Planning

[brightsky]

I know the English exam is over, but would just like to know, how do you guys plan when you get a topic/prompt?

[m@tty]

Use the first 3-4 minutes of reading time thinking about topic for section A, next 3-4 minutes for section B, then get onto section C.


As soon as writing starts, highlight the important words/phrases in the article, I don't do any other planning in this section. I work through it sequentially and just spit out whatever comes to mind.

Next I go to section A or B and spend another two minutes writing down topic sentences for each paragraph and quick shorthand for appropriate evidences, so I will remember later. Then do the same thing for the remaining section out of A and B.

Then do the section C first.

After writing that essay I found that it took me a while (more than 2 minutes) to recollect my thoughts for section A and B, so that's why I wrote the plans - they serve as a very quick and effective reminder of the great things I want to write about.

In short:

Topic sentences + main evidence should suffice for a written plan, most should be in your head already, but putting it on paper helps a lot.

[LOVEPHYSICS]

Draw 3 horizontal lines on a page, and put down the ideas in accordance. That's how I plan. For the exam anyways. But I am not those who take 10 mins or even 5 mins to plan... my plans are like 2 min plans lol...

[werdna]

I don't think you'd want to know my 'english exam technique' unless you wanted to dismally fail.. like me. 

BUT, here is my step-by-step process of planning in normal conditions.

(1) Underline the key words in the topic, and find at least 4 or 5 synonyms for each of these.

(2) Ask questions of the question... write down a list of about 3 or 4 questions, and answer them by using conceptual and thematic ideas.

(3) Step back and have a look at your answers in part (2).. develop 3 key ideas (for your body paragraphs) and make sure you have a point-of-difference; a 'however' paragraph.. in order to create your perceptive response.

(4) Now, you should create your contention. Again, there should be a 'however' in this contention... and your 3 key ideas from part (3) should all act as supportive arguments for this point-of-view.

(5) Write out your topic sentences for each body paragraph - really quickly - and if possible, allocate quotes and evidence now.

I'd also like to add that, in your text response essays, make sure you keep on referring back to the writer/author. For example, in a Look Both Ways essay, I would always use phrases like "Watt demonstrates that..." and "Hence, Watt clearly explicates that..." to substantiate my arguments. By always referring to the creator of the text, you are showing your examiner that you have written a distinctive, perceptive interpretation of the topic... and this is what is required!

Good luck brightsky..... genius!

 

[kyzoo]

Planning in exam conditions and planning for the sake of making decent plans are different matters. IMO Cambridge's method is too slow for exams. Plans need to be done in 5 minutes, and 5 minutes passes really, really quickly, especially when you are planning.

By the time you do the real exam, you should be able to look at any prompt/topic and come up with 3-4 distinct ideas within 5 seconds. So when you plan, you just list the distinct ideas that come to your mind on seeing the prompt/topic, then under those ideas you list the evidence pieces you are going to use. That's it. At least that's how I did it =X.

[chopz]

My way is exactly like m@tty's except after reading time, once I've highlighted or annotated the piece. (less than 2mins)
Then straight to writing the analysis, where as m@tty goes and writes his ideas down for the other sections.

I prefer my way, because during reading time, I basically have all my main points listed in my head for Section A and B.
And once I finish Section C, I move on to the next section which is easiest for me, depending on the prompt.

Therefore, leaving the most difficult prompt to last, by this time there would be around 1 hr and a half left.

My planning for each section is less than 2 minutes, but that's just me

[EvangelionZeta]

My plans are basically:

1. As soon as I see the topic, think of all possible implications and relevant evidence
2. Write down as many points as I can think of, up until about five at most
3. Think of evidence to accompany each point

All this should take 2 minutes at max IMO.

[LOVEPHYSICS]

Ya, our teacher tells us to do 15 min plan, 5 min proof reading time, and 40 min writing time...LOL

[m@tty]

Ya, our teacher tells us to do 15 min plan, 5 min proof reading time, and 40 min writing time...LOL

Holy crap. Plan should be able to be done in 2-3 minutes, that's an extra 12-13 minutes your teacher is recommending you waste. In that amount of time you could write an extra paragraph (~250-300 words)/page. . .

[kyzoo]

I don't have any proof reading time =X. The only time I did was in SACs when we had 90 minutes to write our pieces (I actually think I wrote more in my real exam, having 60 minutes for each piece, than I did for each 90 minute SAC).

[LOVEPHYSICS]

Exactly

[bomb]

I freestyle it.

I just put little markers on section C about what I can put together with what (similar techniques).

I usually have pre-memorised paragraphs; any plan I do for TR or Context will be something like:
(Conflict for example)
-9.11
-Holocaust
-Crucible
-Bali

just so I can remember, and that's IT.

[LOVEPHYSICS]

no way I can pre-memorise paragraphs, got too much examples... lol

[d-ea-6]

I've noticed a lot of people tend to start with Section C first, but I feel that it's best to start with Section A. Since you need to recall quotes for the text response, it's better to get that one out of the way. Then you'd do the context (which also requires you to recall examples and other evidence) and the the language analysis last.

Hypothetically, imagine if you did Section C first and it didn't turn out well, and you started to get a little panicky. Chances are you'd probably forget some of your quotes or your context examples. The article, on the other hand, is, and always will be, right in front of you, so why not do it last once you've taken care of all the essays which involve using your memory?! Lastly, language analysis is the one that you can, probably, complete fastest. So at the very end, you can really rush through and finish it if you're strapped for time. (And think about it, you've been in there for 2 hours - so you'll be pretty weary - you'd prefer to be doing the easiest of the 3 essays last).

For the record, I ended up spending the last ~75 minutes of the exam on language analysis because I got a bit lazy Ended up not giving myself enough time to read over the other 2 essays, but that was my fault. And I don't bother annotating it! Read the article during reading time, let it sink in while you do the other essays, read it again and then just write

[EvangelionZeta]

I've noticed a lot of people tend to start with Section C first, but I feel that it's best to start with Section A. Since you need to recall quotes for the text response, it's better to get that one out of the way. Then you'd do the context (which also requires you to recall examples and other evidence) and the the language analysis last.

Hypothetically, imagine if you did Section C first and it didn't turn out well, and you started to get a little panicky. Chances are you'd probably forget some of your quotes or your context examples. The article, on the other hand, is, and always will be, right in front of you, so why not do it last once you've taken care of all the essays which involve using your memory?! Lastly, language analysis is the one that you can, probably, complete fastest. So at the very end, you can really rush through and finish it if you're strapped for time. (And think about it, you've been in there for 2 hours - so you'll be pretty weary - you'd prefer to be doing the easiest of the 3 essays last).

For the record, I ended up spending the last ~75 minutes of the exam on language analysis because I got a bit lazy Ended up not giving myself enough time to read over the other 2 essays, but that was my fault. And I don't bother annotating it! Read the article during reading time, let it sink in while you do the other essays, read it again and then just write

I never found the memory thing an issue - theoretically (or optimistically, at least), you'll have all these "memorised" things deeply embedded within your brain by exam time.