In writing relevant answers to questions, spotting the crucial requirements of the question is the important first step towards getting it right. As you read a question, which part of the question do you pay more attention to, the starting or the ending words? It depends upon the exact

sentence structure of the question, but in this Grade Booster

tip, we’re trying to get you focused on the nouns. Most of the time, students pay a great deal of attention to

the beginning word, making an effort to think through what the first word of a question means. For example, whether the first word used is ‘explain’ or ‘discuss’ makes an important difference in how you should write your answer.

M E A N S T O T H E E N D

EXPLAINDISCUSS

DETAILS OF THE THEORY TO BE EXPLAINED MUST BE GIVEN. IN OTHER WORDS, A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE BASIC DIAGRAMS, THE ASSUMPTIONS, AND THE PREDICTIONS OF A THEORY.

SUCH A WORD SIGNALS A BALANCED PRESENTATION OF THE VARIOUS ANGLES OF A STATEMENT. SUCH DISCURSIVE ESSAYS ALSO NEED TO BE BACKED BY THE RELEVANT ECONOMIC THEORY.

VARIOUS ENDING WORDS A COUNTRY’S BALANCE OF PAYMENTS. THE ECONOMY. AN ECONOMY SUCH AS SINGAPORE. THE WINNERS AND LOSERS IN AN ECONOMY. THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR.

Yes, the beginning word of a question does play a critical role in deciding the form of writing and the need for varied views of a statement. However, students often pay so much attention to demystifying the first word that they lose the other important words in the question, especially the final words of the question. The end words—or specifically, the nouns.

Think about it. If you don’t pay sufficient attention to the end words of a question, you might end up writing a lot but firing at the wrong target. As hilarious as it sounds, that’s what students often do with essay answers. They write a great deal without addressing the end words.

When you realize that there are many different options to the ending words that can be used in a question, you will start thinking about how each one differs from the others.

One simple step is to ask which is the narrowest scope and which has the widest in terms of looking at the consequences. This will help you decide on the level of detail to elaborate on in reaching the end words used in the question.

End words are also a critical tool in helping you brainstorm for answers. If the question is a narrow request only on the balance of payments, start thinking of answers by using the details of a balance of payments. Think about current

accounts, capital accounts, and financial accounts for possible outcomes.

If the end word is on the economy, use the four macroeconomic goals of economic growth, price stability, full employment, and healthy balance of payments to start thinking of answers.

As you can see, using the end words to start the essay planning process is an important skill. So the next time you look at an essay question, don’t just focus on the beginning word. Also use the end words as the means to the end wanted by the examiner.

Take the initial words of a question to be as follows: ‘Examine the effects of increased trade on…’

NOW, MIX AND MATCH THE COMMON STARTING WORDS OF THE QUESTION ABOVE WITH VARIOUS DIFFERENT TYPES OF ENDING WORDS:

LET’S TAKE A FEW EXAMPLES TO APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANCE OF WRITING ESSAYS WITH THE END WORDS IN MIND.

PB THE UNEMPLOYMENT ISSUE THE UNEMPLOYMENT ISSUE 17

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