How Do I Write An Extemporaneous Essay?
Extemporaneous essays are spontaneous, off-the-cuff essays often written in a classroom or testing situation. Since there is often no good way to know what the topic will be, you need to prepare yourself for these situations.
Tips for timed writing
- Understand the prompt and stay on topic-Before you begin planning your essay try to pick the topic that you can identify with best, and remember to stay focused on that topic.
- Keep track of time- Since you will have a limited time to write your essay, you must manage your time wisely
- Organize your ideas- It would be helpful if you could write out your thesis and jot down good, specific examples to support that thesis. It is essential that you take time in the beginning to create an effective plan. This plan will help you stay on topic.
- Use specific details to support your thesis- Not providing specific details to support the thesis of your essay will lower your score. Begin each paragraph with a good topic sentence and provide specific details, such as anecdotes (personal stories), facts, quotations, and illustrations
- Use appropriate transitions to connect ideas- Transitional words and phrases help your reader move smoothly from one idea to the next. Remember to use logical transitions to connect your ideas within and between paragraphs.
- Do not spend too much time on your introduction and your conclusion- While having a catchy introduction can positively influence your reader, the main thing to remember is that your introduction should introduce your topic and state your thesis. The conclusion should wrap up the essay in some way. Try to avoid an abrupt ending
- Avoiding grammar errors- avoid errors that interfere with the reader’s understanding of your essay and repeated errors that distract the reader will both cause your score to suffer. An essay that confuses the reader will not likely pass.
- Make sure your essay is neat and easy to read- If you are handwriting your essay, make sure your handwriting is neat. If you are typing your essay, make sure you use a standard font (like Times New Roman) and a standard font size. (12-pt)
- Leave time to proofread- Try to save 10 minutes to proofread your essay for errors. You should also use this time to check for clarity, organization, and specific examples.
- Practice at home or in the learning commons- Writing a practice essay is a great way to figure out how to organize your time during the exam. You will also become accustomed to the process of writing an impromptu essay.