Directives

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Directives
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ANALYZE

• When you are asked to analyse, you should
• study or determine the nature and relationship of
  the parts.
• resolve the complex into the simple by taking
  apart.
• Analyze the major source of conflict between
  Syria and Israel.

3
CLARIFY

• When you are asked to clarify, you should
• make clear.
• make simple, concrete, and understandable.
• Clarify the position of Republicans on the new
  tax issue.

4
Compare

• When you are asked to compare, you should
• examine qualities, or characteristics, in order
  to discover resemblances. 
• bring out points of similarity and points of
  difference.
• Compare the legislative branches of the state
  government and the national government.

5
Contrast

• When you are instructed to contrast
• dissimilarities, differences, or unlikenesses of
  associated things, qualities, events, or problems
  should be stressed.
• bring out the points of difference.
• Contrast the Animal Science Departments at FHS
  and Keefe Tech

6
Criticize

• In a criticism you should
• state your opinion express your judgment with
  respect to the correctness or merit of the
  factors under consideration. 
• give the results of your own analysis
• discuss the limitations and good points or
  contributions of the plan or work in question.
• criticism may approve or disapprove.
• Criticize the increasing cut backs at Cal Poly.

7
Define

• In such statements
• details are not required
• but boundaries or limitations of the definitions
  should be briefly cited.
• definitions call for concise, clear,
  authoritative meanings.   
• give the meaning of a word or concept
• place it in the class to which it belongs and set
  it off from other items in the same class.
• Define the term "archetype."

8
Describe

• In a descriptive answer you should
• recount,
• characterize,
• sketch or
• relate in narrative form

9
Diagram

• For a question which specifies a diagram, you
  should
• present a drawing, chart, plan, or graphic
  representation in your answer. 
• generally, the student is also expected to label
  the diagram and in some cases to add to a brief
  explanation or description.

10
Discuss

• The term discuss, which appears often in essay
  questions, directs you to
• examine, analyze carefully, and present
  considerations (pro and con) regarding the
  problems or items involved. 
• give a complete and detailed answer.
• talk about consider from various points of view
  
• present the different sides of.
• Discuss the use of pesticides in controlling
  mosquitoes.

11
Enumerate

• In an enumeration you are expected to
• The word enumerate specifies a list or outline
  form of reply.  In such questions you should
• recount, one by one, in concise form the points
  required.

12
Evaluate

• In an evaluation you are expected to
• present a careful appraisal of the problem,
  stressing both advantages and limitation. 
• evaluation implies authoritative and, to a lesser
  degree, personal appraisal of both contributions
  and limitations.
• give the good points and the bad ones appraise
• give an opinion regarding the value of talk over
  the advantages and limitations.
• Evaluate the contributions of teaching machines.

13
Explain

• In explanatory answers it is imperative that you
• clarify, elucidate, and interpret the material
  you present. 
• state the how and why, reconcile any
  differences in opinion or experimental results,
  and, where possible, state causes. 

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EXPLAIN

• In an explanation you are expected to
• make clear interpret make plain
• tell "how" to do tell the meaning of.
• Explain how man can, at times, trigger a
  full-scale rainstorm.

15
Illustrate

• A question which asks you to illustrate usually
  requires explanation.  You are expected to
• translate, exemplify, solve, or comment upon the
  subject and usually to
• give your judgment or reaction to the problem.
• use a word picture, a diagram, a chart, or a
  concrete example to clarify a point. I
• llustrate the use of catapults in the amphibious
  warfare of Alexander.

16
Interpret

• An interpretation question is similar to one
  requiring explanation.  You are expected to
• translate, exemplify, solve, or comment upon the
  subject and usually to give your judgment or
  reaction to the problem.
• make plain give the meaning of give your
  thinking about.
• Interpret the poetic line, "The sound of a cobweb
  snapping is the noise of my life."

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Justify

• When you are instructed to justify your answer,
  you must
• prove or show grounds for decisions. 
• evidence should be presented in convincing form.
• show good reasons for
• give your evidence
• present facts to support your position.
• Justify the American entry into World War II.

18
List

• Listing is similar to enumeration.  You are
  expected in such questions to
• present an itemized series or a tabulation. 
• such questions should always be given in concise
  form.

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Outline

• An outlined answer is organized description.  You
  should
• give main points and essential supplementary
  materials,
• omitting minor details, and
• presenting the information in a systematic
  arrangement or classification.

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Prove

• A question which requires proof is one which
  demands
• confirmation or verification. 
• establishment of something with certainty by
  evaluating and citing experimental evidence or by
  logical reasoning.
• establish the truth of something by giving
  factual evidence or logical reasons.
• Prove that in a full-employment economy, a
  society can get more of one product only by
  giving up another product.

21
Relate

• In a question which asks you to show the
  relationship or to relate, your answer should
• emphasize connections and association in
  descriptive form.

22
Review

• A review specifies a critical examination. 
• You should analyze and comment briefly in
  organized sequence upon the major points of the
  problem.

23
State

• In questions which direct you to specify, give,
  state, or present you are called upon to
• express the high points in brief, clear
  narrative form. 
• Detail, and usually illustrations, or examples,
  may be omitted.

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Summarize

• When you are asked to summarize or present a
  summarization, you should
• give in condensed form the main points or facts. 
  
• All details, illustrations, and elaboration are
  to be omitted.

25
Trace

• When a question asks you to trace a course of
  events, you are to
• give a description of progress, historical
  sequence, or development from the point of
  origin. 
• follow the course of
• follow the trail of.
• Trace the development of television in school
  instruction.