Answering%20Questions

1
Answering Questions

• Writing essays that fulfill the objectives

2
Core ProcessQEDS

• Look at the question
• Think it through using the elements
• Think it through in terms of the discipline
• Keep the standards in mind at all times.

3
Pitfalls

• Dont fall back on usual patterns
• Jump right in and answer
• Immediately begin looking for information to
  include
• Have no idea so wait until last minute and write
  whatever comes to mind regardless of its
  relevance

4
Reframing the question

• Ask what the question is asking for, e.g.,
• Compare/Contrast
• Evaluate
• Define
• Discuss
• Identify
• Ask what would answer it fullyconsider the
  standards of critical thinking.

5
First step

• Analyze the question using systems thinking
• One-system
• No-system
• Multiple-system
• What is the meaning of a system for Nosich?
• Organized field or area of study
• Recognized theory
• Recognized authority

6
One-system

• Requires you to use knowledge from only one field
  or knowledge base
• Only one right answer existseither you know it
  or you dont
• Based on the facts of the field
• Often mathematical or scientific

7
No-system

• Often opinion- or reflection-driven
• Does not require critical thinking
• In classrooms can be confused with
  multiple-system questions
• Can require facts and reasoning to support the
  answer
• Often need a system to explain ones preferences
• Preferences themselves are not system-based
• Analyzing the systems underlying the preferences
  would require multiple systems

8
Multiple-system

• More complex than one- and no-system
• Require more than one system to answer
• Facts need to be interpreted through various
  viewpoints and contexts using logic and
  reasoning, e.g.,
• Sociology Historical, Political, Socio-cultural
• Literature Critical theory, Historical,
  Inter-textual
• Design Color, Proportion, Finances

9
A Final Note

• Not every question requires you to go around the
  entire circle of elements
• Consider which elements jump out
• May need only to look at
• The concepts inherent in the question
• The information required to answer fully
• Implications and consequences
• You must critically think and decide which are
  important to consider.

10
Practice evaluating questions

• Q Define the following terms
• 1. Return on investment
• 2. Bull market
• 3. Bear market
• A One-system They either are defined correctly
  or they are not.

11
Practice evaluating questions

• Q How fairly did Jefferson treat Native
  Americans in the Declaration of Independence?
• A Multiple-system
• 1. Define concept fair
• 2. Analyze and interpret D of I
• 3. Make interpretations and draw conclusions
  based on your sense of (a) morals and (b) values

12
Practice evaluating questions

• Q Imagine yourself in a school from which
  technology has suddenly disappeared. What
  unexpected difficulties would you encounter?
• A Multiple-system
• 1. Define concept technology
• 2. Define concept difficulty
• 3. Additional systems to analyze based on
  personal perspective
• A. convenience
• B. importance
• C. efficiency
• D. comfort

13
Practice evaluating questions

• Q What color do you want to paint your room?
• A No-system. Merely a personal preference.

14
Practice evaluating questions

• Q Is capital punishment ever a justifiable
  sentence? Why? Or why not?
• A Seems to be no-system
• Just asks for your opinion but really wants a CT
  answer using multiple systems.

15
Practice evaluating questions

• Q At what point in Jonathan Swifts A Modest
  Proposal did you first become aware that he was
  using irony?
• A One-system based on defining the concept
  irony and merely reflecting when you noticed
  Swift uses it.

16
Practice evaluating questions

• Q (Asked during a job interview) What is the
  greatest strength you bring to this position?
• A Multiple-system
• 1. Determine what job requires.
• 2. Analyze strengths and choose one.
• 3. Determine what would best impress the
  interviewer.

17
Practice evaluating questions

• Q A friend has asked your advice about which
  math course would be most helpful in everyday
  life.
• A Multiple-system
• Analyze information from multiple math systems.
• Consider what the concepts helpful and
  everyday mean.
• Consider what values you place on each course.

18
Where did this student go wrong?