Learning Skills
Making sure you're answering the question
Imagine you are writing a 1500 word essay that has the following topic.
Discuss the suggestion that students must possess a wide range of skills to succeed at tertiary study.
Key word analysis will help ensure that you answer the question.
First, there are content words that determine what you will need to research; that is, what you are expected to write about. Look for two things:
The general topic (this often assists you with a good introductory sentence for your introduction); and
The focus of the question (this is what you will be spending your time on).
Second, there are task, or directional words, that will dictate how you are expected to approach the question. These are sometimes contained within the instructions leading up to the question.
Finally, limitation words will guide your reading through time, place and of course word limit.
Activity 1
Analyse the question above. Look for the key words.
What is the topic of your essay?
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What is the focus of your essay?
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What is your task? (Refer to the page following for a comprehensive list of task words).
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What are the limitations?
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Check suggested response
