Understanding The Question!

What is a keyword?

There are two different types of keywords: content words and function words.

1.      Content words tell you “what” you have to write about. Content words are the main words in a sentence. They give you the topic and any key ideas you should address. They are usually nouns or adjectives but can be verbs as well.

2.      Function words tell you “how” to write something. Function words are the words in a sentence that give instructions. See page 2 for a list of different function words and their general descriptions.

Common   Function W o r  d s  

Descriptive

1.      Summarize: Explain the main ideas and connections between those ideas in brief without going into too much detail.

2.      Illustrate: Give an example to help clarify an idea.

3.      Define: Explain the meaning of something.

4.      State: Write the main points or factors clearly.

5.       Outline: Explain the key points but do not give examples or evidence.

6.      Calculate: Use mathematics to provide an answer.

7.      List: write down the main ideas or factors in a list.

8.      Explain: Make something clear by detailing the features and the reasons for it.

Analytical

1.      Compare: Take two things and explain the similarities and differences between them. Analyze: Detailing features and reasons and critiquing them.

2.      Contrast: Similar to compare but focus much more on the differences.

3.      Criticize: Generate and express your own opinion or judgment on a topic or theory.

4.      Discuss: Explore an issue or idea by writing about the advantages and disadvantages or by comparing/contrasting multiple different views of the issue or idea.

5.      Examine: Closely explore something; investigate it by looking specifically at small elements or features.

6.      Describe: Report on something by recounting details, relating a sequence, outlining etc. and in doing so give your own view on the phenomena being reported about.

7.      Evaluate: Decide about the validity or plausibility of something using a particular objective or theoretical framework.

8.      Account for: Give reasons for the occurrence of something, or for selecting or using some process. Examine: Investigate something closely, and possibly identify good and bad points of a theory or idea.

9.      Consider: Write and examine your observations and thoughts on a particular subject or issue.

10.  Comment on: Present ideas for and against a certain point, and clearly state your position with reference to evidence and examples.

11.  Argue: Present the case for an idea and defend it against possible counter-arguments.

12.   Justify: Provide reasons for a conclusion or statement, and support your position with evidence

13.  Clarify: Make something clearer and show the relationships between items and ideas.

14.  Trace: Chronologically set out the historical development of a theory or practice, and in doing so give reasons for its emergence, decline or trajectory

15.  Interpret: Translate or solve a problem or issue or make its meaning clear.

16.  Relate: Show the relationships, similarities, and differences between ideas, facts or statements.

17.  To what extent: Consider and/or compare both sides of an argument or issue and give your own opinion.
Admin; Tasneem Ahmad

Source; The University of Sydney Centre for English Teaching