1. Graceland University Writing Center C-BASE test taking made easier February 16, 2011

2. How do you approach an essay test?

3. How do you approach the essay portion of the C-BASE test? Talk to your classmates about what they think will be on the test?

4. How do you approach the essay portion of the C-BASE test? Talk to your classmates about what they think will be on the test? Wonder about it and just walk in?

5. Those approaches don’t work well. These factors contribute to success:

6. preparation

7. Those approaches don’t work well. These factors contribute to success: preparation approach

8. Those approaches don’t work well. These factors contribute to success: preparation approach planning

9. Before the test Be confident Visualize yourself succeeding Find sample questions from books or websites

10. Before the test Be confident Visualize yourself succeeding Find sample questions from books or websites Practice writing under timed conditions and then self-evaluate or work with a friend to evaluate your essays based on the published rubrics Go to the test site early and relax – mentally prepare yourself

11. Taking the test Read instructions carefully Paraphrase the question Write important verbs and nouns on scratch paper to plan the paper.

12. Taking the test Read instructions carefully Paraphrase the question Write important verbs and nouns on scratch paper to plan the paper. Use the nouns in the question prompt to guide your thinking. Leave last 3-5 minutes to proofread the test and make sure everything is answered.

13. The verbs you see will tell you what to do Compare Contrast Define Describe Discuss Evaluate Explain Illustrate List Outline Relate Review State Summarize

14. As you begin to answer the question Summarize the question. Sketch an outline or web of your response. They are looking for a structured essay- give that to them. Use transitions and paragraphs to guide the reader through your answer. Allow for time to proofread at the end. DON’T discount your knowledge or undercut yourself.

15. How should I organize the response? Clearly state a thesis and the reasons that support it. Provide clear topic sentences for each paragraph. Keep the sentences simple, but not choppy. Give solid support for the topic sentences.

16. C-BASE scoring 6- Excellent all around. Well- organized, well- supported and nearly error free. 5- Good all around. Solid thesis and support. Just misses on style or analysis. 4- Decent work. Reasonable thesis and support. Misses due to lack of unity, just addressing the prompt, weak support or frequency of errors.

17. C-BASE scoring 3- Weak thesis or support, high frequency of mechanical errors, poor development of ideas. 2- Consistent mechanical errors, lack of support, or superficial reasoning. 1- Poor all around. Consistent errors, unrelated ideas, only addressing the topic tangentially. Random thinking, with no connections.

18. Resources on the web http://www.arc.mis souri.edu/index.ph p?p=/CB/CBMO/CB inMO.htm This guide walks you through the types of questions on the test and how they are scored. Take some time to walk through it: it’s worth it.