2. Make an outline. It is much faster to scratch out a quick outline and then make quick additions to it rather than making changes to large written paragraphs.

3. As you read the question, underline all verbs as reminders of what you need to do. This will help you avoid leaving out parts of the question.

4. As you write your response, new ideas may come to you. Stop to jot these down on your outline and then go back to your writing.

5. Be careful to answer all parts of the question but be sure to answer ONLY the question. When you read the question, make sure you don’t just see what you expect to see. Don't waste time adding material which is irrelevant to the question - the reader is unable to give you credit for it. Writing lots of stuff in the hope of getting lucky wastes valuable time.

6. Keep your response organized. If a question has parts a, b, c, etc., label the parts of your answer accordingly. Try to keep the answer to part (a) in part (a) and so on.

7. Do not spend too much time on one part of the question. Remember the internal maxima.

8. Be specific. The reader is not your teacher who knows you and can make assumptions about what you know or don't know or about your writing style.

9. Don't overlook the obvious. Sometimes simple facts are worth points. Occasionally, even a simple definition of a term is be worth a point.

10. Do not contradict yourself in the same sentence. If you receive credit for a statement and then contradict it, you will lose the point.

11. Do not confuse or “switch” terms. For example, use ‘more rapidly’ and ‘less rapidly’ rather than ‘more rapidly’ and ‘slower.’

12. Write legibly. The reader has probably read hundreds of essays when s/he gets to yours. You don't want to frustrate him/her.

13. Diagrams and pictures are helpful when they support your response but they won’t cut it on their own.

14. Readers are not looking for specific words or phrases. Don't underline or highlight what you feel are the “key” words that are worth points. You might guess wrong and it just makes your answer harder to read.

15. Even if you think you know nothing about the question, always write something. Come back to the question and give it some thought - you may get a point or two.

16. When you think you have completely answered it, go back and reread the question, paying close attention to words you underlined, to be sure.

17. Go back to the ideas you jotted down on your outline to make sure you’ve included all of them.

If you are asked to:	Your response should:
Compare	Show similarities between objects, ideas, phenomena, etc.
Contrast	Show dissimilarities between two objects, ideas, phenomena, etc.
Define	Provide the accepted definition for a word. The response should be given as a complete sentence.
Describe	Provide a list of features that characterize objects, ideas, phenomena, etc.
Discuss	Select a particular viewpoint and support your position with facts, examples, observations, reasoning, and descriptions.
Explain	Provide a series of well-developed and logical statements which give the reason for or cause of an event or events.
List	Provide a simple series of words, sentences, or phrases as requested. Enhance clarity by labeling each word, sentence, or phrase with sequential numbers or letters.
State	In a logical progression, record the facts related to the question. You are not required to provide proof or illustrations.
Trace	Describe the sequence of the process or the evolutionary development of the concept.