ωolfie wrote:I HAVE A QUESTION!
TYPE OF QUESTION: english [?]
YOUR QUESTION: tomorrow i'm doing this writing proficiency test, and i'm really scared! what are some helpful hints for staying within the topic, staying within one page, writing a descriptive and good story, etc. thanks!
If you have time to outline, then do a quick outline! I'm assuming for a writing proficiency test, they're looking for something like a well-structured five paragraph essay.
So just remember the parts that all papers need: an intro, a meaty middle part, and a conclusion. Then just make sure you hit all these parts.
In the intro, introduce and explain the topic, as well as what you are going to be writing about it. Quickly introduce your meaty middle points. Then write your meaty middle. Remember that each paragraph is basically its own argument/point. Introduce one topic per paragraph and explain your points for it. Finally, in your conclusion, summarize what your points were and the conclusion you drew for the question/topic.
Tips for staying on topic: this is why an outline comes in handy. You can jot down each of the points you want to cover. You can use the outline to keep you on track. If you just do a stream of consciousness, you're more likely to ramble and go off on tangents. If you can do a quick outline and expand from that, then you already know what you're going to say and what points you want to hit, so you're more likely to stay on target.
An outline will also help keep you in the target range for the required length. A five paragraph essay should take about a page, so it's a good goal to stick with, since one page is your limit. This paper length should also help keep you on target. If you notice yourself going over, then you've gotten too flowery or rambley somewhere. Take a deep breath and re-read your paper. Look and see if one paragraph is much longer than the others. That's where you need to cut down on some sentences. Re-read for redundancies (things you've already said) and get rid of those.
Basically, just keep your end goal in mind (writing about this one subject you've been given). Breathe and don't panic. Write down your main points, then expand on those until you have a paper.
Hope that helps. Good luck!