Analysing
questions
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Read
carefully
Read any
essay or
exam
question very
carefully.
Try to understand the
problem it is posing.
Note any of its
key terms
and
instruction terms.
Identify
the main issue or
concept behind it.
Write
out the question
Write out the question fully
and accurately on your rough
notes and your
drafts,
for the essay.
This will help you to
understand what is required.
Keep re-reading the question
as you work on your
essay
or project.
Write out the question in
full on your final
essay
too.
Special
terms
Most questions contain
key terms
and
instruction terms.
These might sometimes be
implied rather than directly
stated.
'Examine
the significance of
Iago's role in
Othello'
Examine here is an
instruction term.
It is telling you to discuss
the topic in a general
manner.
Iago's role is a
key term.
It tells you to focus on
this particular aspect of
the play.
It is also setting a limit
to the question.
Key terms
are determined by the
subject in question.
Instruction terms are
conventions which tell you
how to approach the
question.
Common
problems
Most
common problems are
caused by not reading the
question carefully.
This often results in -
-
answering the wrong
question
-
misunderstanding the
point
-
failing to see the
emphasis
- not
following the
instructions
General
Questions are not set to
catch you out or to be
especially difficult.
They give you the chance to
show what you have learned
on the course.
It's true that some may be
expressed in an oblique
manner.
Your task may then be to
'interpret' the question.
If a question is very
obscure or ambiguous, ask
your tutor for advice.
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