and
  detailed answer.

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1COMPREHEND THE QUESTION

• DEFINITION OF TERMS USED IN ESSAY EXAMINATIONS
• Enumerate The word enumerate specifies a list or
  outline form of reply. In such questions you
  should recount, one by one, in concise form, the
  points required.
• Evaluate In an evaluation question you are
  expected to present a careful appraisal of the
  problem stressing both advantages and
  limitations. Evaluation implies authoritative
  and, to a lesser degree, personal appraisal of
  both contributions and limitations.
• Explain In explanatory answers it is imperative
  that you clarify, elucidate, and interpret the
  material you present. In such an answer it is
  best to state the "how or why," reconcile any
  differences in opinion or experimental results,
  and, where possible, state causes. The aim is to
  make plain the conditions which give rise to
  whatever you are examining.
• Illustrate A question which asks you to
  illustrate usually required you to explain or
  clarify your answer to the problem by presenting
  a figure, picture, diagram, or concrete example.

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1COMPREHEND THE QUESTION

• DEFINITION OF TERMS USED IN ESSAY EXAMINATIONS
• Justify When you are instructed to justify your
  answer you must prove or show grounds for
  decisions. In such an answer, evidence should be
  presented in convincing form.
• List Listing is similar to enumeration. You are
  expected in such questions to present an itemized
  series or tabulation. Such answers should always
  be given in concise form.
• Outline An outline answer is organized
  description. You should give main points and
  essential supplementary materials, omitting minor
  details, and present the information in a
  systematic arrangement or classification.
• Prove A question which requires proof is one
  which demands confirmation or verification. In
  such discussions you should establish something
  with certainty by evaluating and citing
  experimental evidence or by logical reasoning.
• Relate In a question which asks you to show the
  relationship or to relate, your answer should
  emphasize connections and associations in
  descriptive form.

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1COMPREHEND THE QUESTION

• DEFINITION OF TERMS USED IN ESSAY EXAMINATIONS
• Review A review specifies a critical
  examination. You should analyze and comment
  briefly in organized sequence upon the major
  points of the problem.
• State In questions which direct you to specify,
  give, state, or present you are called upon to
  express the high points in brief, clear narrative
  form. Details and usually illustrations or
  examples, may be omitted.
• Summarize When you are asked to summarize or
  present a summarization, you should give in
  condensed form the main points or facts. All
  details, illustrations and elaboration are to be
  omitted.

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1COMPREHEND THE QUESTION

• 2 Minutes

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2BRAINSTORM -????

• Let your mind wander freely
• Anything that comes into your mind jot a quick
  note
• Do NOT try to organize your thoughts.
• Let the STORM of thoughts hit your BRAIN

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2BRAINSTORM -????

• 3 MINUTES

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3FOCUS AND ORGANIZE

• Look at the notes you took during the BRAINSTORM
• What aspect of the topic do you feel most
  strongly about
• What is your view
• FOCUS your thoughts
• Write a BALANCED topic sentence

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3FOCUS AND ORGANIZE

• A good BALANCED topic sentence might be
  structured
• Although..................................,
• I believe.....because.................
• Now ORGANIZE your ideas from 2-BRAINSTORM
  according to your THESIS.
• Rank the important ones (1..2..3)
• Ignore the irrelevant ones

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3FOCUS AND ORGANIZE

• 3 MINUTES

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TICK TOCK TICK TOCK

• Aiyahh!!!
• 8 Minutes have passed and I have only written one
  sentence!!!!!!!!!!!
• I should start writing now

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TICK TOCK TICK TOCK

• NO!

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4MENTAL DRAFTING -??

• Mentalize Task Dream
• Close your eyes, put down your pen, and write the
  First Draft of your Essay in your head.
• Follow the organizing you did in Step 3
• Actually write the words in your head

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4MENTAL DRAFTING -??

• If you meet any words you have difficulty
  translating, now is the time to either
• Look them up
• Figure out how to explain them in language you
  know, if you cant remember the exact word
• Remember You dont want to lose your train of
  thought when you finally WRITE the essay.

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4MENTAL DRAFTING -??

• 4 MINUTES

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5DOWNLOAD WRITE IT!

• OK, now comes the easy part.
• Youve already written the FIRST DRAFT.
• Its in your head.
• Now, just DOWNLOAD it from your head to the
  paper.
• Your words will flow like water.
• What could be easier?

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5DOWNLOAD WRITE IT!

• 20 MINUTES
• I guarantee you will finish writing a 200 word,
  well-organized essay in 20 minutes.
• Want to bet?

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TICK TOCKTICK TOCK

• WAIT!
• Bu hui ba!
• I still have 3 minutes left and I have already
  finished!

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6PROOF READ 3 TIMES

• Go back and check your punctuation
• Go back and check the VERBS
• Did you use the correct tense?
• Remember, dont shift your tense unless its
  absolutely necessary
• Remember, usually the simple past and the simple
  future are sufficient.
• Subject and Verb agreement
• PROOF READ EVERYTHINGone last time

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6PROOF READ 3 TIMES

• 3 MINUTES

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TICK TOCKTICK TOCK

• Times Up
• You did it!
• A well-organized, 200 word essay in only 20
  minutes.

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REMEMBER

• 1 Comprehend the Question 2 Minutes
• 2 Brainstorm 3 Minutes
• 3 Focus and Organize 3 Minutes
• 4 Mental Drafting 4 Minutes
• 5 Download Write It! 20 Minutes
• 6 Proofread 3 Times 3 Minutes

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TICK TOCK TICK TOCK How to write against the
clock

• Originally based upon
• Ting Yen-Ren, Unit 9-Writing Against the Clock.
  College English Composition Developing an
  Argument. Nanjing University Press Nanjing,
  China, 1997.

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REMEMBER

• 1 Comprehend the Question 2 Minutes
• 2 Brainstorm 3 Minutes
• 3 Focus and Organize 3 Minutes
• 4 Mental Drafting 4 Minutes
• 5 Download Write It! 20 Minutes
• 6 Proofread 3 Times 3 Minutes
• 200 words 35 minutes no problem!

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Practice

• Recently, much attention has been paid to the
  widening income gap in China between the haves
  and the have-nots. Deng Xiao Ping once said,
  To grow rich is glorious. Do you agree with
  Deng? If so, give reasons to support your answer.
  If not, how would you rectify the present
  situation if you were a leader?
• 1 Comprehend the Question 2 Minutes
• 2 Brainstorm 3 Minutes
• 3 Focus and Organize 3 Minutes
• 4 Mental Drafting 4 Minutes
• 5 Download Write It! 20 Minutes
• 6 Proofread 3 Times 3 Minutes

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Practice

• Many students are studying English now because
  Beijing will host the Olympics in 2008. What do
  you think the future of English Education will be
  after 2008?