|
Understanding the Question |
There are four different types of essay questions, which require different styles and approaches to answering them.
Descriptive
This is probably the easiest type, as it requires you to give the main information on the given topic without comment. Sometimes you will have to support these main facts with evidence or specific examples. Essays of these type use words like.....
Define, describe, detail, outline, explain, list, relate, delineate, annotate, give an account of, trace, state, summarise, present, identify
Discussion
In this essay, you should give the main points on the topic, examine, by argument, the various points made and sometimes look at the implications. This essay is harder as it requires you to select material and discuss it. Any comment should be on the points made and supported by evidence (and referenced). Essays of this type use words like....
Analyse, explore, discuss, comment, illustrate, account for, interpret, review, explain, consider, debate, show how, examine
Evaluation
In this essay, you should select the material you want to present to develop a line of thought or argument. You are usually asked to come to a conclusion and to back your view up, by including a discussion of the evidence or reasoning involved. This is often considered the hardest of the essay types, as it requires you to present selected facts, discuss them in such a way as to direct the reader to a conclusion. Essays of this type use words like....
Criticise, evaluate, critically evaluate, justify, comment, investigate, interpret, judge, reason, decide
Comparison
In this essay, you are usually asked to find similarities or/and differences between different viewpoints, evidence or facts. Comparative essays can require description, discussion or evaluation, depending on what you have been asked to do. Essays of this type use words like....
Compare, contrast, differentiate, distinguish, debate, show the relationship between
NOTE: some essays require you to do more than one task and involve several types of essay question. For example;
"Identify the main nursing theories underpinning collaborative practice and discuss their relevance to the multi-disciplinary team."
In order to answer this you would be required to focus on both the descriptive and discusive areas of the question and use the above information on both sections to answer the question fully.
Comments
 |
|
