7/31/2019 How to Answer Questions
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Please consider a few sign-post that are fashionable attributes
of UPSC to consider relevence :
Analyze: Literally, take apart. Break down a subject into its
component parts and discuss how
they relate to one another.
Compare: Identify similarities and difference between (or among)
two (or more) things. Onemay end by drawing some conclusion from
these similarities or differences.
Contrast: Set two (or more) things in opposition in order to
bring out the differences between
(or among)them. Again, draw some conclusion from these
differences.
Criticize: Make a judgment on the merits of a position, theory,
opinion or interpretation
concerning some subject. One must support ones judgment with a
discussion of relevant
evidence.Critic must remain equal or superior and should
emphasize upon the area of
improvement.
Defend: Provide one side of an argument and offer reasons for
the opinion held.
Define: State as precisely as possible the meaning of some word,
phrase, or concept. Develop the
definition in detail.
Describe: Give a detailed account of something. Where UPSC
subjects are concerned, this
account will typically be step-by-step, with the emphasis on
cause and effect.
Evaluate: Appraise something, rendering a judgment on its truth,
usefulness, worth, or validity.
Support the evaluation with relevant factual evidence.
Explain: Clarify something and provide reasons for it.
Identify: Define or characterize names, terms, things, places,
events or other phenomenon.
Illustrate: Provide an effective example of some stated point,
principle, or concept.
Outline: Show the main features of some event, concept, idea,
theory, or the like. Please omit
the details. Often such an answer will be in outline rather than
narrative form.
Pros & cons: A more specialized form of evaluate. List and
discuss the positives and negatives
about a certain position, idea, event, theory, or the likes.
Relate: Narrate an observation or set of observations thereby
emphasize the relation of one
observation to another, especially focusing on cause and
effect.
Review: Survey a subject. This is much like an outline, but put
in narrative rather than list or
outlines form.
State: Present the answer briefly and clearly, usually using a
simple declarative sentence: Such-
