English 1301
Preparation for Final Exam Essay
Your final exam essay for this class will be written during both class
periods next week—May 4 & 6 (MW classes) or May 5 & & (TTh class). You
will be required to write a 750+ word essay based on an article that you will be
given on the first day of the exam. The essay will require you to do three things:
1. to demonstrate your skills and abilities to write an academic style essay,
2. to demonstrate that you can apply the basics of using and crediting outside
information (the article), and
3. to demonstrate that you can successfully find and fix two of your persistent
grammar errors.
The article will be about a controversial topic, one that you should be able
to readily form an opinion about. You must read the article carefully, marking and
highlighting it. Then decide on your point of view. Do you think that the issue
presented in the article is always wrong or wrong only in certain circumstances?
Do you think the punishments are too harsh? These are just two questions to
demonstrate that you will present your own point of view in your essay.
State your opinion in a clear thesis statement that should come within your
introduction paragraph. Then think of three or four good reasons that will support
(back up) your thesis. Begin each body paragraph with a topic sentence that
indicates the reason you will cover within the paragraph. You must use
information from the article as additional support. When you quote, paraphrase,
or summarize from the sources, you must correctly use in-text citations. Be
careful in your use of direct quotations. Do not quote more than four times in
your entire essay. Each quote must not be longer than two sentences each
time. You will lose points if you do. Do not begin paragraphs with direct
quotations. Finish your essay with a strong conclusion paragraph. See your
online Study Guide for suggestions on writing conclusions and on what to avoid
in the final paragraph.
You should write a formal, objective, third-person essay: no first or
second person, no contractions, and no informal language (slang or everyday
expressions). Do not get carried away in your essay. Present reasoned and
reasonable support for your thesis that meets standards of academic writing.
Bring the following items with you on the first day of the exam:
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Blue books (one or two). On first day of the exam, bring the total number
of blue books you will need for both days. You cannot bring new blue
books in on the second day. You cannot leave class to purchase extra
blue books. No loose-leaf paper allowed.
A dictionary and/or thesaurus, including foreign language. Paper copies
only.
Pens, pencils, and highlighters.
This sheet.
During the exam, you must observe the following procedures:
1. On first day of the exam, have the total number of blue books you will need for
the entire exam (see first bullet item above). If you arrive without blue books,
you will not be allowed to sit for the exam on the first day.
2. Place on your desks only the items that you have been allowed to bring.
3. Do not go into your book bag or notebook during the exam.
4. Do not use any electronic devices of any kind during the exam. Turn off all
cell phones.
5. Do not tear pages from your blue books. If you make a mistake, mark through
it and make the correction neatly.
6. For final draft, skip lines (double space), write legibly, use blue or black ink.
You may write on back of pages.
7. When you are told that time is up for the day’s work, you must stop writing.
You will not be allowed to work beyond the time allotted for each day.
8. Do not bring any notes, anything handwritten, or anything prepared
beforehand (except what is allowed) to any day of the exam.
9. You may take one or two breaks during the exam. I will restrict more frequent
breaks.
10. Leave your phone on my desk if you leave the room to take a break.
Any student who violates any item of the procedure will not be allowed to
remain for the exam and will receive an “F” grade for the final exam essay.
I reserve the right to penalize any other violations of honesty or fairness
during the exam.
If you need to use the Testing Center, please see me after class.
Example of Complex Deductive Paragraph Arrangement:
Topic Sentence: First reason in support of your thesis.
Major Support: Must be directly related to topic sentence.
Minor Support #1: Example/Explanation. (Example can also be a direct
quotation or paraphrase.)
Minor Support #2: Example/Explanation.
Minor Support #3: Example/Explanation.
Concluding sentence or transition sentence to next reason in next
paragraph.