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Writing Answers to Essay Questions

1. Budget your time.

- Allocate a certain amount of time for each question.

- Determine time allotment for each question according to point value of

Question.

2. Pay careful attention to the clue word of the question. (See Below)

3. Jot down ideas and put them in some order before beginning to write.

4. Use words of the question in the first sentence of the answer. Make

that first sentence sum up your key point or your over-all answer to

the question being asked.

5. Label the parts of your answer with clear transitions.

6. Incorporate specific relevant details in your answer; support generalizations with

facts.

7. Do not pad your answer with wordiness, repetition, or irrelevant detail.

8. Start with the easiest question. Leave space for other answers, and number your

answers clearly so your instructor will know which question you are answering.

Common Clue Words in Essay Questions

Compare

Show similarities between things

Contrast

Show differences between things
Criticize

these positions
Give the positive and negative points of a subject as well as evidence for
Define
Give the formal meaning of a term
Describe
Tell in detail about something
Diagram
Make a drawing and label it
Discuss

as well as evidence for these positions.
Give details and, if relevant, the positive and negative points of a subject
Enumerate
List points and number them 1, 2, 3, etc.
Evaluate

judgment about which outweighs-the other and why

Explain Make plain by giving reason or cause, show logical development or

relationships

Illustrate Explain by giving examples

Interpret Explain the meaning of something

Justify Give reasons for something

List Give a series of points and number them 1, 2, 3, etc.

Outline Give the main points and important secondary points. Put main points at

the margin and indent secondary points under the main points.

Relationships may also be described with logical symbols, as follows:

1.

a.

b.

2.

Prove Show to be true by giving facts or reasons

Relate Show connections among things

State Give the main points

Summarize Give a condensed account of the main points

Trace Describe the development or history of a subject chronologically
Give the positive and negative points of a subject as well as. your