Writing essays 4

Writing essays 4 Essay Instruction words. Account for Explain, Clarify or give the reasons for. (Avoid confusing Analyse this instruction with “give an Argue account of” which means Assess describe in detail). Give an organised answer Comment on looking at all aspects. Compare Make a case, based on suitable evidence. For and against a particular standpoint. Decide on value or importance of something, paying attention to positive and negative aspects. A vague instruction but this usually means to analyse or assess. To show similarities or differences in functions, qualities or characteristics.

Contrast To show differences in Criticize comparisons when things are set side by side. Define To give a judgement about the value or truth of ideas, opinions Demonstrate or facts usually with supporting Describe evidence. To give the exact meaning of a term, theory or idea, or word, and note any distinctions or differences. Show by example or evidence. Set out the main ideas of a topic or the sequence of events in some procedure. Discuss In most cases discuss means describe, explain then evaluate. This is the most common Before you start to make instruction word used in essay judgements about the ideas and questions. theories you are dealing with, you need to describe what they are, and explain how and why they came about. You will in any case find the task easier if you break it down like this.

Enumerate List relevant items in continuous Evaluate prose rather than in note form Explain and then describe them. This is similar to assess, decide Give a brief account of…….. on merit of situation of How Far…..?/ To what extent. argument. Identify Relate how things work or how Illustrate they came into being, perhaps Interpret this will involve description and analysis. Justify Describe in a concise way without going into too much detail. Explore the case for a stated proposition or explanation, similar to assess or criticize. Pick out the key features of something. Similar to explain but probably asking for the quoting of specific examples. Clarify something or explain indicating how the thing relates to some other way of looking at things. Express valid reasons for accepting a particular position with the need to argue its case.

List Similar to enumerate but without Outline going into much detail. Indicate the main features of a Reconcile topic or sequence of events and Refute possibly setting them with a Relate framework to indicate how they interrelate. Review Show how two propositions or State ideas are similar in important Summarize respects. Means that you should evidence why something is not the case. This involves either explaining how things happened or are connected in a cause and effect way, or may require to compare and contrast. Survey a topic, the emphasis here is on assess rather than describe. Express the main points of an idea or topic, similar to describe and enumerate. Similar to “state”, state the main features or an argument but omit unnecessary detail.

Trace Identify the connection between one thing and another in a development sense over a period of time or in a cause and effect sense. Rowntree, D. 1998, Learn How to Study: A realistic approach. Time Warner paperbacks. Fourth Edition. Find us on level 2 of the Library. Drop-ins and appointments available daily 10am-4pm, term-time and vacations. [email protected]. http://StudentAcademicSupport.abertay.ac.uk.