I am currently preparing for a midterm exam that will require me to read a brief story, write an essay from my own observation and experience to support my interpretation of the story.I will have 3 hrs to complete a handwritten 4-5 page essay.I have no clue what the subject matter is. My question is this; What type of stories are common in this type of exam?

Hello, cdhtarp!

If I were in your shoes, then I would be concentrating more on what types of things you would look for to include in an essay and how an essay is written. That way, you will be prepared for whatever type of story you are given for which you need to write an essay.

You also might find some things in the following search to be helpful to you.

Writing an Essay - Google Search (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=Writing+an+Essay)

Hello, cdhtarp!

If I were in your shoes, then I would be concentrating more on what types of things you would look for to include in an essay and how an essay is written. That way, you will be prepared for whatever type of story you are given for which you need to write an essay.

You also might find some things in the following search to be helpful to you.

Writing an Essay - Google Search (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=Writing+an+Essay)
Clough,
I will be given one essay question after reading the brief story. Can you provide me with some sample questions so I may practice writing essays? This will help me tremendously.
Thanks,
cdhtarp

Clough,
I will be given one essay question after reading the brief story. Can you provide me with some sample questions so I may practice writing essays? This will help me tremendously.
Thanks,
cdhtarp

I don't know what type of stories might be included in your exam. I can only guess at that, because I am not your teacher. However, I did find some questions for essays related to the works of Edgar Allen Poe. Do you have the works of Poe? If you don't, can you easily obtain them ?

The course I am enrolled in is from LSU Independent Study.I mail my essays to my instructor and she grades them and sends them back. The exam will cover: downshifting,causal analysis essay, parallelism and first imitative response, two imitative responses,and first person narrative. This is an expository writing course and we have not covered any poetry or literary works. Essays that I have written prior to mid-term include; who I am,character sketches,revising an essay about television and it's chief abuses,cause and effect essay on the baby boom generation,childhood experiences(imagery), and an experience in life that changed my outlook on life.
Thanks,
cdhtarp