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Sometimes essay assignments can be wordy and complex. However, these too can be broken down into parts:

Glossary

preamble A preamble is an introduction that comes before something you say or write.

1 The preamble: background information about the context of the question.

2 The question (or questions): what you need to find out.

The preamble gives you important information about the topic and its limitations. Notice that you need to focus your discussion on secondary school pupils (not primary school pupils or university students) and their performance in three subjects: language, mathematics and science.

Note that there are several questions that need to be answered.

Question 1 requires you to describe similarities and differences and to analyse the two sets of figures in order to identify the most significant trends.

Question 2 requires you to evaluate the evidence that the trends you have identified were caused by changes to national educational policy. Here you need to present an argument.

Question 3 requires you to consider at least one other possible explanation for the trends you have identified. Here too you need to present an argument.

Tips

Divide long assignment instructions into parts: the preamble and the question or questions.

Study the preamble for information about the topic.

Analyse each question separately.

Make sure you answer each question when you do your research.