How do you guys memorise essays? (1 Viewer)

[SecretSpectre]

I've heard mindmapping can help with the flow of your argument. Also apparently it helps a lot with retention idk

I use a very dumb method of mindmapping: remembering what the words look like on a physical page, what the sentences look like physically, and so on...

 

[eeeunicec]

i usually memorise my essays the day before since i'm studying for other exams on the days leading up to the english exam. idk man the stress really helps as well. i memorise it line by line by typing it on another doc and reading it out loud (half-half screen). after i feel like i memorised the line i type it out and check. i make sure to memorise my intro word for word since that's like where the markers have a brief idea of what grade your essay is. for the body paras i read it out a lot and test myself by reading it out loud to save more time and then type the whole thing. other than the quotes it doesn't really matter if i don't memorise it word for word since the quotes trigger key words and stuff but i try to since i really like how i express my ideas in my memorised draft.

i don't memorise conclusion since it's easy to write on the spot -- got a 19/20 for my last essay and i legit wrote a one sentence conclusion.

after all that it's like 4am and im tired as shiz. it'd be nice if i wrote the whole essay by hand and time myself but i'm too ceebs so i just type everything out in one go and zzz.

wake up. type and test myself on parts i'm not sure on the car ride to the station. type and test myself on parts i'm not sure on the train ride to school. read out loud and test myself on parts i'm not sure on the walk to school. at this point i'm sick of hearing my voice, even the inner voice in my head but that's good. that's when i know that i've DRILLED the essay into my head. hehe.

 

[Sisyphus1015]

I just use Masakan's method and deliberately spacing out recall helps, so you know where your memorisation isn't as good.

 

[mvrcuriee]

i know a lot of people write it down but i always found the quickest way (+most fool-proof way) to memorise is by reciting your essay out loud in chunks repetitively until you could say it aloud word for word. recite one chunk, then recite the another chunk, then see if you know those bits by heart by reciting both chunks together, rinse and repeat til you can recite the whole essay by heart. i memorised 3 essays + a discursive and a creative in the 2 days before my trials with this method without writing it down at all. i have trouble with sitting still and focusing so pacing around while reciting my essays was really helpful as well

@lolcti !!!

 

[lolcti]

@lolcti !!!

tysm !! also @Masaken you've always been the top g

 

[mvrcuriee]

i know a lot of people write it down but i always found the quickest way (+most fool-proof way) to memorise is by reciting your essay out loud in chunks repetitively until you could say it aloud word for word. recite one chunk, then recite the another chunk, then see if you know those bits by heart by reciting both chunks together, rinse and repeat til you can recite the whole essay by heart. i memorised 3 essays + a discursive and a creative in the 2 days before my trials with this method without writing it down at all. i have trouble with sitting still and focusing so pacing around while reciting my essays was really helpful as well

@C_master

 

[mvrcuriee]

i know a lot of people write it down but i always found the quickest way (+most fool-proof way) to memorise is by reciting your essay out loud in chunks repetitively until you could say it aloud word for word. recite one chunk, then recite the another chunk, then see if you know those bits by heart by reciting both chunks together, rinse and repeat til you can recite the whole essay by heart. i memorised 3 essays + a discursive and a creative in the 2 days before my trials with this method without writing it down at all. i have trouble with sitting still and focusing so pacing around while reciting my essays was really helpful as well

@tkb973

 

[rayansmith]

Memorizing essays can be challenging, but there are some effective methods you can try:

Break it Down: Divide your essay into manageable sections like introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Focus on memorizing one section at a time.

Use Mnemonics: Create mnemonic devices or acronyms to help remember key points and sequences in your essay.

Practice Regularly: Consistent repetition is key. Read your essay out loud multiple times, and try to recite it without looking.

Write it Out: Handwriting your essay multiple times can reinforce memory.

Teach it: Explain your essay to someone else as if you're teaching them. This helps solidify your understanding and recall.

Visual Aids: Use visual aids like mind maps or diagrams to connect different parts of your essay.

Remember, everyone has different learning styles, so experiment with these methods to see what works best for you. Good luck!

 

[iloveeggs]

guys does memorising essays help all the time?? what if you get a very specfic question and memorising an essay wont cut it? does that happen in y11/12

 

[Masaken]

guys does memorising essays help all the time?? what if you get a very specfic question and memorising an essay wont cut it? does that happen in y11/12

it helps heaps, I did it 100% for y11 and y12!!! the point of a memorised essay is that you've familiarised yourself with the ideas and it's generic enough such that you can adapt it to any question (practise with past papers prior to the exam if ur not confident!!)

there was one q for my mod b (where out of all my essays my mod b one was the most complex in ideas and the most specific) and I remember thinking 'wow I'm cooked it's joever' cos the ideas of the q were completely different to that of my essay (it was an extract q too). but I calmed myself down after a minute and spent an extra 2 minutes planning out what to write in my head, and because I practised with past papers before it came really easily from there

 

[Average Boreduser]

it helps heaps, I did it 100% for y11 and y12!!! the point of a memorised essay is that you've familiarised yourself with the ideas and it's generic enough such that you can adapt it to any question (practise with past papers prior to the exam if ur not confident!!)

there was one q for my mod b (where out of all my essays my mod b one was the most complex in ideas and the most specific) and I remember thinking 'wow I'm cooked it's joever' cos the ideas of the q were completely different to that of my essay (it was an extract q too). but I calmed myself down after a minute and spent an extra 2 minutes planning out what to write in my head, and because I practised with past papers before it came really easily from there

 

[vajayjay]

it helps heaps, I did it 100% for y11 and y12!!! the point of a memorised essay is that you've familiarised yourself with the ideas and it's generic enough such that you can adapt it to any question (practise with past papers prior to the exam if ur not confident!!)

there was one q for my mod b (where out of all my essays my mod b one was the most complex in ideas and the most specific) and I remember thinking 'wow I'm cooked it's joever' cos the ideas of the q were completely different to that of my essay (it was an extract q too). but I calmed myself down after a minute and spent an extra 2 minutes planning out what to write in my head, and because I practised with past papers before it came really easily from there

and from my own experience they also make sure that you have sophisticated analysis, because your ACTUAL analysis doesn't change much, its moreso the angle thru whichu analyse

 

[iloveeggs]

it helps heaps, I did it 100% for y11 and y12!!! the point of a memorised essay is that you've familiarised yourself with the ideas and it's generic enough such that you can adapt it to any question (practise with past papers prior to the exam if ur not confident!!)

there was one q for my mod b (where out of all my essays my mod b one was the most complex in ideas and the most specific) and I remember thinking 'wow I'm cooked it's joever' cos the ideas of the q were completely different to that of my essay (it was an extract q too). but I calmed myself down after a minute and spent an extra 2 minutes planning out what to write in my head, and because I practised with past papers before it came really easily from there

okay thanks!!

 

[iloveeggs]

rereading this thread bc i have to memorise one for tmr morning

 

[fijifrotter]

fr i winged my prelims essay and got like 70 percent cuz i forgot everyting

getting a 70 on a winged essay is crazy sounds like a recipe for 11/20

 

[143tunipfrog]

rereading this thread bc i have to memorise one for tmr morning

same T-T

 

[Study to success]

I usually just read a section and then read it out loud without looking at it. Once I can read it out 3 times perfectly I move on to the next section. After a few sections I go back to the previous sections and see if I still remember it. Then I repeat until I have the whole essay memorised