<p>i'm taking ap language and continually face this problem. i do pretty well on essays assigned as homework and think my essays are probably 7 or 8 standard. but when we have in class essays i fail horribly. i get 4 or 5. the problem is that when i see the prompt, i just can't think. i just decide on a thesis and force myself to write about it. and throughout the entire essay i can feel that what i'm saying isn't good. but after i turn it in, my brain suddenly starts working and gets wonderful ideas and a great thesis that would definitely earn an 7 or 8 if well written. but my brain doesn't work until after i've turned in the in class essays. and this has happened repeatedly, not just once.</p>
<p>has anyone else faced this problem before? any tips, suggestions?</p>
<p>Do you do a pre-write, as in spend a good amount of time preparing for the essay before you actually write it? You should get all your best ideas out before you string them together coherently in well-supported essay with flowery diction. I even jot down certain words that I know would make good phrases during my pre-write; I quickly weigh the pros/cons if its an argumentation essay. You obviously have the potential to write a great essay, but it’s a big hurdle to accomplish doing so in a very short amount of time (and a very large amount of pressure.) Make sure to relax, but stay focused. </p>
<p>I usually spend 10-15 minutes (which might be too much time, but it seems to work for me so far) simply jotting down all my great ideas, and then write the essay afterwards.</p>
<p>thanks for the suggestions.
but the problem is that i do think about it and at least for ten minutes. but i only get the ok-average ideas that earn me 4/5. I really do try to think before i write but for some reason, the only thing i think of is bad ideas. but once i turn it in, all these good ideas start coming to me throughout the day.</p>