TIPS FOR ANSWERING SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (STRUCTURED QUESTIONS)
1) Short Answer Questions consist of a few sub-questions that focus on ONE particular topic.
2) The title of the topic is usually given before the questions. This provides the reader information regarding what the answer should be.
3) Marks are given for each sub-question. When answering these questions, note the number of marks that have been allocated.
4) Generally, a sub-question which carries more marks requires a more detailed answer.
5) You should also note the instruction words in the questions. For example, instruction words like 'state', 'list', 'name' basically require you to simply provide the answer without providing any form of elaboration.
6) Words like 'explain' or 'give reasons to account for' require you to give the meaning of a word or reasons why the event happened.
7) This is different from 'describe' which only requires you to give a descriptive account of the facts. In answering these questions, you must do exactly as the instructions words tell you to.
8) Below is an example of what elaborate means.
Elaborating on an idea means to add details, explanations, examples, illustrations, opinions and other relevant information. For example you might say 'Qin Shi Huang is a good emperor'. This is a factual statement. If you are asked to elaborate on this, you could say 'Qin Shi Huang is a good emperor BECAUSE he unified the whole of China. He did so by changing the system of government and brought about systematic changes to his empire.
You have thus provided information and examples to elaborate on your original statement.
9) Below is an example of what explain means.
Explain means to give reasons to account for the course of the event. Basically you are answering the question "WHY". For example, the question might be 'Give reasons to account for the popularity of Oc-eo as a trading port'. This question requires you to give the give the factors that contribute to the popularity of Oc-eo.
Your answer might be: Oc-eo was popular as a trading port because of its ideal location. It is situated halfway between two trading countries namely China and India. Traders from these countries found Oc-eo to be an ideal stopover for rest and replenishment.
Your answer thus explains the reasons why it is popular with traders as Oc-eo is situated in an ideal location.
1) Short Answer Questions consist of a few sub-questions that focus on ONE particular topic.
2) The title of the topic is usually given before the questions. This provides the reader information regarding what the answer should be.
3) Marks are given for each sub-question. When answering these questions, note the number of marks that have been allocated.
4) Generally, a sub-question which carries more marks requires a more detailed answer.
5) You should also note the instruction words in the questions. For example, instruction words like 'state', 'list', 'name' basically require you to simply provide the answer without providing any form of elaboration.
6) Words like 'explain' or 'give reasons to account for' require you to give the meaning of a word or reasons why the event happened.
7) This is different from 'describe' which only requires you to give a descriptive account of the facts. In answering these questions, you must do exactly as the instructions words tell you to.
8) Below is an example of what elaborate means.
Elaborating on an idea means to add details, explanations, examples, illustrations, opinions and other relevant information. For example you might say 'Qin Shi Huang is a good emperor'. This is a factual statement. If you are asked to elaborate on this, you could say 'Qin Shi Huang is a good emperor BECAUSE he unified the whole of China. He did so by changing the system of government and brought about systematic changes to his empire.
You have thus provided information and examples to elaborate on your original statement.
9) Below is an example of what explain means.
Explain means to give reasons to account for the course of the event. Basically you are answering the question "WHY". For example, the question might be 'Give reasons to account for the popularity of Oc-eo as a trading port'. This question requires you to give the give the factors that contribute to the popularity of Oc-eo.
Your answer might be: Oc-eo was popular as a trading port because of its ideal location. It is situated halfway between two trading countries namely China and India. Traders from these countries found Oc-eo to be an ideal stopover for rest and replenishment.
Your answer thus explains the reasons why it is popular with traders as Oc-eo is situated in an ideal location.
posted by jaweeb at
4:49 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home