The objective of this unit is to provide students with a checklist that enables them to organise their thoughts and structure their writing in order to demonstrate their learning, particularly when under pressure.

This unit provides guidance on how to plan and write an essay under examination conditions, and includes a glossary of common instructions terms - analyse, assess, compare, contrast, describe, discuss, evaluate, explain, etc.

Students are guided through the process of writing an essay in a series of stages, looking at past papers, reading questions carefully and recognising the key concepts and ideas in a question. The activities draw on the student's own knowledge of the process.

A significant number of activities are focused on understanding key instruction terms in questions, and offering meaningful definitions. These are all summarised in a useful glossary which students can print out for reference.

Additionally, students are reminded about planning, and given an opportunity to develop a plan in a writing frame which can also be printed out. This is followed by a series of carefully constructed tips for working effectively under pressure and against time, and ensuring that the writing process is completed by a process of checking and editing.

Extension

• Bring in past examination papers. Ask students to pick out the key concepts and discuss the instruction terms.
• When setting assignments, ask your students to make a plan first. This can be done in class initially and students could work in pairs. Check and offer advice on what appears to be missing. Alternatively, this could be done as a whole-class activity.
• Ask students to do some of their assignments as timed essays. Discuss the outcomes, difficulties and successes in class.