PREDICTING AN ESSAY QUESTION

To predict a question, look at the key words in the chapter title and subtitles and think about their relationships. Next try to apply the information to an actual or hypothetical situation.

For example, let's look at a chapter that contains the following title and subtitles:

What is it you think your teacher will want you to know about the regulation of body temperature in the chapter title and subtitles listed above? As you think about this, remember that it's not enough just to define the terms such as heat loss or be able to list avenues of heat loss, but you must also be able to apply how these processes work in different climatic conditions etc.

A question you might predict would be:

Explain what you understand by normal body temperature. Then contrast the processes by which the body uses chemical thermoregulation to gain heat versus physical thermoregulation to lose heat. Finally, analyze the environmental factors that must be present in order for a human to maintain normal body temperature.

First, brainstorm an answer. Jot down key words in outline form that will organize your answer to the question. An example outline might be:

1. range of normalcy

2. chemical thermo-
       basal metabolism

   Physical thermo -
       radiation
       conduction
       convection

3. examples:
       humid conditions
       outside temperature
       clothing

Then write a short introductory paragraph that answers the question and outlines each paragraph in the body of your essay. As you write this sentence(s), try to structure and transition your essay so that it is easy to read and follow. Review the organizational patterns discussed in Module 4. For example, I will explain that normal body temperature is actually a range. Then I will illustrate how basal metabolism in chemical thermoregulation serves to increase body temperature. I will contrast that to heat loss in which physical thermoregulation affects the processes of radiation, conduction and convection . Finally, I will discuss some climactic factors that must be present for a human to maintain normal body temperature.

Note that the introductory sentence above responds to the direction words in each of the three parts of the above question -- explain, contrast and analyze. Also the writer did not just repeat key words like normal body temperature but indicated what his answer will be. For example, there is no one body temperature but a range.

Secondly, write a separate paragraph to expand and support the ideas in the body of your essay. A paragraph should consist of 6-7 sentences. It should NOT be either one sentence or a whole page. For example you will write three more paragraphs in the body of this essay. One paragraph will explain what a normal body temperature is and how it may change. The next paragraph will note the differences between the processes in physical and chemical thermoregulation. The last paragraph may give examples of outside temperatures, apparel or other factors that would affect a human's ability to survive.

As you write your answer, use language that is clear and direct. Do not try to pad your answer with a lot of extraneous information. Follow the outline you jotted down before writing out the answer. Do not be afraid of the terms used in lecture and in the textbook such as radiation etc. These terms best describe the processes being discussed. Use as many examples and facts as possible to support your thesis. Do not give your opinion unless it is asked for by the essay question direction word such as justify, prove etc.

USE ESSAY QUESTION DIRECTION WORDS TO PREDICT AND THOROUGHLY UNDERSTAND ESSAY QUESTIONS

The following explanations of essay question direction words can help you both to predict good essay questions at home and to thoroughly understand and correctly answer essay questions in the exam room. They have been categorized according to their level of difficulty. For the first group, it is often enough to simply memorize and correctly explain a term. For the second group, you must be able to see the relationships between the ideas and terms. In the third group, you are being asked to apply the information in a new situation or critically analyze a situation giving your own opinion. The more deeply you study and prepare at home using all three levels of questions; the better prepared you will be for an essay exam.

1. At the definition level:

2. At a deeper, more interpretive level

3. At the deepest level, you apply and evaluate information