1. Close Reading: Understanding Questions
By Blair and Jamie

2. Context
Formula: Explain the expression in your own words. Then give one or two quotations from the surrounding text along with an explanation and explain how they help you understand.

3. Link Questions
Formula: … Links to the previous paragraph (explanation) … Links forward to the next paragraph (explanation)

4. ‘In your own words’ Questions
The question will begin with a word such as ‘explain or identify.’ Never use quotes. Never attempt to ‘lift’ from the text. Don’t just translate word for word either, you must ensure it makes sense. To revise, it is good to have a large vocabulary, gained through reading different texts, books etc.

5. Summary Questions
Summary questions usually ask you to 'explain briefly…' several points. It is best to use bullet points, one for each mark available. This also requires you to use your own words. It can refer to the whole text, or just a specific sentence.