Glossary of 'key words' for essay questions

When reading an essay title, the first thing you need to do is be certain of two things:

i. What the question means; and,

ii. What it is asking you to do

For the latter, the definitions below may be helpful:

( A-C / D-F / G-I / J-L / M-O / P-R / S-Z )

A - C

Account for
Explain the reason for or cause for something

Analyse
Examine critically so as to bring out the essential elements; describe in detail; describe the various parts of something and explain how they work together, or whether they work together

Compare
Describe the main points of similarity and difference between two or more things

Consider
View or contemplate attentively; examine, inspect, scrutinize, estimate, judge

Contrast
Describe the main points of difference between two or more things

Criticise
Pass judgement on (in terms of quality/value/truth/validity), backing up your judgement with a discussion of the evidence or your reasoning

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D - F

Deduce
Come to a conclusion about

Define
Give the precise meaning or determine the essence of, possibly noting other relevant and/or contrary definitions

Demonstrate
Show by giving proof of evidence or reasoning

Describe
Give a detailed account of something by reference to qualities, recognizable features, or characteristic marks; give a detailed or graphic account of

Determine
Conclude through examination of evidence

Discuss
Investigate and debate, giving reasons for and against, possibly noting implications

Elaborate (on)
Write about a statement or a quotation that is part of the question; explain the statement or quotation in more detail and then state you point of view

Elucidate
Make clear through discussion

Estimate
Predict through consideration of evidence

Evaluate
Critically assess the worth or value of, giving your opinion; if it is 'Evaluate the validity of X', X is probably inaccurate in some way; you must explain what is wrong with X before going on to state your opinion

Examine
Look carefully at, and draw conclusions; divide into parts and describe each part critically

Explain
Make clear through giving an account of, providing reasons, or cause, or origin

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G - I

Give an account of
Give a statement of facts in sequence; a narrative of an event or thing; a report or description

Identify
Point out and describe

Illustrate
Explain through examples or evidence or figures or diagrams

Infer
Conclude from evidence or reasoning

Interpret
Critically evaluate and pass judgement on

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J - L

Justify
Show grounds for decisions/conclusions/opinions, and argue against likely objections

List
Present a group of items in the required order without comment, unless asked for

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M - O

Outline
Give a short description of, drawing out the main principles or features

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P - R

Prove
Show that something is, or can be, true, providing strong evidence

Relate X to Y
Show what the connections are; discuss the similarities and differences

Review
Survey through careful examination

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S - Z

Show
Demonstrate; give reasons and causes

State
Present in a clear, brief, and concise form

Suggest
Propose or recommend, and defend by showing how it could work

Summarise
Give a concise account of the main principles or features of

Trace
Follow the development of, from its origin

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