Answering the exam task by Anne Marie Torp, Asker vgs.

To do well on the exam ... ... you must do exactly what the task tells you to do

This course consists of two parts: An explanation of common instructional words A step-by-step guide to interpreting exam tasks 8. mai 2019

Part 1: Common instructional words

Instructional words – Which are most commonly used and what do they mean? Describe Present Inform Give an account of Show your knowledge about a specific topic in a neutral and factual way Do not include personal opinions Explain Use your own words to make something clear Comment (up) on Use your knowledge and your own common sense and present observations or opinions about the topic, quote, dilemma etc. in question

Instructional words Illustrate Explain something by giving examples Sum up / summarise Present the main points without examples or details Do not include new ideas when you sum up Refer to Mention the text, issue etc. when you write Compare, contrast Find similarities and differences between two or more ideas, situations, people etc. The word “contrast” indicates that you should focus mainly on the differences

Instructional words Analyse Examine the text critically and in detail, so as to bring out the essential elements and explain their function and the relationship between them. Do not retell the content. Examples: A poem consists of various literary devices that you can study. An article may consist of various facts and arguments that you can examine more closely. Assess / Evaluate Determine the value (relevance, significance and quality)of something in a careful and thoughtful way. Make a judgement . Discuss See an issue from different points of view. Present arguments both for and against something.

No instructional words? “Write a text about ...” Make sure you write about exactly what the task tells you to do!

Part 2: A step-by-step guide Photo: Scanpix, Microstock, #71581041: © Cherries

Step 1: Understand the words Read all the words in the task slowly and carefully and make sure you understand what they mean. If you are in doubt, remember to use your dictionary. STEP 1: Understand the words STEP 2: Identify instructional words STEP 3: Clarify requirements STEP 4: Find relevant aids STEP 5: Create an outline STEP 6: Start writing the text

Step 2: Identify instructional words Underline the instructional words in the task. Do you know what they mean? Many tasks contain more than one instructional word! Example: Explain and discuss STEP 1: Understand the words STEP 2: Identify instructional words STEP 3: Clarify requirements STEP 4: Find relevant aids STEP 5: Create an outline STEP 6: Start writing the text

Step 3: Clarify requirements What exactly is the topic? Who is the audience? What is the purpose? In which genre should the text be written? Do I need to refer to specific sources or quotations? STEP 1: Understand the words STEP 2: Identify instructional words STEP 3: Clarify requirements STEP 4: Find relevant aids STEP 5: Create an outline STEP 6: Start writing the text

Step 4: Find relevant aids Examples of relevant aids: The preparation material Your text book Various articles Documents from your teacher Your dictionary Your own notes etc. STEP 1: Understand the words STEP 2: Identify instructional words STEP 3: Clarify requirements STEP 4: Find relevant aids STEP 5: Create an outline STEP 6: Start writing the text

STEP 5: Create an outline Decide what to include in your text. In many tasks, the outline has already been made for you in the form of bullet points telling you what you should include. If the task does not contain any bullet points, create your own. STEP 1: Understand the words STEP 2: Identify instructional words STEP 3: Clarify requirements STEP 4: Find relevant aids STEP 5: Create an outline STEP 6: Start writing the text

STEP 6: Start writing the text! STEP 1: Understand the words STEP 2: Identify instructional words STEP 3: Clarify requirements STEP 4: Find relevant aids STEP 5: Create an outline STEP 6: Start writing the text

A form to help you STEPS NOTES Step 1   STEPS NOTES Step 1 Vocabulary: Are there any words you do not understand? Step 2 What are the instructional words? Step 3 Clarify requirements Topic: Audience: Purpose: Genre: Refer to/use: Step 4 What are the relevant aids for this task? Step 5 Create an outline

AN EXAMPLE: Exam task 1 Spring 2014 Discuss the issue of global warming by responding to the quotations below and providing your own ideas and opinions based on what you have studied in your English course. Quotation 1 The truth is, as most of us know, that global warming is real and humans are major contributors, mainly because we wastefully burn fossil fuels. - David Suzuki http://www.davidsuzuki.org/blogs/science-matters/2012/08/climate-change-deniers-are-almost-extinct/ Quotation 2 Dealing with global warming doesn't mean we have all got to suddenly stop breathing. Dealing with global warming means that we have to stop waste, and if you travel for no reason whatsoever, that is a waste. - David Attenborough http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/d/davidatten454712.html Quotation 3 The whole global warming thing is created to destroy America's free enterprise system and our economic stability. - Jerry Falwell Jr. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/jerryfalwe390287.html Quotation 4 Would you bet your pay-check on a weather forecast for tomorrow? If not, then why should the USA bet billions on global warming predictions that have even less foundation? - Thomas Sowell http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/thomassowe371252.html

AN EXAMPLE STEPS NOTES Step 1   STEPS NOTES Step 1 Vocabulary: Are there any words you do not understand? Provide = komme med/sette frem Step 2 What are the instructional words? Discuss  

AN EXAMPLE STEP NOTES Step 3 Clarify requirements Topic: Global warming Audience: Not specified Purpose: Present different facts and opinions, including my own, about global warming Genre: Not specified Refer to/use: - The 4 quotations given in the task. - What I have studied in my course

AN EXAMPLE STEP NOTES Step 4 What are the relevant aids for this task? My dictionary My notes from the lecture about global warming in class My notes from Al Gore’s film, “An Unconvenient Truth” The texts in our textbook The document about linking words Step 5 Create an outline An introduction presenting the issue of global warming Arguments for global warming being real (and I will refer to the quotes) Arguments against global warming being real (and I will refer to the quotes) What humans can do about global warming What humans cannot do about global warming My own opinions about this issue A conclusion where I sum up the main points