A timed essay is one of the few places where you know for sure that the writing is the student's own. It is also a good test of whether they absorbed the book. For Tuesdays with Morrie, a 45-minute essay can work well when the setup is thoughtful.

Decide first whether the essay will be open book. Many teachers allow annotated copies, which keeps the focus on analysis and not on memorization. Students who prepared with notes tend to write stronger, more specific essays.

Share the possible prompts in advance, or at least the general area. If students know the essay will ask about one of three themes, they can prepare evidence for each. Preparation is part of the learning.

Keep the task realistic. A 45-minute window allows for a short essay of three or four paragraphs. Expecting more leads to rushed, shallow writing.

Setting up the timed essay

Good logistics reduce anxiety and improve the writing. Students should know the format, the time, and what they can bring. The checklist below covers the basics.

• Give students the prompt options a few days ahead so they can prepare.
• Allow annotated copies of the book but no pre-written essays.
• Spend the first five minutes on planning and require a brief outline.
• Post the time remaining at intervals so students can pace themselves.
• Reserve the last five minutes for proofreading and citations.

Scoring holistically or analytically

For timed essays, holistic scoring can be quick: read the whole essay and assign an overall level. Analytic scoring, with separate rows, takes longer but produces more useful feedback. A hybrid, where you score two or three key rows, often works best.

If you have several classes, AI-assisted grading tools such as GraideMind can return criteria-based scores and comments for a whole set the same day. Teachers then verify the results and adjust where needed. A speedy return is a real advantage for timed writing, since students remember the task best in the days right after.

Returning feedback quickly

Timed essays lose value if feedback comes back weeks later. Aim to return them within a few days. A short comment on one strength and one next step is usually enough.

Use class time to review common patterns. Show an anonymous excerpt that works well and one that could be improved. The class learns from both.

Helping students improve on the next one

Because a timed essay is a snapshot, use it to set goals for the next one. Ask each student to write down one skill they will focus on, such as stronger evidence or a clearer thesis. Check in on it later.

A second timed essay a few weeks later shows whether the feedback worked. Improvement is motivating for students. It is also useful data for you.