How to Make Points for Exam Essays

Tips for GCE A Levels General Paper and Other Written Examinations

Nov 13, 2008

This article will present some useful methods on how to brainstorm for argumentative essay points under an examination setting such as the GCE A Levels General Paper.

To write an argumentative essay in an examination is always demanding. Within a limited time frame, students have to present a sustained and well thought out response to the question at hand whilst simultaneously drawing from their own knowledge. These demands can easily overwhelm inexperienced candidates.

The first step to confronting the essay is to create points to use in your response to the question. The following are suggestions can help to generate ideas even with the clock against you:

Different Viewpoints of Issues

Different professionals such as economists and artists might look through a window and see the same scene, but interpret it differently. One way to generate ideas is to imagine looking at the issue as someone in a certain discipline might view it.

For example, to look at issues from Political, Social, and Economic viewpoints is especially useful for issues of a national interest, such as the impact of Multi-National Companies in Less Developed Countries. Other viewpoints which might be looked at could include:

Considering Scale of Issue

An issue could be examined by seeing it at different scales. A topic such as tourism could be viewed along this scale of increasing spatial boundaries and influence:

The various interesting aspects among each point in continuum could be elaborated on or compared to generate a discussion.

Postive, Negative and Interesting Points

To consider an issue from the plus and minus points is a fairly straightforward approach, such as a case for and against the death penalty. ‘Interesting’ points are relevant ones which do not exactly fall into either category, but would add value to the essay.

For instance, to point out that perceptions on the morality of the death penalty would vary with differing religious beliefs, and that a secular legal system would hence run into difficulties that one with a defined religious slant might not encounter, is to neither to support nor oppose the death penalty, but to distinguish between standards of 'good' in various social contexts. This might be brought up to develop a point, or used as part of the essay's conclusion.

Opposing Perspectives on an Issue

Q. Should Students Specialise in Academic Disciplines Such as Science or Humanities Before University Education?

To stretch the idea of seeing things from the positive or negative end, other dualities can be examined:

Writers could either explore the contrasts themselves, or the facets in between. A more difficult but possible approach would be to attack the polarity itself, such as arguing the intellectual pursuit of arts or science is a false dichotomy since both fields borrow from each other, and citing the Renaisance man as the epitome of the learned individual.

Shades of Definitions in Key Words

Key words can be taken and examined to show its different aspects, the same way one would view a diamond from different angles. If confronted with an examination question which asks whether small countries can have a significant voice in world affairs, one could point out that small countries could be interpreted literally as one with small geographical territory, but also might mean:

These would all influence the level of ‘significance’ a country might have. Rather than trying to establish rigid definitions in the introduction, the essay could be developed by moving through the various possible definitions and the differences in each and citing relevant examples.

Making and Scoring Points in the Argumentative Essay in Examination Settings

While generating ideas can be fun in itself, being able to do so is only the first step to scoring well in an essay. The strength of the individual points themselves would matter, as a more well-read candidate could support his ideas better, or one with a flair for expression make his points more persuasive compared to a writer who used the same point in his writing. Moreover, an essay is never so much about the individual point as much as overall integrity, and the flow of the essay as a whole is an important marking criteria too.

Nevertheless, students will benefit greatly from learning how to quickly create and develop points, before the ability to express them properly as well as the knack of putting it all together in an essay is developed.

The copyright of the article How to Make Points for Exam Essays in Essay Writing is owned by Jing Heng Fong. Permission to republish How to Make Points for Exam Essays in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.