ANALYSING ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS

Email: slc-alb@massey.ac.nz Phone: (09) 441 8143

• Centre for Teaching and Learning Services

• Analysing questions

• Building a paragraph framework

Centre for Teaching and Learning Services

Workshops - Wednesdays 12 pm QB5

March 13th Essay writingMarch 20st Report writingMarch 27th APA referencingMay 15th, 22rd & 29th Exam skills

Online resources

http://owll.massey.ac.nz Videos, APA tool, Examples

http://tinyurl.com/6xy9hy Academic English Podcast

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3 crucial questions to ask about any assignment

What is it about?

What do I include?

What do I have to do?

Topic

Focus

Task

fight the question in your

These questions are your weapons as you _

Example question analysis

Choose ONE environmental issue and examine what the national government of ONE country is doing to improve the situation. Evaluate the extent to which the government has been successful and justify your argument with evidence and examples.

Topic

Focus

Task

One environmental issue

What ONE national government is doing to improve the situation

Evaluate (success) & Justify (your argument)

Use the TOPIC as the key search term in your research AND use it throughout the essay itself to make sure you are answering the question

Globalisation has led to the accidental or deliberate introduction of species into ecologies where they had previously been absent. These invasive species can cause not only ecological damage (for instance, in forcing native plants into extinction), but economic hard (by damaging agricultural production and the tourism industry). In the US alone, it has been estimated that invasive species caused nearly $100bn in economic damage between 1906 and 1991 (Cook, Thomas, Cunningham, Anderson & De Barro, 2007). Countries like New Zealand, whose ecology has been isolated for millions of years, are especially vulnerable to invasive species.

Opening sentences from an introduction paragraph (introducing the topic, putting it into context and showing why it’s important)

Use the FOCUS as a secondary search term in your research, to choose relevant examples AND use the TASK words to help you structure the essay into different parts.

Preview sentence from an introduction paragraph

The New Zealand Government aims to reduce the damage caused by invasive species in three ways: Biosecurity, control and elimination. This essay evaluates the success of each approach in relation to three different invasive species.

Identify

Investigate / Examine

Consider

Discuss

Evaluate

Give a clear definition and explanation of an issue or concept

Present relevant facts and figures about the causes and effects of something

Present evidence for and against a proposal

First, define a topic or concept and refer to a range of opinions on it, giving the evidence or arguments for each opinion.

Identify the purpose(s) of X, describe the actual outcome and describe how far X achieved its purpose(s)

Common Task Words

Question analysis practice

The availability of items such as telecommunication and computer technologies may either endanger or enhance the culture of an indigenous society. From your study of one indigenous group, examine why the preservation of a culture is important, and discuss how this culture has been affected by the introduction of technology into the society. Consider how technology may be used to enable preservation of the culture for future generations.

Topic

Focus

Task

Preservation of Indigenous Culture

(modern) technology

Examine (past impact) & Consider (future potential))

News items regularly draw our attention to the concerns expressed by medical experts about the startling increase in diagnoses of diabetes and allergy sensitivity in our population. Amongst suggestions offered to combat these epidemics are stricter governmental controls on foodstuffs available, education about healthy food, and the application of extra taxes on unhealthy items. From your reading on one health issue, consider what measures the government has taken to educate the population, and how effective these measures have been. Outline a model of public education about this health issue that may support the government and the medical profession in coping with such health issues in our population.

Topic

Focus

Task

Health Education

One health issue

Consider (effectiveness of past education)& Outline (an appropriate model)

New Zealand has regularly marketed itself as ‘pure’, ‘clean’ and ‘green’. Now that image is being called into question. Our farmers, our drivers, and our tourists are amongst those being blamed for this situation. From your reading examine the damage which one sector of New Zealand society has done to the environment. Consider whether continuing to market this country as ‘pure, clean, and green’ is appropriate. Outline a model to improve one aspect of the environment that could be undertaken by the sector of society which you have chosen to focus on.

Topic

Focus

Task

New Zealand’s environmental marketing

One Sector of NZ society

Examine (damage to environment)Consider (appropriateness of marketing)& Outline (an model to improve one aspect)

Building a paragraph framework

Step 1: Convert your word count into paragraphs

How many paragraphs would you use for a 1200 word essay?

Between 6 and 10 (120 – 200 words each)

Step 2: Use your question analysis to identify the different parts you’ll need in your essay

Approach 1 (biosecurity): What is it? How successful has it been

Approach 2 (control): What is it? How successful has it been

Approach 3 (elimination): What is it? How successful has it been

Step 3: Decide how many paragraphs to use for each part and add on your intro and conclusion

Paragraph 1: Introduction

Paragraph 2: NZ Biosecurity

Paragraph 3: Evaluation of Biosecurity (fish)

Paragraph 4: Control

Paragraph 5: Evaluation of Control (didymo)

Paragraph 6: Elimination

Paragraph 7: Evaluation of Elimination (birds)

Paragraph 8: Conclusion

Key points

• Analyse the question: topic, focus, task

• Aim for paragraphs of 4 – 8 sentences / 100 – 200 words

• Divide the question into parts and use 1, 2 or 3 paragraphs for each part

• Use each paragraph to focus on one part of the question

• Come along to our Weds workshops and use our online resources

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