Writing a good CLEP College Composition exam essay will assess your argumentation and analysis skills. In Peterson’s CLEP College Composition Course, we go over in detail how to plan and execute an essay under timed conditions, cover the specifics of each essay, go through college composition CLEP practice tests and essay prompts, review CLEP college composition essay examples, and analyze the scoring guides used by CLEP readers in the CLEP exam. This blog will assess the fundamentals of a good CLEP College Composition essay so you can walk into your exam more confidently.
Approaching a Timed Essay
When writing timed essays, memorizing the following five-step approach to timed writing is a great starting point.
Step 1: Read and Thoroughly Digest the Prompt and Supplemental Resources.
Readers for the CLEP College Composition exam will evaluate how well test takers respond to the prompt and any supplemental materials. A strong essay begins with a thorough understanding of expectations. Be sure to read the instructions closely to understand what to do and what to include. Analyze the issue at hand as well as any opposing viewpoints. While considering the prompt, reflect on the essay’s perspective.
Step 2: Brainstorm Ideas for the Argument
The most important thing is developing an apparent argument with supporting evidence and examples, regardless of the writer’s stance. Test takers should clearly articulate their point of view and why they think that way. Begin with a tentative thesis statement to start the process of creativity. One can also list examples of what they’ve experienced, observed, read, seen, and studied that support their perspective. When working with supplementary sources in the second essay, determine which parts to reference. Then, jot notes to articulate the argument around the examples and evidence identified as relevant.
Step 3: Plan and Outline the Essay
Organize the ideas and examples and think about the order in which to present them. A brief outline looks like this:
- Introduction + thesis statement
- Reason/example 1
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- Support 1
- Support 2
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- Reason/example 2
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- Support 1
- Support 2
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- Other perspectives
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- Reasons why counterargument 1 is flawed
- Reasons why counterargument 2 is flawed
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- Conclusion
A quick outline can help writers stay focused and on topic. One may skip a paragraph, example, or counterargument depending on the space and time left. Prioritize the most vital points and examples in the outline to maximize time. One or two well-developed body paragraphs work better than several underdeveloped examples. If time is running out, an outline can also help writers quickly jot down at least a sentence or two for any paragraphs that need further development later, including the basics of the whole argument.
Step 4: Write the Essay
After outlining, take the time to write a complete draft. The words should flow more freely with the framework of the plan you created in step 3. Be sure to follow through on the outline; don’t fundamentally change the thesis statement or shift gears in the middle of writing, or you will need to go back and rewrite a significant amount of the essay. Instead, focus on completing a complete essay draft as planned and adjusting the argument as time allows. Remember to write the introduction and conclusion and leave at least five minutes for the last step: proofreading. Even a single-sentence conclusion is better than no conclusion at all.
Step 5: Proofread and Review the Essay
Once the draft essay is complete, read through it to catch any errors. No spellchecker or grammar checker is available, so read closely to see any misspelled words, fragments, missing commas, and other errors. Proofreading can be time to ensure that the thesis statement included in the introduction matches the final essay. If more time is left over than expected, review the essay again, looking for places to add detail, use more specific words, or form meaningful transitions.
Leave at least five minutes at the end of each essay for proofreading. While spending so much time reviewing writing may seem counterintuitive, it helps writers avoid simple errors and makes the writing seem more polished. When proofreading, pay incredibly close attention to the following:
- Errors in spelling and other typos
- Subject-verb agreement and other types of agreement (such as pronoun-antecedent agreement)
- Common usage errors
- Imprecise or unclear word choices
- Missing words, phrases, or sentences
- Missing punctuation
A Few Additional Tips for a Well-Styled Essay
In addition to the steps above, there are simple steps to help you craft a well-styled essay:
- Be concise.
- Choose words with precision.
- Vary sentence structure.
- Use a thesis statement, topic sentences, and transitions to guide the reader.
For more information on the above tips and organization for the essay, access Peterson’s CLEP College Composition course now. There, you’ll find CLEP college composition essay examples, prompts, practice tests, and a thorough breakdown of what is on the CLEP College Composition exam. Now that you know the basics of a good essay, use this knowledge to your advantage in your upcoming essays and show the world you can craft an exceptional essay. With practice, you’ll surely be among the group in the College Composition CLEP pass rate.
