‘Reading the question’

  by Dave Burridge - Isle of Man Private Tutor

How often were you told at school “Read the question, read the question” and
thought but I did read it. If you are in a profession which requires the
assimilating of data in a very short period of time and the ability to
relate the main points to a customer or senior, how did you learn those
skills ?

 

Unfortunately these skills are not taught as specific subjects, but in
themselves they are just as important as Maths or English.

So what does ‘reading the question’ actually mean.

 

Lets start with keywords.

 

We see keywords every day when we read newspapers or the internet.

 

For example ‘Man bites dog’, the keyword here is ‘bites’, because that is
what the man did to the dog. It is the action word and the whole point of
the sentence.

 

The word can be a noun or a verb, and sometimes there may be more than one
keyword.

 

It is not an exact science, and readers could differ on what is the keyword.

 

The important thing is, is that the reader is apply a technique as oppose to
just reading for the sake of it.

 

How many times have you read something, especially when studying and said to
you self “What have I just read ?”.

 

When reading for fun or leisure, this does not matter, as you are enjoying
the words as you read them, retaining and deep understanding is not
required.

 

But when reading for the purposes of carry out a task, such as an essay exam
question, then that the reader needs to activate skills which will obtain
the objective required.

 

Key words also tell you the approach you should take when answering an exam
question.

 

Key Words take the form of three types: Task Words, Content Words and
Limiting Words.

 

Task Words tell you what to do and the action you need to perform (usually a
verb). Some typical Task words  would be Compare, Contrast, Criticize,
Define, Discuss , Evaluate, Explain  and Justify for example. (a further
blog will give what these words actually mean when answering a question)

Content Words tell you what should actually write about, they are the topic
guide. 

Limiting Words tell you what to focus on your thinking on. They give the
boundaries of the essay, what you you should concentrate on and not go
beyond. They help you to focus, stop you from getting distracted or
waffling.

Essay example question: 

“Computers have had a significant impact on education in the 20th century.
Discuss the changes they have made.”  

Here the Task Word is discuss, the Content words are education and computers
and the Limiting Words are changes, significant impact and the 20th century.

The same technique could be used in Maths as a maths question could have the
Task Word solve or simplify, which are two separate things.

It is not enough just to look at Keywords, a physical activity must be done
to reinforce the message to the brain and this can be done by simply
underlining or  high lighting keywords and  drawing simple little pictures.

Details on this, will be shown in the next blog.