WORDS TO WATCH FOR IN ESSAY QUESTIONS
The following
words are commonly found in essay questions. Understanding them is essential to
success on such questions and examination in general. If you want to do well on
essay tests, examination then study this page thoroughly. Know these words
backward and forward. To heighten your awareness of them, underline the words
when you see them in a test question.
Discuss:
Consider and debate or argue about the pros and cons of an issue. Write about
any conflict. Compare and contrast.
Enumerate:
List several ideas, aspects, events, things, qualities, reasons, etc.
Evaluate:
Give your opinion or cite the opinion of an expert. Include evidence to support
the evaluation.
Explain:
Make an idea clear. Show logically how a concept is developed. Give the reason
for an event.
Illustrate:
Give concrete examples.
Explain clearly
by using comparisons or examples.
Interpret:
Comment upon, give examples, describe relationships. Explain the meaning.
Describe, then
evaluate.
Outline:
Describe main ideas, characteristics, or events. (Does not necessarily mean to
write a Roman Numeral/Letter outline.)
Prove(Verify):
Support with facts (especially facts presented in class or in the text.)
State:
Explain precisely.
Relate:
Show the connections between ideas or events. Provide a larger context.
Summarize:
Give a brief, condensed account. Include conclusions. Avoid unnecessary
details.
Trace:
Give the development, process or history of a thing, event or idea, especially
by proceeding from the latest to the earliest evidence.
Define:
Give the meaning; usually a
meaning specific
to the course or subject.
Explain the
exact meaning. Definitions are usually short.
Describe:
Give a detailed account. Make a picture with words. List characteristics, qualities,
and parts.
Analyze:
Break into separate parts and discuss, examine, or interpret each part.
Contrast:
Show differences. Set in opposition.
Compare:
Examine two or more things.
Identify
similarities and differences.
Criticize:
Make judgments. Evaluate
Comparative
worth. Criticism often involves
analysis.
Critical
Analysis: Examine the topic or argument in terms of its
strengths and weaknesses.
Diagram
: Present
a drawing, chart, plan or graphic representation in your answer.
Generally, you
are also expected to label the diagram and a brief explanation or description
may be required.
Comment:
Make
critical observations, even if they are fairly open-ended. Your texts, learning
notes and discussion notes should provide sufficient guidelines and your own
commonsense should prevail.
Account
for:
Give reasons for; explain.
Clarify:
Identify the components of an issue/topic/problem/; make the meaning plain;
remove misunderstandings.
Demonstrate:
Show clearly by giving proof or evidence.
Justify:
Show adequate grounds for decisions, a particular view or conclusions and answer
main objections likely to be made to them.
Infer: Conclude
something from facts or reasoning.
If any of these
terms are still unclear to you, go to an unabridged dictionary. Thorough knowledge
of these words helps you give the teacher (marker) what he/she is requesting.
PREPARED BY ;
SIR. J.M.VITUS
NASULI HIGH SCHOOL
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
P.O. BOX 21 –
NAMTUMBO.
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