Very often, content-specific essay questions have more than one part—like the Supreme Court question above or the Industrial Revolution question. To make sure you don’t omit anything, you should prepare an outline to follow. This doesn’t have to be a formal outline; it could be a graphic organizer. But you should lay out what’s required. For example, let’s go back to the Supreme Court case question. My purpose is to explain three court cases for decision, circumstances, and historical significance. . | The general topic of this essay is _ Specific direction words are _ Whether the question is prefaced with an actual topic statement such as questions 1 2 or 5 or if it s a direct question such as question 4 your first response must be to decide the topic and then the specific directions you must apply to the topic. Sometimes you have to look at the question and figure out the direction words. For example in question 4 the word what is really the direction to define or identify. Listed below are pairs of question words with their corresponding direction signals. what is are define identify what caused identify explain how are does explain evaluate how is X like compare how is X different contrast in what way illustrate give examples why is does explain When you are preparing to answer a test prompt such as the ones above it may be very difficult for you to realize that you have identified directions for information that you do not have. It s one thing to know that the question needs for you to identify two arguments for unrestricted immigration. It s quite another thing to remember what those arguments are. However knowing what the question demands can go a long way to help stimulate your memory. And once you do recall information the question tells you exactly how to use it. Let s examine a possible response to the social studies question above regarding big business and American society between 1880 and 1920. TOPIC Big business and its effects on American society between 1880 and 1920 DIRECTION WORDS Explain two positive and two negative effects of big business To be sure you address the question correctly draw a diagram. Remember the boxing technique mentioned in the introduction 5 The Test Question EXPRESS YOURSELF Changes in society Positive change Positive change Negative change Negative change America between Corporations help Farm laborers .
