How to write an answer

HOW TO Write An HOW TO Write An Answer ?Answer ?

Dr. Khalid Ul Rehman HakeemDr. Khalid Ul Rehman HakeemDouble MSc., PhD.Double MSc., PhD.

www.khalidhakeem.weebly.cowww.khalidhakeem.weebly.comm

•PhD (Botany) Jamia Hamdard PhD (Botany) Jamia Hamdard (www.jamiahamdard.edu), with thesis (www.jamiahamdard.edu), with thesis title as “Proteomics and title as “Proteomics and Nanobiotechnological approach for the Nanobiotechnological approach for the improvement of Nitrogen use Efficiency improvement of Nitrogen use Efficiency (NUE) in Rice” in 2011.(NUE) in Rice” in 2011.

•MSc. (Environmental Botany), Jamia MSc. (Environmental Botany), Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi in 2006 (First Hamdard, New Delhi in 2006 (First Division).Division).

• MSc. (Ecology & Environment) Sikkim MSc. (Ecology & Environment) Sikkim Manipal University of Health, Medical & Manipal University of Health, Medical & Technological Sciences, Gangtok in 2005 Technological Sciences, Gangtok in 2005 (First Division).(First Division).

•BSc. General, Kashmir University in BSc. General, Kashmir University in 2003 (First Division).2003 (First Division).

•10+2 Hanfia College Anantnag in 1999 10+2 Hanfia College Anantnag in 1999 (First Division).(First Division).

•1010thth Hanfia College Anantnag in 1997 Hanfia College Anantnag in 1997 (Grade A)(Grade A)

Catch me @ Catch me @ www.khalidhakeem.weebly.comwww.khalidhakeem.weebly.com

Presently post doc Presently post doc scientist @ Universiti scientist @ Universiti Putra MalaysiaPutra Malaysia

PREPARATIONPREPARATION

ANTICIPATEANTICIPATE

Study GuidesStudy GuidesIf your teacher has given youIf your teacher has given you study guidesstudy guides or or other materials to help you prepare for the exam,other materials to help you prepare for the exam, use themuse them..

Your NotesYour NotesGo over lecture notes, class discussion notes, and Go over lecture notes, class discussion notes, and reading notes to reading notes to review big ideas and major review big ideas and major conceptsconcepts..

PREPARATIONPREPARATIONANTICIPATEANTICIPATE

Textbook(s)Textbook(s)ReviewReview chapter summarieschapter summaries andand section headingssection headings in your textbook(s) as well as in in your textbook(s) as well as in other course other course materialsmaterials..

HandoutsHandoutsGo overGo over all materialsall materials your teacher has distributed your teacher has distributed to students throughout the course.to students throughout the course.


CONDENSECONDENSE

Using all the material you’ve gathered and Using all the material you’ve gathered and gone over so far, gone over so far, write summarieswrite summaries of these of these materials, incorporating the major points materials, incorporating the major points and significant details. and significant details.

Based on your summaries, Based on your summaries, create an create an outline or a concept mapoutline or a concept map, showing how , showing how these materials are related to each other.these materials are related to each other.


PRACTICEPRACTICE

Sample QuestionsSample Questions

On the basis of study guides, previous On the basis of study guides, previous tests, and your knowledge of what the tests, and your knowledge of what the instructor has emphasized most, instructor has emphasized most, create create possible essay questionspossible essay questions and and outline outline possible answerspossible answers..


PRACTICEPRACTICE

Collaborate with a partnerCollaborate with a partner or or form a study form a study groupgroup to create and discuss sample to create and discuss sample questions as well as possiblequestions as well as possible answers.answers.

TAKING THE EXAMTAKING THE EXAM

BEFORE YOU BEGINBEFORE YOU BEGIN

ReadRead allall the directionsthe directions carefullycarefully.. How many questionsHow many questions are you required to are you required to

answer?answer? Quickly Quickly skim throughskim through all the questions. all the questions. Which ones are you Which ones are you best preparedbest prepared to to

answer answer successfullysuccessfully?? Which questions are worth the Which questions are worth the most creditmost credit??


PLAN YOUR STRATEGYPLAN YOUR STRATEGY

Allow Allow most of your timemost of your time for questions for questions which are worth the which are worth the most creditmost credit..

Begin with the Begin with the easiesteasiest questions questions firstfirst.. QuicklyQuickly (no more than (no more than 5 minutes5 minutes))

highlighthighlightunderlineunderlinemake notes aboutmake notes about

each question you have selected.each question you have selected.

TAKING THE EXAMTAKING THE EXAM RereadReread the directions for the the directions for the easiest easiest

question question and note and note key instruction wordskey instruction words::identifyidentify,, define define,, compare compare,, contrast contrast,,

discussdiscuss, , argueargue,, etc. etc. Check the timeCheck the time when you begin and when you begin and

decidedecide when you when you must finishmust finish this question. this question. Remind yourselfRemind yourself that all good essays have that all good essays have

three partsthree parts::IntroductionIntroductionBodyBodyConclusionConclusion


DO NOTDO NOT begin to write your begin to write your introductionintroduction BUT BUT leave spaceleave space for it for it..

OROR

Begin to write your introduction by Begin to write your introduction by paraphrasingparaphrasing the question. the question.


SOME COMMON QUESTION TYPESSOME COMMON QUESTION TYPES

IdentifyIdentify ExplainExplain CompareCompare ArgueArgue AssessAssess


IDENTIFYIDENTIFYThis group is made up of questions which ask for short, direct This group is made up of questions which ask for short, direct answers and usually do not require fully developed essays. answers and usually do not require fully developed essays.

LISTLIST - Write an itemized series of concise statements. - Write an itemized series of concise statements. ENUMERATEENUMERATE - Write in a list or outline form, making points - Write in a list or outline form, making points

concisely one by one.concisely one by one. DESCRIBEDESCRIBE - Recount, characterize, sketch, relate in a sequence or - Recount, characterize, sketch, relate in a sequence or

story form.story form. DEFINEDEFINE-Give clear, concise, authoritative meanings.-Give clear, concise, authoritative meanings. STATESTATE - Present main points in brief, clear sequence, usually - Present main points in brief, clear sequence, usually

omitting minor details and examples.omitting minor details and examples. SUMMARIZESUMMARIZE - Give the main points or facts in condensed form, like - Give the main points or facts in condensed form, like

the summary of a chapter in a text, omitting details and the summary of a chapter in a text, omitting details and illustrations.illustrations.

DIAGRAMDIAGRAM - Give a graphic answer, a drawing, a chart, a plan, a - Give a graphic answer, a drawing, a chart, a plan, a schematic representation.schematic representation.


EXPLAINEXPLAIN This group requires essays which are fully thought out and This group requires essays which are fully thought out and developed in as much detail as you have time for. developed in as much detail as you have time for.

DISCUSSDISCUSS - Consider various points of view, analyze carefully, and - Consider various points of view, analyze carefully, and give reasons pro and con.give reasons pro and con.

ANALYZE ANALYZE -Summarize fully with detail in accordance with a -Summarize fully with detail in accordance with a selected focus, consider component parts of ideas and their selected focus, consider component parts of ideas and their interrelationships.interrelationships.

EXPLAIN EXPLAIN - Clarify, interpret, give reasons for differences of opinion - Clarify, interpret, give reasons for differences of opinion or of results, analyze causes.or of results, analyze causes.

ILLUSTRATEILLUSTRATE - Use a word picture, diagram, or concrete example to - Use a word picture, diagram, or concrete example to clarify a point.clarify a point.

OUTLINEOUTLINE - Organize a description based on main points and - Organize a description based on main points and subordinate points, stressing the arrangement and classification of subordinate points, stressing the arrangement and classification of the subject matter. the subject matter.

TRACETRACE - In narrative form, describe the evolution, development, or - In narrative form, describe the evolution, development, or progress of the subject. progress of the subject.


COMPARE or DISTINGUISHCOMPARE or DISTINGUISHThis group requires an analysis in essay form which This group requires an analysis in essay form which emphasizes similarities, differences, and connections emphasizes similarities, differences, and connections between these ideas or concepts to demonstrate your between these ideas or concepts to demonstrate your understanding of the ideas. understanding of the ideas.

COMPARECOMPARE- Look for qualities or characteristics that - Look for qualities or characteristics that resemble each other. Emphasize similarities, but also note resemble each other. Emphasize similarities, but also note differences. differences.

CONTRASTCONTRAST - Stress differences, dissimilarities of ideas, - Stress differences, dissimilarities of ideas, concepts, events, problems, etc., but also note similarities. concepts, events, problems, etc., but also note similarities.

RELATERELATE - Show how similar and different ideas or concepts - Show how similar and different ideas or concepts are connected to each other. are connected to each other.

Related words: Related words: DISTINGUISHDISTINGUISH


ARGUE ARGUE This group requires that you take a position on an This group requires that you take a position on an issue and defend your argument against issue and defend your argument against reasonable alternatives.reasonable alternatives.

PROVEPROVE - Establish the truth of a statement by - Establish the truth of a statement by giving factual evidence and logical reasoning. giving factual evidence and logical reasoning.

JUSTIFYJUSTIFY - Show strong reasons for decisions or - Show strong reasons for decisions or conclusions; use convincing arguments based on conclusions; use convincing arguments based on evidence evidence

Related words: Related words: AGREEAGREE,, DISAGREE DISAGREE, , DEBATEDEBATE, , DEFEND DEFEND


ASSESS ASSESS This group involves describing acceptable criteria and This group involves describing acceptable criteria and defending a judgment on the issue, idea, or question defending a judgment on the issue, idea, or question involved. Underlying questions here include "to what extent?" involved. Underlying questions here include "to what extent?" and "how well?“and "how well?“

CRITICIZECRITICIZE - Express your judgment about the merit or truth or - Express your judgment about the merit or truth or usefulness of the views or factors mentioned in the question. usefulness of the views or factors mentioned in the question.

EVALUATEEVALUATE - Appraise, give your viewpoint, cite limitations - Appraise, give your viewpoint, cite limitations and advantages, include the opinion of authorities, give and advantages, include the opinion of authorities, give evidence to support your position. evidence to support your position.

INTERPRETINTERPRET - Translate, give examples or comment on a - Translate, give examples or comment on a subject, usually including your own viewpoint. subject, usually including your own viewpoint.

REVIEWREVIEW - Examine a subject critically, analyzing and - Examine a subject critically, analyzing and commenting on it, or statements made about it. commenting on it, or statements made about it.

Related words: Related words: INTERPRETINTERPRET,, RECOMMEND. RECOMMEND.

POINTS TO REMEMBERPOINTS TO REMEMBER Begin to repare for the exam well in advance.Begin to repare for the exam well in advance. When you take the exam, read the instructions carefully, noting When you take the exam, read the instructions carefully, noting

how many questions you need to answer in each section. Essay how many questions you need to answer in each section. Essay exams often include a choice of questions; don't waste time by exams often include a choice of questions; don't waste time by doing more than required! doing more than required!

Process the question to ensure you know how to answer it. For Process the question to ensure you know how to answer it. For example, are you being asked to analyze, compare and contrast, example, are you being asked to analyze, compare and contrast, or discuss? Each requires a different approach. or discuss? Each requires a different approach.

Read all the questions on the exam before you begin writing. Read all the questions on the exam before you begin writing. Make a brief outline for the questions you plan to answer. Make a brief outline for the questions you plan to answer.

Calculate the amount of time available for each question Calculate the amount of time available for each question depending on how many points it's worth. Try and stick to your depending on how many points it's worth. Try and stick to your time plan - it's usually better to write something for each question, time plan - it's usually better to write something for each question, even if it's incomplete, rather than nothing at all. If you run out of even if it's incomplete, rather than nothing at all. If you run out of time to finish a question, jot down the rest of your ideas in an time to finish a question, jot down the rest of your ideas in an outline or list of points. Your instructor may give partial credit for outline or list of points. Your instructor may give partial credit for your ideas. your ideas.

Leave enough time to reread your paper at the end of the exam Leave enough time to reread your paper at the end of the exam when you have some objectivity and distance from your writing. when you have some objectivity and distance from your writing.

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How to write an answer