Exam and assignment questions typically contain one or more key question words.
- Watch for and circle these key words whenever you read assignment or exam questions.
- Below are listed typical question words, their meanings and possible response strategies.
Analyze
Separate and examine the elements
- Break the question/subject into its major parts
- Describe, define, explain, or interpret each part
- Explain how parts relate to each other
- Judge overall quality of what has been analyzed
Argue
Defend a position
- Provide reasons in support of your position
- Refute objections to your position
- Provide your objections to the opposing position(s)
Apply
Use an abstraction to explain a concrete situation
- Show how an abstract idea, concept, principle, model or method explains a concrete situation or solves a problem
Comment
Offer statements on something
- Critique, discuss, evaluate, explain, or illustrate the meaning of something and its implications
Compare
Demonstrate the similarities and differences between 2+ items
- Identify elements the comparison will be based on
- For each element, describe and support how items are similar or different
- Evaluate overall commonality and its significance in relation to what is being asked in the question
Contrast
Demonstrate the differences between 2+ items
- Identify elements that contrast will be based on
- For each element, describe and support how items are different
- Evaluate overall distinction and its significance in relation to what is being asked in the question
Critique
Make informed and discriminating judgments
- Identify positive/negative merit, validity/fallacy, etc.
- Offer support for your judgments
Define
State precisely the meaning of ‘something’
- Give precise meaning in concise manner
- Meaning is usually specific to the academic discipline
Demonstrate
Explain/describe by use of experiments, examples, etc.
- Depending on context, ‘demonstrate’ could mean: to prove, provide evidence, or illustrate with an example
Describe
Give a mental picture or idea
- Identify main aspects, characteristics, components, and qualities
- Clarify through illustration, comparison, and contrast
Discuss
Explore various points of view
- Identify viewpoints and their respective positive/negative aspects
- Evaluate the positive and negative merits of a matter to provide an overall judgment on its validity, strength or worth
Evaluate
Determine the value of something
- Identify criteria by which something will be measured
- Appraise degree to which the matter satisfies the criteria
- Provide reasons that justify your appraisal
- Support your reasons with evidence and illustrations
Explain
Make plain or understandable
- In Science: provide a detailed presentation of the elements required to obtain the product
- In Social Sciences & Humanities: identify factors that influence outcome; provide evidence for each factor and demonstrate how factors are related
Summarize
Give a brief, condensed account
- Include conclusions
- Avoid unnecessary details
Sources: Ellis, D. Becoming a Master Student. Canadian 2nd ed. Boston, Mass: Houghton Mifflin Company 1998 and Canadian 4th ed. Boston, Mass: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006. Wood, N. College Reading and Study Skills. 3rd ed. New York, N.Y.: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1986. Learning Skills Program @ University of Victoria Simplified Plans of Action for Common Types of Question Words