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 19. 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 “Use the text about Malala Yousafzai in Text 3 in the preparation material to compare and contrast her actions with those of another person who has protested against injustice. This could be a fictional character, a historical figure or somebody who has been in the news recently, but the person must be from an English-speaking country. Give your text a suitable title.”

AN EXAMPLE STEPS NOTES Step 1   STEPS NOTES Step 1 Vocabulary: Are there any words you do not understand? Injustice = urettferdighet Fictional = oppdiktet Recently = nylig Step 2 What are the instructional words? Compare and contrast (differences)

AN EXAMPLE STEP NOTES Step 3 Clarify requirements Topic: Two people’s actions against injustice. I choose Malala and Mandela. Audience: Not specified Purpose: To present information and compare Genre: Not specified Refer to/use: Text 3 about Malala. Another chosen person from an English-speaking country, who has protested against injustice.

AN EXAMPLE STEP NOTES Step 4 What are the relevant aids for this task? Dictionary Document about linking words Articles about Malala Articles about Nelson Mandela Film work about Invictus My notes from the lecture about Apartheid Step 5 Create an outline An introduction presenting the injustice Malala and Mandela protested against A presentation of Malala and her actions A presentation of Mandela and his actions A comparison of their actions A conclusion