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Although we called the instructions in the example essay question a question, there was no question mark. The ‘questions’ are really titles. You will need to put the full title on your first page; don’t be tempted to summarize the question and write your own title.

Your tutor may give you a long essay title, which needs to be broken down into smaller parts before it can be addressed. All essay questions will include instruction words, such as ‘discuss’. For international students, these words can be particularly tricky. If you look them up in a dictionary, you may find a large number of meanings that do not always correspond exactly to the more specific meaning in the academic context, which is also why translations into other languages you may speak are unlikely to help.

For example, this is a dictionary definition of ‘discuss’:

1 to have a conversation about; consider by talking over; debate

2 to treat (a subject) in speech or writing ⇒ the first three volumes discuss basic principles

(Source: Collins COBUILD Advanced Dictionary, 2008)

Both definitions suggest that ‘discuss’ means ‘talk (or write) about’. However, in an academic context ‘discuss’ often means something more specific: in order to discuss, you need to refer to different aspects of a topic, look at the benefits and drawbacks of different points of view, and give your own conclusion.

Exercise 1

In which of these essay questions does ‘discuss’ mean ‘write about, describe’, and in which does it mean more? Put a tick in the correct column.

	= write about, describe	= give different points of view (and your opinion)
1 Parliament today is less effective than it has ever been. Discuss.
2 Discuss the geological history and likely method of formation of the Lewisian rocks.
3 Discuss the circumstances that can lead to a dramatic change in the use of technology.
4 ‘Current stem cell technology is sufficiently advanced for use in medicine.’ Discuss.

Exercise 2

In the table below, match the instruction words in the centre column with the correct academic meanings on the left. Some of the first and/or second dictionary definitions of the instruction words on the right may help you find their academic meaning.

Tip

 Read academic texts in your own discipline to become more aware of the conventions. For example, the instruction word ‘sketch’ can have completely different meanings dependent on the context. To an engineer it can mean ‘draw’, to a theologian it is more likely to mean ‘give a brief description’.