<p>
[quote]
You just do a standard intro that basically fills space (but clearly states your thesis)
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That is so not a good idea... basically fills space?!</p>
<p>
[quote]
You just do a standard intro that basically fills space (but clearly states your thesis)
[/quote]
That is so not a good idea... basically fills space?!</p>
<p>Well. I guess just planing your thesis and making your points will get the point across. </p>
<p>I just get SO annoyed at my writing sometimes because I tend to repeat lots of words like "although, and, but, etc..." I always try to think of alternatives and these just kill me. =/</p>
<p>Don't stress your diction and just write. usually works.</p>
<p>I love timed writings! They happen to be the best type of examination for me (<em>dodges tomatoes</em>). What I do is read the question multiple times (it's is really easy to misinterpret the question or miss something huge in it...that's a mistake I made yesterday in an AP French Lit poetry analysis...bleh). Then take 5-10 minutes to make a rough outline. Write out your thesis and topic sentences so that you're good to go when you write the essay, and then list your examples/proofs with all the supporting textual evidence you can think of (it's always better to have more to choose from). Then just go through the usual motions of the 5 paragraph essay. Don't get hung up on one point/paragraph or another; just write whatever you can and keep going so that you aren't crunched for time later. Conventional essay wisdom, if such a thing even exists, says that you should save your strongest arguments for last, so make sure your last paragraph is as strong as you can make it, even if that means sacrificing some of your conclusion.</p>
<p>Also, if you don't know the topic beforehand, it helps to brainstorm possible topics the night before and even in your head outline essays for them. Even if you don't get a question you brainstormed, it's a good exercise to help you develop your ideas quickly.</p>
<p>This is the method I use for all in-class writings and I usually get A's. Then again, it often depends on the subject, teacher, etc. But there's no harm in being as prepared as you can possibly be!</p>