Writing Module - Understanding the question by underlining KEY WORDS (2)

Underlining Key Words

[This advice can be applied to both academic and general training writing modules as it is basic good writing advice.]

Understanding the question is of vital importance as explained in a couple of previous posts, because this is the only way you will be able to write well on the given topic. Remember, there is no choice, you have to write on the one topic you receive for both part 1 and part 2 of the Writing Module.

So how to underline the proper words so that we make good sense of the question and jot down the right points for writing the answer.

Here is a simple example:

Money is the root of "all" evil. "Do" you "agree"?

In the above question, different words have been marked differently. Some are underlined others are quoted with inverted commas. So lets see how to interpret a simple question.

• The question is asking about: Money

What is your concept about what money means here?
It means wealth, material gains etc.

• Then the statement says: it is the root to all evil.

It is suggesting that money is the basis of evil, it leads to evil or causes people to be attracted to take up evil practices in order to acquire it.

• Then your point of view is being asked for, where the question asks do you agree?

You can safely take a point of view by giving solid arguments. These arguments can be based on:

• examples from real life (what is seen happening in every day life)
• own life experience
•  quotations you might remember
• facts and figures (only if you know them)

You can mildly discuss both views but you must take one stand and stick to it, explaining it completely with proper explanation.

The ways of writing an essay, how to take and present a specific point of view and stick to it will be explained in later posts.