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Friday, November 1, 2013
Reflection - Section 12 - Test #3 - Nov. 5
Discuss your thoughts on taking Test #3. Were you prepared for it? If so, what strategies did you use as part of your preparation? If you were not prepared for it, what will you do next time to ensure that you do well on the test?
This test was a fun and exciting one, because it was very interesting writing a essay test. I never had to take an essay test like this one. I can say I was really prepared for this test, because I took the time to practice and practice everyday to better myself to be able to get it right. My strategies are to eat a good meal a night before, study for two or three days before the test, get enough sleep, and get a good exercise in the morning. These strategies has never let me down and I hope you can find it helpful for preparing yourself for a test.
I agree with your testing strategies and their benefits. However, as far as my experience goes, it doesn't matter how much sleep you get or what you eat for breakfast; it matters that you know exactly what you need to know, so studying is key. I am so glad I checked our blogs and made sure I understood the idea of an expository essay and the concepts of my subject and I feel THAT is what truly helped me prepare for the test. I am glad you enjoyed the test, Mark! (:
Your preparations for the test seemed to really help you out a lot. You made sure that you were ready to take the test. I will probably try to incorporate some of your techniques with mine in order to get ready for our next test. My ways of studying didn't quite help me this time around. Hopefully, trying something different will benefit me.
@ monica You are right with the whole studying is the key, I can say that I had a little help with studying for this test. Studying as a group is really helpful and more accurate, because it helps everyone generate different ideas and strategies.
I like how you include getting a good night's rest and meal. Those are some things I sometimes overlook when studying and that's probably why I'm not as focused and can't retain as much things as I'd like. I'm definitely going to keep your strategies in mind for the next one.
I was prepared for this test. It was easy because all you had to do was write an essay. Since I have been paying attention in class, I did not get stuck on any parts. My essay was an easy topic. Plus I knew what to write about because I am familiar with the topic. How I prepared was I wrote my essay and read it a couple of times so I could remember it.
I don't feel like this test was necessarily easy because of course, I want my essay to be the best it can be...but it was much easier in comparison to previous tests in this class. I am glad that you felt more comfortable taking this test though, and I hope you did well.
I agree with Monica. It was not easy, but compared to the two previous tests we had, it was. I used as much time that I needed on test #3 to make a good essay.
I'm glad that you thought this test was easy. I would have to agree with you as well. I liked how it mainly focused on our essay writing. It gave us more time to make sure that we wrote a proper essay. I'm also glad that you were very familiar with you topic. It is much easier to write about something you know than to write about a topic that you are uninterested in.
I have to say I wasn't as nervous to take this test than the previous one. I was more confident in what I was writing because I prewrote everything. I was also glad that Dr. Rivera told us EXACTLY what was going to be on the test so that we can all prep beforehand. I think that's why a lot of us feel it was a lot easier than the other tests.
Today's test was fairly easy because all we had to do was memorize our essay that was per-written. I think tht I was prepared for it. I was able to do my research an have my first draft peer reviewed. I like this format better because I think I do so much better, but I'll see when I get the results.
Yes, I preferred this test over the others because I felt so relieved that we had more time to work on the essay! It takes time to make an essay look good! I also liked that we were able to conduct our research ahead of time and have someone review it for us. However, I feel like her warning for the test was a bit sudden! We just had a test last week, haha. I agree though, I definitely feel like the essay was more important anyway. I hope we both did well.
I totally agree with you. Compared to the previous tests, the structure of Test #3 was more enjoyable and less difficult. I didn't have to worry about anything else but my essay. We had the whole class to focus on writing and nothing else. Hopefully, we all will see an improvement in our test grades.
On our previous tests, we barely had half an hour to write an essay, which added a lot of pressure on us. This test on the other hand was free flowing.
In order to prepare for the test, I looked through the options and decided that explaining the consequences of skipping class would be best. To understand the subject better, I conducted an experiment to learn from a first-person perspective of the consequences so I skipped math class last week. Before I took the test, I did the stage one of writing: I did a brainstorm prewrite. I just jotted down a hundred reasons of why skipping class was a bad idea. Further on, I went to eliminate some ideas that seemed less significant. Eventually, I chose the best main points and organized them in the best way where they could either join each other in evidentiary paragraphs or be used to the best of their ability for transitions. Later, I took into consideration the requirements of an expository essay on the site featured on the blog and jotted them down. I organized my essay into 5 paragraphs by using an outline and kept on rewriting the outline until it was to my liking. Once I finished the outline, I studied it religiously and then I took the test. When I took the test, I rewrote a more basic outline just to remind me how to keep my ideas organized and to make sure I didn't leave out important details. I hope I did well on my essay because I feel fairly confident. I put a lot of heart and passion into my writing, especially with essays that are unlike research papers. Plus, I love that we had more time. I feel like I definitely had the time I needed to complete an essay with the message I wanted to send across.
I like how you sacrificed a day of your math class just to have a better understanding of your essay topic, but yes, you are right. There are consequences you have to face afterwards such as missing a math lesson, but I am sure you can get back on track.
I was glad that it was my first class of the day because I had all morning to review my essay. I think that it was enough time to really make your essay sound the way you wanted it to. I prefer the tests this way.
The exam today was better than the previous one. Not that I am saying the previous two are not good. It's just we have the a lot of time for our essay on this exam. I did all my research and try to make it concise for my essay since my topic was explaining why I admire a particular person which is Charles Darwin. However, I need to be more prepared on the exam cause I feel like I'm out of words to write while when I'm doing the essay part.
I was glad that test #3 was based on just the essay part. I had more time to focus on the three strategies of the writing process and even made my own study guide a week before the test. I did some research on my topic a few days ago and jotted down some important information. I used my time wisely on the test and even double checked for any errors. I did my best and hope everyone else did too. (:
I'm so happy for you. It's great to hear that you used your time wisely and prepared for this test. I thought it was much better to just focus on out essay writing. The writing process worksheet was a great guide as well. I think we all did our best. I just hope that is shows in our results.
It seems like almost everyone prepared for our essays beforehand. That seems like a good sign that we will all hopefully do well on this test. I really liked that the Stage 1 & 2 strategies were a part of the actual test too, because those really help make our writing stronger.
to make the test easier I chose a topic that I could relate to. Explaining why parents are sometimes strict. I did over look on what to write in an expository essay. Like how that essay is a basic five paragraph essays with a thesis statement and merging supporting evidence together to make the reader understand what you re trying to explain. I could have prepared myself for this test by getting more details on what an expository essay is supposed to portray. overall the test was a piece of cake.
I really like that topic and I am really curious as to what sort of facts you used to support your thesis. I agree that there is a reason to it but there's so many directions you could've taken with that, be it: parents are strict because that's how they are raised, they are over-protective, they are afraid of you getting them in legal trouble, they don't want you messing up theirs or your reputation or even that they're verbally and possibly physically abusive. It's an interesting topic and I hope you exemplified it's evidence well in your essay! However, I also wish that we'd be more informed about the structure and requirements of an expository essay.
I feel more confident about this test. I feel like it's easier to write an essay rather than answer questions. I feel like it is also a lot easier to write about something that's personal to you. I wrote about a person I admire. Of course, I wrote about my mom.
It is good to have faith in your test, because if you do not have any faith in yourself then you will end up zoning out on the test. But good job in having faith in yourself, it is also used as motivation to help you improve with better understanding of the test.
I was prepared for Test#3 than the other two tests. I did all three stages beforehand so I just had to remember what I wrote for the test. I wrote about why i admire a certain person so I felt that was to my advantage because I had so much information in my head already for that topic. I'm hopong my writing skills pull through on this test and is going to show good test results.
That is great to hear that you feel good about this test. I can say, that you should not stop doing what you do to help yourself improve. Go all the way with everything that you do to get that grade you want to earn.
I prefer taking tests that are similar to Test #3. I could extensively focus on my essay. I didn't have to worry about studying for other information. The tesy also alotted me more time to make sure that my essay met all the requirements. To prepare for this test, I wrote my essay ahead of time and constantly reviewed it. However, that didn't really help me because I completely forgot everything I previously wrote. I'm trying to think of of a new way to prepare for the next test.
I had the same problem about forgetting everything. I prepped beforehand and had a really good thesis statement, but for some reason when we got our tests I completely forgot how I worded it and had to improvise. Overall though I feel that my essay was well written because I had majority of my ideas in my head before the test.
I am not sure what grade I will get for this test, but I preferred this test process better. I had enough time to revise my essay, and correct all the mistakes that I've missed. Although I was not able to rewrite my essay word for word, it was close enough. ^^
For this test, I was researching and looking for more topics to include in my essay, but on the day of the test, in the morning I had a really bad headache and I was kind of getting worried on how I did on the test. This kind of test felt much harder for me than answering questions because for this test had to talk about the topic in a expository way. Having a test that is mainly about the essay was pretty much harder for me.
Same for me, I had a bit more trouble only because it was an expository essay. I feel as though the questions help if you get a bad score on the essay portion.
Test 3 seemed a bit easier, mainly because it focused on the essay. Though, I was also a bit concerned because expository essays seem harder to write. It focuses on fact rather than opinion. I was completely unprepared. My topic was last minute, but I had plenty to say. Next time, I'll try to study.
This test was a fun and exciting one, because it was very interesting writing a essay test. I never had to take an essay test like this one. I can say I was really prepared for this test, because I took the time to practice and practice everyday to better myself to be able to get it right. My strategies are to eat a good meal a night before, study for two or three days before the test, get enough sleep, and get a good exercise in the morning. These strategies has never let me down and I hope you can find it helpful for preparing yourself for a test.
ReplyDeleteI like your strategies for taking a test. I should totally try that because my strategies are unorganized.
DeleteI like your strategies as well. I think they can be helpful.
DeleteI agree with your testing strategies and their benefits. However, as far as my experience goes, it doesn't matter how much sleep you get or what you eat for breakfast; it matters that you know exactly what you need to know, so studying is key. I am so glad I checked our blogs and made sure I understood the idea of an expository essay and the concepts of my subject and I feel THAT is what truly helped me prepare for the test. I am glad you enjoyed the test, Mark! (:
DeleteYour preparations for the test seemed to really help you out a lot. You made sure that you were ready to take the test. I will probably try to incorporate some of your techniques with mine in order to get ready for our next test. My ways of studying didn't quite help me this time around. Hopefully, trying something different will benefit me.
Delete@ monica
DeleteYou are right with the whole studying is the key, I can say that I had a little help with studying for this test. Studying as a group is really helpful and more accurate, because it helps everyone generate different ideas and strategies.
I like how you include getting a good night's rest and meal. Those are some things I sometimes overlook when studying and that's probably why I'm not as focused and can't retain as much things as I'd like. I'm definitely going to keep your strategies in mind for the next one.
DeleteI was prepared for this test. It was easy because all you had to do was write an essay. Since I have been paying attention in class, I did not get stuck on any parts. My essay was an easy topic. Plus I knew what to write about because I am familiar with the topic. How I prepared was I wrote my essay and read it a couple of times so I could remember it.
ReplyDeleteI agree that this test was easy. I think it's so much easier to write an essay when you know the topic well.
DeleteI don't feel like this test was necessarily easy because of course, I want my essay to be the best it can be...but it was much easier in comparison to previous tests in this class. I am glad that you felt more comfortable taking this test though, and I hope you did well.
DeleteI agree with Monica. It was not easy, but compared to the two previous tests we had, it was. I used as much time that I needed on test #3 to make a good essay.
DeleteI'm glad that you thought this test was easy. I would have to agree with you as well. I liked how it mainly focused on our essay writing. It gave us more time to make sure that we wrote a proper essay. I'm also glad that you were very familiar with you topic. It is much easier to write about something you know than to write about a topic that you are uninterested in.
DeleteI have to say I wasn't as nervous to take this test than the previous one. I was more confident in what I was writing because I prewrote everything. I was also glad that Dr. Rivera told us EXACTLY what was going to be on the test so that we can all prep beforehand. I think that's why a lot of us feel it was a lot easier than the other tests.
DeleteToday's test was fairly easy because all we had to do was memorize our essay that was per-written. I think tht I was prepared for it. I was able to do my research an have my first draft peer reviewed. I like this format better because I think I do so much better, but I'll see when I get the results.
ReplyDeleteYes, I preferred this test over the others because I felt so relieved that we had more time to work on the essay! It takes time to make an essay look good! I also liked that we were able to conduct our research ahead of time and have someone review it for us. However, I feel like her warning for the test was a bit sudden! We just had a test last week, haha. I agree though, I definitely feel like the essay was more important anyway. I hope we both did well.
DeleteAs for me, I did not memorize my entire essay. I only tried to memorize major ideas of my topic and my thesis statement.
DeleteI like this format better too. It is less stressful as well.
DeleteI totally agree with you. Compared to the previous tests, the structure of Test #3 was more enjoyable and less difficult. I didn't have to worry about anything else but my essay. We had the whole class to focus on writing and nothing else. Hopefully, we all will see an improvement in our test grades.
DeleteOn our previous tests, we barely had half an hour to write an essay, which added a lot of pressure on us. This test on the other hand was free flowing.
DeleteIn order to prepare for the test, I looked through the options and decided that explaining the consequences of skipping class would be best. To understand the subject better, I conducted an experiment to learn from a first-person perspective of the consequences so I skipped math class last week. Before I took the test, I did the stage one of writing: I did a brainstorm prewrite. I just jotted down a hundred reasons of why skipping class was a bad idea. Further on, I went to eliminate some ideas that seemed less significant. Eventually, I chose the best main points and organized them in the best way where they could either join each other in evidentiary paragraphs or be used to the best of their ability for transitions. Later, I took into consideration the requirements of an expository essay on the site featured on the blog and jotted them down. I organized my essay into 5 paragraphs by using an outline and kept on rewriting the outline until it was to my liking. Once I finished the outline, I studied it religiously and then I took the test. When I took the test, I rewrote a more basic outline just to remind me how to keep my ideas organized and to make sure I didn't leave out important details. I hope I did well on my essay because I feel fairly confident. I put a lot of heart and passion into my writing, especially with essays that are unlike research papers. Plus, I love that we had more time. I feel like I definitely had the time I needed to complete an essay with the message I wanted to send across.
ReplyDeleteI like how you sacrificed a day of your math class just to have a better understanding of your essay topic, but yes, you are right. There are consequences you have to face afterwards such as missing a math lesson, but I am sure you can get back on track.
DeleteI also skipped my first period class the day of the test. It was the only time I could review my essay right before class.
DeleteI was glad that it was my first class of the day because I had all morning to review my essay. I think that it was enough time to really make your essay sound the way you wanted it to. I prefer the tests this way.
DeleteThe exam today was better than the previous one. Not that I am saying the previous two are not good. It's just we have the a lot of time for our essay on this exam. I did all my research and try to make it concise for my essay since my topic was explaining why I admire a particular person which is Charles Darwin. However, I need to be more prepared on the exam cause I feel like I'm out of words to write while when I'm doing the essay part.
ReplyDeleteI also feel like I am out of words or even trying to find the right word to write on my essay.
DeleteI felt like that. I was thinking of what to write and then I forgot it.
DeleteThis test is more effective for us than the previous ones. However, we'll have to see our results first. Fingers crossed
DeleteI liked this version better too because there was so much time to research and just mainly focus on our writing skills.
DeleteI was glad that test #3 was based on just the essay part. I had more time to focus on the three strategies of the writing process and even made my own study guide a week before the test. I did some research on my topic a few days ago and jotted down some important information. I used my time wisely on the test and even double checked for any errors. I did my best and hope everyone else did too. (:
ReplyDeleteI am also glad that test #3 focused just on the essay
DeleteI'm so happy for you. It's great to hear that you used your time wisely and prepared for this test. I thought it was much better to just focus on out essay writing. The writing process worksheet was a great guide as well. I think we all did our best. I just hope that is shows in our results.
DeleteIt seems like almost everyone prepared for our essays beforehand. That seems like a good sign that we will all hopefully do well on this test. I really liked that the Stage 1 & 2 strategies were a part of the actual test too, because those really help make our writing stronger.
DeleteI have to say, the writing process does serve beneficial when writing our essay, especially when we were preparing for our test #3
Deleteto make the test easier I chose a topic that I could relate to. Explaining why parents are sometimes strict. I did over look on what to write in an expository essay. Like how that essay is a basic five paragraph essays with a thesis statement and merging supporting evidence together to make the reader understand what you
ReplyDeletere trying to explain. I could have prepared myself for this test by getting more details on what an expository essay is supposed to portray. overall the test was a piece of cake.
I really like that topic and I am really curious as to what sort of facts you used to support your thesis. I agree that there is a reason to it but there's so many directions you could've taken with that, be it: parents are strict because that's how they are raised, they are over-protective, they are afraid of you getting them in legal trouble, they don't want you messing up theirs or your reputation or even that they're verbally and possibly physically abusive. It's an interesting topic and I hope you exemplified it's evidence well in your essay! However, I also wish that we'd be more informed about the structure and requirements of an expository essay.
DeleteI feel more confident about this test. I feel like it's easier to write an essay rather than answer questions. I feel like it is also a lot easier to write about something that's personal to you. I wrote about a person I admire. Of course, I wrote about my mom.
ReplyDeleteI know you did a good job on your essay. Who knows more about your mom than you right?
DeleteIt is good to have faith in your test, because if you do not have any faith in yourself then you will end up zoning out on the test. But good job in having faith in yourself, it is also used as motivation to help you improve with better understanding of the test.
DeleteI was prepared for Test#3 than the other two tests. I did all three stages beforehand so I just had to remember what I wrote for the test. I wrote about why i admire a certain person so I felt that was to my advantage because I had so much information in my head already for that topic. I'm hopong my writing skills pull through on this test and is going to show good test results.
ReplyDeleteThat is great to hear that you feel good about this test. I can say, that you should not stop doing what you do to help yourself improve. Go all the way with everything that you do to get that grade you want to earn.
DeleteI prefer taking tests that are similar to Test #3. I could extensively focus on my essay. I didn't have to worry about studying for other information. The tesy also alotted me more time to make sure that my essay met all the requirements. To prepare for this test, I wrote my essay ahead of time and constantly reviewed it. However, that didn't really help me because I completely forgot everything I previously wrote. I'm trying to think of of a new way to prepare for the next test.
ReplyDeleteI had the same problem about forgetting everything. I prepped beforehand and had a really good thesis statement, but for some reason when we got our tests I completely forgot how I worded it and had to improvise. Overall though I feel that my essay was well written because I had majority of my ideas in my head before the test.
DeleteI am not sure what grade I will get for this test, but I preferred this test process better. I had enough time to revise my essay, and correct all the mistakes that I've missed. Although I was not able to rewrite my essay word for word, it was close enough. ^^
ReplyDeleteFor this test, I was researching and looking for more topics to include in my essay, but on the day of the test, in the morning I had a really bad headache and I was kind of getting worried on how I did on the test. This kind of test felt much harder for me than answering questions because for this test had to talk about the topic in a expository way. Having a test that is mainly about the essay was pretty much harder for me.
ReplyDeleteSame for me, I had a bit more trouble only because it was an expository essay. I feel as though the questions help if you get a bad score on the essay portion.
DeleteTest 3 seemed a bit easier, mainly because it focused on the essay. Though, I was also a bit concerned because expository essays seem harder to write. It focuses on fact rather than opinion. I was completely unprepared. My topic was last minute, but I had plenty to say. Next time, I'll try to study.
ReplyDelete