Process for writing the long response Provincial Exam question
The provincial exam is written around a theme. The theme is given on the exam. It is not
hidden or left for you to figure out. Please keep the theme in mind when responding to all
questions on the provincial.
The long response question usually consists of a writing prompt and this writing prompt
is usually the theme of the exam. You are expected to respond to the prompt in a multiparagraph composition – usually an essay.
An essay is a try or an attempt to explore a topic, issue, or subject and is personal. The
essay on the exam is considered impromptu writing and it is not meant to be heavily
edited or revised. Of course you should correct spelling errors or make small revisions if
time allows. Do not worry about whiting out errors. Just a simple cross out will suffice.
Consider the audience for your writing. The audience is an anonymous marker who will
be evaluating your ability to write. Use the marking guide as published online as your
guide to what the marker expects to find. Be as clear in your writing as possible. This is
not the time to create the perfect prose poem. The marker expects your essay to
communicate your ideas and message effectively in clear plain English without many
flourishes. The marker will read your essay once and may even skim some parts.
The writing prompt gives the writer much leeway to explore the topic. When you are
planning your essay, it is important to spend some time in pre-writing. You should spend
bout ten minutes in this phase. Use a free-writing, brainstorming, or cluster outline
technique. This will help you to discover some areas and ideas to focus on in your essay
and prevent you beginning the essay by flailing around in the first paragraph or so until
you find your focus. Use the blank space in the question booklet for this work. It will not
be marked.
It is imperative that the writer limit and focus their argument. The best way to do this is
with the thesis statement. The thesis statement is the living beating heart of your essay. It
is the core of the argument and the idea to which you will tie all the supporting details
and examples. An essay without a solid thesis statement will not do well on the exam.
Essays need structure. Your essay must have an introduction and a conclusion. You must
guide your reader into your topic through the introduction and hook them with the thesis
statement. Your body or main paragraphs must all be on a single aspect of the topic each
and you must relate them back to the thesis. Continue to remind your reader (the marker)
of the thesis throughout the paper. Maintain your focus and guide your reader through
your exploration of the theme. Conclude with a restatement of the thesis or imply the
thesis again and remind the reader of your main points. Try to leave the reader with
something to remember that will have an impact on them.