Answering Questions

Answering QuestionsWriting essays that fulfill the objectives

Core Process—QEDS Look at the question Think it through using the elements Think it through in terms of the discipline Keep the standards in mind at all times.

Pitfalls Don’t fall back on usual patterns

Jump right in and answer Immediately begin looking for information to

include Have no idea so wait until last minute and write

whatever comes to mind regardless of its relevance

Reframing the question Ask what the question is asking for, e.g.,

Compare/Contrast Evaluate Define Discuss Identify

Ask what would answer it fully—consider the standards of critical thinking.

First step Analyze the question using systems thinking

One-system No-system Multiple-system

What is the meaning of a system for Nosich? Organized field or area of study Recognized theory Recognized authority

One-system Requires you to use knowledge from only one

field or knowledge base Only one right answer exists—either you

know it or you don’t Based on the “facts” of the field Often mathematical or scientific

No-system Often opinion- or reflection-driven Does not require critical thinking In classrooms can be confused with multiple-

system questions Can require facts and reasoning to support the answer Often need a system to explain one’s preferences

Preferences themselves are not system-based Analyzing the systems underlying the preferences would require

multiple systems

Multiple-system More complex than one- and no-system Require more than one system to answer Facts need to be interpreted through various

viewpoints and contexts using logic and reasoning, e.g., Sociology: Historical, Political, Socio-cultural Literature: Critical theory, Historical, Inter-textual Design: Color, Proportion, Finances

A Final Note Not every question requires you to go around

the entire circle of elements Consider which elements “jump out”

May need only to look at The concepts inherent in the question The information required to answer fully Implications and consequences

You must critically think and decide which are important to consider.

Practice evaluating questions Q: Define the following terms:

1. Return on investment 2. Bull market 3. Bear market

A: One-system: They either are defined correctly or they are not.

Practice evaluating questions Q: How fairly did Jefferson treat Native

Americans in the “Declaration of Independence?”

A: Multiple-system 1. Define concept “fair” 2. Analyze and interpret D of I 3. Make interpretations and draw conclusions based

on your sense of (a) morals and (b) values

Practice evaluating questions Q: Imagine yourself in a school from which technology has

suddenly disappeared. What unexpected difficulties would you encounter?

A: Multiple-system 1. Define concept “technology” 2. Define concept “difficulty” 3. Additional systems to analyze based on personal perspective

A. convenience B. importance C. efficiency D. comfort

Practice evaluating questions Q: What color do you want to paint your

room?

A: No-system. Merely a personal preference.

Practice evaluating questions Q: Is capital punishment ever a justifiable

sentence? Why? Or why not?

A: Seems to be no-system Just asks for your opinion but really wants a CT

answer using multiple systems.

Practice evaluating questions Q: At what point in Jonathan Swift’s “A

Modest Proposal” did you first become aware that he was using irony?

A: One-system based on defining the concept “irony” and merely reflecting when you noticed Swift uses it.

Practice evaluating questions Q: (Asked during a job interview) What is the

greatest strength you bring to this position?

A: Multiple-system: 1. Determine what job requires. 2. Analyze strengths and choose one. 3. Determine what would best impress the

interviewer.

Practice evaluating questions Q: A friend has asked your advice about which math

course would be most helpful in everyday life.

A: Multiple-system: Analyze information from multiple math systems. Consider what the concepts “helpful” and

“everyday” mean. Consider what values you place on each course.

Where did this student go wrong?