Five Myths about Written Exams and Final Papers

As you finish up your final papers and prepare for your written exams, we're here to debunk these five myths about written assessments.

One can never use “I”.

Depending on your academic discipline and the genre of writing, “I” can actually be encouraged! Writing genres like Op-Eds and reflections often even require the use of “I”. If you aren’t sure whether you can or should use “I,” you can always ask your professor or TA. 

You must have five paragraphs.

If you went to high school in Ontario, you were probably taught that every essay has exactly five paragraphs: one introduction paragraph with a thesis, three body paragraphs with different sub arguments, and a conclusion paragraph. In university, you should use as many paragraphs and sub arguments as you need! Each new paragraph should be a change in idea or example, not necessarily a change in sub argument. As a general rule, if your paragraph is longer than about ¾ of a double-spaced page, you probably have at least two paragraphs. To make your essay easier to read and follow, you can split this long paragraph where you notice a shift in idea or example.   

You must use direct quotations.

Think of it this way — if you are writing a 500-word discussion post and 100 of those words are your quotes, that’s already 20% of the post that isn’t showing your own knowledge and understanding. It’s showing someone else’s words and ideas, not your own! Direct quotes can be effective when you can’t change words without changing meaning, but paraphrasing and summarizing are often more effective. No matter whether you use a direct quote, paraphrase or summary, make sure to put a citation! 

You will get a good mark if you restate everything you learned in the class.

University-level writing is almost always about your own analysis or findings. Simply restating everything you learned in class is very rarely enough to succeed. It may help to think of academic writing as a conversation. What are you adding? A new example? A confirmation of a previous experiment? How do pieces come together, in your opinion? It might be scary to rely on your own thoughts or interpretation, but you can take a leap of faith if you are relying on evidence. 

When it comes to university-level writing, you’re on your own.

Though you always want to take care to act with academic integrity, there is more support for your academic writing in university than there was in high school! Reach out to your professors, TAs, IAs, lab supervisors, etc. if you have any questions or concerns about an assignment. Subject-specific librarians can help you with your research, and we at Writing Services can help you at any stage in your writing process. Just be sure to book your appointments early, especially at the end of term! 

Looking for additional support?

Visit the Student Success Portal to register for a writing workshop or book a one-on-one appointment with a writing tutor.