Kaylin, Amber, Gabby, Gina, Kendric

UWRT 1102
CA 3.3
I.

Introduction
Before you graduate college, you will most likely have to take at least one essay

examination (if you have not already). Writing any kind of literature for educational
assessment can be nerve-wracking, and adding on a time constraint can make it
even more so. Though different writers have different methods that work best for
them, here are some tips that may guide you through the challenge of timed writing.
II.

Designating Time for Planning

The first step in timed writing is going to be planning. When starting a paper you

have to be knowledgeable about the time limit that you may have. The best method
for when you do not feel like you have the time to plan is to set aside a certain time
limit such as ten minutes, depending on the total time, for doing so. In general, five
to ten percent of the total time should be designated for planning. Designating a time
period for planning, along with outlining, the next step, will prevent you from having
to rush through your writing unprepared.
III.

Outlining
Outlining is a very important part of drafting. A solid outline will leave you with a

well-organized and concrete set of ideas to write about in your paper. Although
there are many types of outlines, the most beneficial seems to be a traditional
outline. This includes starting off with Roman Numeral I and maybe writing down
Introduction, putting below the Roman Numeral the thesis along with a few other

bullet points that you are going to talk about, and then moving on. Clearly writing
down beside the Roman Numerals the broader subject that you want to address in
each paragraph along with bullets further explaining what will go into the paragraph
will keep you on track, preventing you from going off on unexplained tangents. In
addition, the bullets may include things such as facts or support for what is in the
paragraph. Overall, outlining will prepare you to write a well-constructed essay by
providing the stepping stones for each paragraph that you can quickly refer back to.
IV.

Thesis
A strong thesis statement is necessary because it sets the stage for a strong

paper. It may just be one line out of several, but without it your whole paper could
fall apart. You should only include in your thesis statement points that you are
absolutely sure you will be able to write a well-developed paragraph about, even if
there are only a couple. There is no time in an essay examination to deal with points
that you will not be able to support. A short, strong essay is better than a long, weak
one. Developing a solid thesis statement will give you direction for the entire
duration of your writing.
V.

Not Editing While Writing

Also important with timed writing is not editing until you have finished writing. It

can be very easy for you to get caught up in the grammar and lose your train of
thought or not complete and idea. When writing a timed essay you might write for a
bit, look at what you have written, see what grammatical errors you have made, and
then go back and correct it before finishing the paper. You may then forget where
you left off and have to reread what you have already written in order to get your

train of thought back. This takes up time and if time runs out, you could end up with
an incomplete paper. What you do have would have great grammar but, it would still
only be part of an essay. If you decide not to reread what you have written in order
to find your place again, you may think you have finished an idea that you really
have not and go ahead and move on to the next. This leaves holes in the content. It
is important to have good grammar, but content should not suffer to achieve this. To
remedy this issue, you should first focus on writing the whole paper and then go
back and edit it.
VI.

Revising/Editing
As a writer you will most likely be the biggest critic of your work. While your

writing skills are being tested you may be under a time constraint which can add
some anxiety to your writing. After planning and writing your paper you are going
want to reread and revise your work. After you are completely done writing, try to
focus on the organization of the paper first by rereading it a few times depending on
how much time is allotted. While you are reading your work make sure you try to
read it from another perspective. How might someone else view your thoughts?
When you know every aspect of the paper is in its right place, make any necessary
corrections to grammatical or spelling errors for maximum readability and fluency.
VII.

Conclusion

Timed writing is basically unavoidable and can be scary. Each writer needs to
figure out what works best for him. However, these steps can give you a foundation
for deciding how to make your daunting task not so daunting.