COMMENTS

  1. Analyse, Explain, Identify… 22 essay question words

    And to understand the requirements of the question, you need to have a good hold on all the different question words. For example, 'justify', 'examine', and 'discuss', to name a few. Lacking this understanding is a pitfall many students tumble into. But our guide on essay question words below should keep you firmly above on safe, essay-acing ...

  2. How to Answer a Discuss Essay

    A discuss essay conclusion should contain two elements. Firstly, a summary of the core ideas, returning to the evidence presented and the points made, along with an indication of which you believe delivered the strongest arguments for or against the statement in the title. Secondly, a discuss essay should give your opinion, which should be ...

  3. Discussion essays

    In this sense, the academic meaning of the word discuss is similar to its everyday meaning, of two people talking about a topic from different sides. For a discussion essay, a balanced view is normally essential. This makes discussion essays distinct from persuasion essays, for which only one side of the argument is given. When writing a ...

  4. Step 1: Understanding the essay question

    The content words are the "meat" of the question - these are things you can research. Effective communication is considered a core skill in higher education and is usually conveyed through the medium of academic papers and essays.Discuss the process of writing academic essays and critically examine the importance of structure and content.. You will often be asked to talk about "the role ...

  5. PDF Understanding Essay Questions

    The topic is the broad subject area of the question; the instruction tells you what, specifically, your entire essay is supposed to do; and the focus is the narrow aspect of the topic that the question asks you to address. To take the example above, an essay question may be broken up like this: Describe the five most important moments in the ...

  6. Understanding instruction words in academic essay titles

    Here's a list of some of the most common instruction/command words you'll see in essay questions (and examination questions as well), together with an explanation of what they mean. Describe: Give a detailed account of…. Outline: Give the main features/general principles; don't include minor details. Explain, account for, interpret: Describe ...

  7. PDF Strategies for Essay Writing

    prompt, they often find that it answers many of their questions. When you read the assignment prompt, you should do the following: • Look for action verbs. Verbs like analyze, compare, discuss, explain, make an argument, propose a solution, trace, or research can help you understand what you're being asked to do with an assignment.

  8. How to Write a Discussion Essay (with Pictures)

    After reading about both sides carefully, decide what position you want to take. Write your position at the top of a sheet of paper or at the top of a word processing document to start your outline. If you were given a text to base your essay on, make sure that text has enough evidence to support your chosen position. 4.

  9. Answering Assignment Questions

    Key words are the words in an assignment question that tell you the approaches to take when you answer. Make sure you understand the meaning of key words in an essay question, especially t ask words. As Task words are verbs that direct you and tell you how to go about answering a question, understanding the meaning helps you know exactly what ...

  10. Understanding essay questions

    A good way of approaching your essay is to break the question down. Most essay questions will contain two different types of words - keywords and process words. As an example, we'll use the following essay title: 'Assess what impact the media has on our fear of crime' Keywords. Keywords are the words which define the topic.

  11. Understanding Essay Questions

    Understanding the essay question is the first and most important step you will undertake with any assignment, as without fully understanding the task you cannot respond to it. Consider the key elements in the question e.g. Examine the role of women in Parliament since 1918, with reference to key Equality legislation and ask yourself:

  12. PDF Important words in essay questions

    define, enumerate, identify, list, state, give, indicate, mention, name, cite. Give a concise and accurate definition of what is called for. List of outline your reply. "Enumerate upon the reasons for the downfall of the Roman Empire.". "Identify each picture by its title and name of the artist.".

  13. How to Critically Discuss

    Discuss. talk or write about (a topic) in detail, taking into account different issues or ideas. So, in short, a critical discussion requires you to weigh up the strengths and weaknesses of a theory, concept (or work of some sort), and write about this in detail - taking into account various relevant issues and viewpoints.

  14. PDF Analysing an essay question

    z Exercise 1. First year students were asked to write an essay on the following question: "The science of ergonomics is central to good modern design.". Discuss this statement. About half of the group wrote essays that answered this question appropriately. The other half wrote essays which really answered other questions.

  15. Analysing questions

    Explain why a knowledge of a learning theory was or would have been useful in the circumstances. Instructions words = explain (twice); reflect on. Subjects = two learning theories; an experience from your teaching practice; knowledge of a learning theory. Think of each criterion therefore as a mini essay.

  16. Essays: Task Words

    Discuss: Provide details about and evidence for or against two or more different views or ideas, often with reference to a statement in the title. Discussion often includes explaining which views or ideas seem stronger. Examine: Look closely at something. Think and write about the detail, and question it where appropriate.

  17. Understanding your assignment questions: A short guide

    Define: Give the exact meaning of. Where relevant, show you understand how the definition may be problematic. ... Discuss: Investigate or examine by argument; sift and debate; give reasons for and against; examine the implications. ... Tip: If an assignment is asking a direct question, make sure your essay answers it. Address it directly in the ...

  18. How to Write a Discussion Essay

    Here is a summary of various components of a discussion essay structure. Introduction. The purpose of the introduction is to arouse the interest of the reader. The introduction should determine what you will talk about in the discussion essay. You will clarify the question in your own words and afterward characterize your essential contention.

  19. How to Write a Good Answer to Exam Essay Questions: 13 Steps

    Start with an introductory paragraph, use 3 paragraphs in the body of the article to explain different points, and finish with a concluding paragraph. It can also be really helpful to draft a quick outline of your essay before you start writing. 3. Choose relevant facts and figures to include.

  20. Essay question Definition & Meaning

    essay question: [noun] an examination question that requires an answer in a sentence, paragraph, or short composition.

  21. The Four Main Types of Essay

    An essay is a focused piece of writing designed to inform or persuade. There are many different types of essay, but they are often defined in four categories: argumentative, expository, narrative, and descriptive essays. Argumentative and expository essays are focused on conveying information and making clear points, while narrative and ...

  22. What is the Difference Between Explain and Discuss

    Explain and discuss are two verbs you may come across in essay questions. However, there's a distinct difference between explain and discuss. It's important to know the difference between these essay question words in order to write a good essay. Key Areas Covered. 1. What Does Explain Mean - Definition, Features, Examples 2.

  23. Essay

    Essay. Essay assessments ask students to demonstrate a point of view supported by evidence. They allow students to demonstrate what they've learned and build their writing skills. An essay question prompts a written response, which may vary from a few paragraphs to a number of pages. Essay questions are generally open-ended.